The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Ride Reports and Event Reviews => Topic started by: Air4Life on September 29, 2012, 08:12:47 PM
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Looks like a vintage Jim Bede-design Experimental Category aircraft.
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I see what you are saying - it very much looks like one. I hadn't had that as my focal point when I shot that photo though. In fact I don't recall that aircraft being there back when I had attended their curriculum in 1983.
That test box beside the aircraft was once used to run up a gpu. It was the only turbine we would ever get the chance to fire up. As imagined, a centrifugal compressor is no match for pure axial turbine power noise, as far as excitement goes that is, but it was good enough to get us out of the classroom for a spell. It looks like its been neglected some, and missing some important components too.
At one time they had a Twin Beach. I think it was destroyed in a fire not that many years ago - a non aircraft fueled one if I am not mistaken. It was pretty cool for us to start that up back then. It did all the things a radial does when started ...coughing, spitting, blowing smoke and oil. Pure cool recip. stuff. Our class got the distinction of blowing the lower jug. As a consequence we had the procedure for a thorough pre-start prop pull through reinforced, once again. Lucky for the following class, as they got to pull and repair.
Sample Beech 18: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_18
Our Beech may have looked this good at one time, but it would have been long before we got to see it. ;)
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Just how many A&P do we have here. Me for one. A&P school in 1975. Have been in general aviation since 1977. IA in 1990. Have Chief Inspector and now the Service Manager/DOM for the same location but under different owners.
Don
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I passed the written component for the A&P ticket after assisting for some time as a ramp rat at a warbird maintenance facility. Already had a "clean" career going but simply wanted the certifications.
Spent some time with a hard working A&P -who, BTW, built the R100S I now own- and found out what a sub-standard wage, IMO, most were earning. Decided to continue to rock along with my lowly FAA Repairman's Certificate. Late 80s-early 90s as I recall.
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I do place high respect for the aircraft technician, obviously IA's command far more. I can hardly call myself a technician any longer. Though the FAA had certified me back then, I considered myself a perpetual apprentice.
Working day crew on turbine aircraft for three years gave me some experience, but it was hardly a major overhaul kind of experience. On far to many days than I care to recall it was more like a glorified line position. I did get some small recip time later on, but by then I got excited about the prospects of flying, and moved on.
The one thing I will take from those 24 months or so at the TSA school, is mostly the theory, and the respect I developed for the machines. I can still draw on that information to this day, to some extent. Oh, and not to mention our welding class. What a thrill it was to open up that blow torch to blast some steal away. As far as welding, ahh, I think I had to produce one halfway descent weld fillet maybe 1 inch long on 1/4 stock. I honestly forget much of that. I still laugh at the fact that we had to make a wood spar splice. Mine failed along 1/3 of its 3" total in the vice twist test.
How to make a million in aviation, start with two.
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I received my A&P license in June,'76, been working on aircraft since early '77 .
Started with Bell Helicopter working for the Imperial Iranian Army Air Force in Esfahan, Iran .
Then a corporate helicopter FBO at Chicago's Midway airport for a year .
Went to work at Midway Airlines, based at Midway airport .
after they went out of business in '91, went to work for Southwest Airlines .
Started in Houston Hobby airport, then transferred to Phoenix in in '93 .
Majority of my career is working 'line' maintenance, a few years of 'heavy check' maintenance on DC-9's, MD-80's and 737-200, 300, 500, 700 and 800 series aircraft .
Had some temporary duty being a quality assurance representative when my companies aircraft were being overhauled/ modified by outside repair organizations .
I'm now in component overhaul, mostly, cockpit sliding windows for 737's and lavatory flush motor/pump assemblies .
If you are ever on a Southwest Airlines -300 or -500 series aircraft, when you flush the toilet, it's my work at work !!!!!! [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif] [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif] [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif] [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]
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That's great Bob. I almost ended up growing up in Iran myself. In the late 60's or early 70's my dad was offered an aviation job related to the oil companies. Texas Oil, maybe...
Hey, come December I'll tell all the kids to look for blue Ice falling from the sky. Now, I can tell them that I know one of Santa's helpers who helped make it happen. Well, sort of made it. ;D
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I am no aircraft technician, but I do like learning about machines and talking about what makes them work. I Really enjoyed one conversation many years ago up at the transportation museum in Owl's Head, Maine. Some old timers there had just finished restoring a WWI Sopwith Camel, and a brave volunteer gave her a test flight. Unfortunately one of the volunteer technicians didn't button things up correctly, so once a few hundred feet in the air and about 90 MPH ground speed, a loose part on the engine cowling ripped off all the ignition wires (this is a rotating radial engine design)... Fortunately they made a safe landing back at the airport/museum. I don't think they let that guy work on the planes anymore, but it was long enough ago, he may be more permanently retired now.
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I'm surprised that would happen with that type of organization. I'd of thought they'd be pretty cautious about who they let put their hands on the machine.
I've only had about two opportunities to go to Owls Head and somehow I got sidetracked...
I've been to Rhinebeck's field many years ago. Cute show aside, it's fun to see them flying those rotating radials and smell the castor oil ...
Keep the greasy side down.
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Rhinebeck Aerodrome is a neat place. Some nice orginals, and nice reproductions. It is great to see some of that stuff in the air. And the show is entertaining.
For the double win- the Airheads at the Aerdrome event in June is a great excuse (1) for a good ride on the bike, and (2) a visit to the Aerodrome.
k_enn
P.S., If I recall correctly, my Dad trained as a pilot on an AT-7 (variant of the Beech 18) in 1944. I think I still have his flight log from when he was an Army Air Corp Cadet.
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That's cool.
A reminder for next years Rhinebeck event will be worth mention. I'll plan for it and do the same.
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Speaking of Beech 18's "What could happen to an old fashion?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i415QwSj0Og