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Re: illegal to have nav lights???
Thanks guys, I read posts on here a lot, but don't post much. I restored a Stearman a few years ago for a friend of mine. I had languished since they ground looped it in 1988 and needed something to do when I was home for the winters after working on spray helicopters during the summer on a government contract. I'm still the only one who flies it, the owner still isn't safe in it. It has been a good business card for my work.
The BC12 I talked about is alive and well. Made my own spars for it and have 2 wonderful feds who helped with the paperwork to help with liability. Don't know what I'm going to do when they retire in 2 years.
If there is a way to post pictures here or if someone wants to host them for me, let me know. The spars I removed from that airplane need to be seen by mechanics and owners alike. This is the kind of thing that lurks in airplanes that don't get looked at. The glue was gone, the plywood doublers and butt plates came off with a fingernail flick, nails and all, they were that bad. I'd like them to be a good learning tool if nothing else.
And I look at the FAA this way, you can live in fear, or learn to live with them. Do the best you can, and go on with your life. The main reason I work for myself isn't some arrogant presumption that I know more than anyone. But a lot of shops don't care a thing about your liscense, sign it off because I said so. I know there are good shops and mechanics out there, but I have sure seen the bad side of things. I won't send you out in an airplane I won't fly myself. And if I won't fly it, I sure don't expect you to fly it. This isn't rocket science, if you don't know something, learn it!!! Read a manual, look at another airplane, ask someone who knows more about it than you do, and use some common sense. If I can't help you for some reason, I'll help you find someone who can, I can't do everything! I laugh at the looks people give me when I tell them that I'm smart enough on many other things to make 10 times the money I'll ever make working on these airplanes. I do it because I want to, not because I have to. And as long as I can make a modest living I will continue to do so. These old airplanes are getting older and need more maintenance and inspection to keep them safe. Problem is, they are getting less of both because of higher parts prices and the lack of willingness of many mechanics to learn about them and either just sign them off or just turn them away.
I live in mid Missouri, about half way between St Louis and Springfield on I-44. My little hangar is at the Rolla National Airport (VIH), the old Vichy Army Airfield. If any of you are flying through, stop by and say hello.
Chris
Thanks guys, I read posts on here a lot, but don't post much. I restored a Stearman a few years ago for a friend of mine. I had languished since they ground looped it in 1988 and needed something to do when I was home for the winters after working on spray helicopters during the summer on a government contract. I'm still the only one who flies it, the owner still isn't safe in it. It has been a good business card for my work.
The BC12 I talked about is alive and well. Made my own spars for it and have 2 wonderful feds who helped with the paperwork to help with liability. Don't know what I'm going to do when they retire in 2 years.
If there is a way to post pictures here or if someone wants to host them for me, let me know. The spars I removed from that airplane need to be seen by mechanics and owners alike. This is the kind of thing that lurks in airplanes that don't get looked at. The glue was gone, the plywood doublers and butt plates came off with a fingernail flick, nails and all, they were that bad. I'd like them to be a good learning tool if nothing else.
And I look at the FAA this way, you can live in fear, or learn to live with them. Do the best you can, and go on with your life. The main reason I work for myself isn't some arrogant presumption that I know more than anyone. But a lot of shops don't care a thing about your liscense, sign it off because I said so. I know there are good shops and mechanics out there, but I have sure seen the bad side of things. I won't send you out in an airplane I won't fly myself. And if I won't fly it, I sure don't expect you to fly it. This isn't rocket science, if you don't know something, learn it!!! Read a manual, look at another airplane, ask someone who knows more about it than you do, and use some common sense. If I can't help you for some reason, I'll help you find someone who can, I can't do everything! I laugh at the looks people give me when I tell them that I'm smart enough on many other things to make 10 times the money I'll ever make working on these airplanes. I do it because I want to, not because I have to. And as long as I can make a modest living I will continue to do so. These old airplanes are getting older and need more maintenance and inspection to keep them safe. Problem is, they are getting less of both because of higher parts prices and the lack of willingness of many mechanics to learn about them and either just sign them off or just turn them away.
I live in mid Missouri, about half way between St Louis and Springfield on I-44. My little hangar is at the Rolla National Airport (VIH), the old Vichy Army Airfield. If any of you are flying through, stop by and say hello.
Chris
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