Recent content by dmac5356

Old thread, but as a shameless plug, pilots interested in owner maintenance may want to look at my book: "Owner Assisted Aircraft Maintenance"

Owner assist... my most expensive annual in 34 years was $400 labor, plus the usual service parts from Spruce. Check out my book: http://www.aircraftmaint.com/

I have a Skipper, and compared to a Cessna 150 or 152 it really leaps off the ground and wants to fly. It always reaches pattern altitude by the turn to downwind, where the Cessna's often never get up there before it's time to descend. Climb rate is only 500 fpm, or 700 fpm if it's cold out...

To be held in the American Bonanza Society (ABS) tent at 10:00 am on Wednesday 7/25. If you own a fuel injected Continental engine (normally aspirated or turbo), you should attend. Although the Continental fuel injection system has been around for over 50 years, it still seems that many...

Thanks for the idea, but the word "jets" is beyond my pay grade! Seriously, all I need is a cursory look to see if the plane is a rat, or possibly worth my traveling to see. I can do my own pre-purchase inspection... as "I wrote the book on aircraft maintenance" :)

I'm considering adding a Cherokee to my fleet. It is located in Anderson, IN. Anyone live nearby who is interested in taking a peek to see if it's even worth my flying over there for a possible purchase? I hate to spend lots of gas money just to look at a corroded rat!

Could a moderator please fix the title... the date should be 6/16/2012. Thanks!

Fly out from MN to KOSH on 6/16 I am organizing a pre-Airventure group fly-out to Oshkosh on June 16th from the Twin Cities (pilots welcome to join us from anywhere in the region). We will tour the museum in the "off season", and pilots making their first Airventure pilgrimage this year can...

In 1978 I started with the Piper "Blue Sky Solo Program", which included all airplane and instructor time through solo up to a maximum of 12 hours for $249. After that I paid ~$17/hr for a Cherokee 140, plus ~$8/hr for the instructor. I finished the Private in <40 hours (part 141). All...

Much of the problem is due to air cooling. The engines run hot, and the temperatures are uneven across various parts. Uneven fuel distribution and leaded gas don't help either. If a cylinder has low compression with a leak out the exhaust it does not necessarily require a new jug. You may...

Good plan... although my hangar is my place of business!

Yes, I understand the confusion. It appears that the mag line was sold to Champion, the plugs to Tempest, and the rest is now under GE.

Spare parts are a wonderful thing... except they are heavy. I keep the heavy spares in the hangar, and if needed they can be sent overnight in a pinch. But with regular IRAN's I have not had an accessory fail in years. In the old days there were mechanics at almost every airport, and they had...

I understand that Transdigm Group Inc, owner of Champion, purchased the Slick mag line from Unison in Sept. 2008. Has something changed again? Performed 500 hour inspection per Slick manual L-1363F Magneto Maintenance and Overhaul Manual (and replaced parts, if any).

Champion is the Slick OEM now, with prices even higher than before. PMA parts for Slicks are made by Tempest/Aero Accesories. But not all parts are available (such as the distributor block), unfortunately. We follow the Slick manual section 3.3 (defines the procedures for the 500 hr...