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    The Otto Aviation Celera 500L

    I'm based at PBI, and Piaggio was based in our hangar for many years. I absolutely love the "idea" of the Piaggio, love the look and I believe the idea should be refined to perfection. But again, it's good to let reality settle in for a bit. The Piaggio has 2ea. 1600HP engines on an airframe...
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    The Otto Aviation Celera 500L

    It's good to note that turbodiesel engines, such as used in the Celera, can be configured to make rated HP at any normal altitude we would use. The higher the plane goes, the faster it will go for a given HP (to a point of course) . This is unlike a PT-6, for example. Which may be flat rated to...
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    The Otto Aviation Celera 500L

    Yes! The problem with the "unorthodox shape" idea is that a modern tube fuselage has a Cd as low as 0.022 and is generally not the major contributor to total airframe drag. Creating lift is. Additionally, cooling drag is a major factor with certain engine designs (pistons, for example) It's...
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    Just why is the Cardinal so slow?

    I don't find my RG to be "slow". It's 143kts at altitude is acceptable. It is also capable of 150Kts at lower altitudes with higher fuel burn, say, 4500 feet and below. Check out my video of the "Cardinal vs. Mooney". Clearly, the Mooney is faster, with the Lopresti cowl and ram air. However...
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    Does this picture show corrosion/pitting in a cylinder?

    Note: You can see a portion of the cylinder bore by simply looking in the spark plug hole, using a bright light. Better yet, use a small light on the end of a wand and insert it in the hole to illuminate the cylinder. Note #2: Borescopes of any sort can make microscopic flaws look huge...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    I wanted to post an update. As I'm heading to the doc tomorrow. I've been on a low cal, low fat Atkins diet for nearly 5 months. I am very near my ideal weight, and I've been lifting weights/working out at the gym religiously and with serious determination. I look good (for a 50 year old) ...
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    idjits and a______

    Me too! And a very sincere Thank You! Chris
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    Why is the FAA so strict?

    1) I could not care less about the rest of the world. I don't live there. Much of the rest of the world sucks. 2) The FAA can be very oppressive. And, come to find out, as a civil agency, they don't have to follow their own published rules. They can, and do, require pilots to surrender...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Lab results in: A1c 5.1. That's due to incredibly strict, no carb" diet and exercise. However, my AM fasting glucose has been elevated and post "no carb" meal very elevated. Without posting numbers, let's just say the glucose numbers are not in the proper range. GTT test next week, (Wed) to...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Thanks! We do have a lot of fun, and some really nice flights in our flight department. Update: Doc did labs today and 2PM FBG was 67! That's the first time I've seen it that low in 2 months. Don't know why it was low today, and not other days while fasting. Doc wants me to lose 15...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Yes, very much, thank you. Bruce also wanted a copy of the SI letter, and, of course, I re-read it. The "inform" instructions are clear. I've moved up my next doc visit to tomorrow (wed) . Labs to follow. I've called my AME, and informed him about my declining condition. He's got the...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Bruce has been quite helpful. However, I'd like to hear from others here who have had SI medicals and your suggestions. My ultimate goal is to retain my medical after my next doc visit. As last visit, he suggested that next time I may be on metformin. Also, if you guys have any...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    OK, If he wants me on Metformin in 3 months from now, how do I deal with the FAA on that one? Inform right away and then re-apply for another SI with good labs? I am Director of Maintenance in a high end corporate flight department. I can't be messing around with medical issues and...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Thanks Bruce! I generally do a nuke stress test every 2 years and submit the data. However, the FAA has not required it since they issued me the 6 year waiver. No demand for Holter monitors lately. Did that in the past 2 years with good results. No history of CAD that the docs or I am...
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    Question for Bruce and others thyroid/glucose/heart

    Hello Bruce, I am a difficult case, now 50 years old. At 33, Adult Mono nearly killed me. I was "shutting down" in the hospital. Shortly thereafter, I end up with Hashimoto's which induced AFIB, due to very low thyroid levels. Synthroid/Armour combo works for me and I've had no return of the...
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    Wrong Altitude for Direction of Flight

    Florida is different. For example, when flying South VFR at 8500 feet in Georgia, the left turn at Jacksonville, FL puts you at a heading that becomes substantially East of 180 degrees. Since so many pilots fly this route, Florida generally has VFR flights remain at the same altitudes as...
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    Cantilevered Wing

    Imagine my surprise when I looked for the spar inside our Gulfstream G550's wing and could not find it! The wing attach points are numerous, and substantial. With the 4 corner attach points being extra beefy. It looks like there are at least 20 of them! Anyway, the wing is constructed...
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    TBO

    Really? How so? I'm not sure I follow that reasoning. A modern overhaul won't generally re-use pistons, valves, pins, camshaft, lifters, bearings rings, etc. Unless you expect the crankshaft, connecting rods or cases to fail during that extended run, I suspect the overhaul cost won't be...
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    owner produced parts

    It's my opinion that owner produced parts cannot be sold individually after use, as airworthy parts. The FAA gets much of it's authority from the "elastic" interstate commerce clause. As such, you will probably notice that the FAA heavily regulates many commerce activities, yet is oddly...
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    how long does it take to do a 100hr inspection and annual inspection

    My 177RG generally consumes about 100 man hours per annual. But, I always do some re-work or improvements. The actual inspection is about 4 days of my labor. Gear swings take a day.
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