Annual Boredom

455 Bravo Uniform

Final Approach
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455 Bravo Uniform
Even if I wouldn’t fly my plane this week, it’d be nice knowing I could. Now that I can’t, it’s major suckage. Should be back in service July 1.

So what do you all do when your plane is out of service for its annual inspection?

How long does it normally take to get yours back, assuming all’s normal and no extra squawks?
 
Have you tried an owner-assisted annual? A great way to learn all the nuances of your aircraft.

I hope it's not too many AMUs.
 
What do I do? I do the annual. The current one, and the repairs needed is going on 2+ years now. It will be past 3 by the time it’s finished.
 
Even if I wouldn’t fly my plane this week, it’d be nice knowing I could. Now that I can’t, it’s major suckage. Should be back in service July 1.

So what do you all do when your plane is out of service for its annual inspection?

How long does it normally take to get yours back, assuming all’s normal and no extra squawks?
Ours is in Dark November...while its in annual we look every 8hrs at Windy to see if there will be a day between November and February to actually fly it home again :) Regarding the annual, if we haven't heard anything on the start of the 3rd day we start drinking and looking at how much money our 11yr daughter has in her bank account!
 
How long does it normally take to get yours back, assuming all’s normal and no extra squawks?
3 weeks was pretty typical on our Arrow. "Bring it over", then it sits there a week waiting for the guys to look at it. Then they play with it on/off for a week. Then another week for parts to come in <sigh>
 
I'll see your boredom and raise you 7-inches of water.

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We sent our Bonanza to a specialist in St. Louis to have the windscreen replaced (it is one of the D'Shannon special aftermarket ones that very few know how to properly fit). Who knew the rivers would flood? Airplane has been marooned there for 3 weeks now. And how soon we will get it back is uncertain.

Maybe we could just borrow @SCCutler's for a while.
 
I'll see your boredom and raise you 7-inches of water.

View attachment 75408


We sent our Bonanza to a specialist in St. Louis to have the windscreen replaced (it is one of the D'Shannon special aftermarket ones that very few know how to properly fit). Who knew the rivers would flood? Airplane has been marooned there for 3 weeks now. And how soon we will get it back is uncertain.

Maybe we could just borrow @SCCutler's for a while.

Heh.

Two weeks ago, my Bo was snug in its hangar, when the storm hit and tore the roof right off! I was there, too, squealed like a little girlie.

Fortunately, no apparent damage to the plane (not so for the unfortunate Mooney that is its hangar-mate).

Be careful what you wish for!
 
Have you tried an owner-assisted annual? A great way to learn all the nuances of your aircraft.

I hope it's not too many AMUs.

Thanks. I’ve done owner-assist maint, but never tried an annual. My A&P with a side gig would take 3-4 weekends due to his schedule. I can’t handle that much down time during good weather, so I pay a shop to do it. And if I did an annual in the winter with my A&P, it’d be in a cold dark hangar...nasty, lol.
 
In the first four years of ownership I think I was without my airplane as much as it was around. Mrs. Steingar says I was irascible and unpleasant. Then again, she says that about me all the time.
 
Heh.

Two weeks ago, my Bo was snug in its hangar, when the storm hit and tore the roof right off! I was there, too, squealed like a little girlie.

Fortunately, no apparent damage to the plane (not so for the unfortunate Mooney that is its hangar-mate).

Be careful what you wish for!
My Arrow was snug in it's hangar when the roof blew off KBVS good news full insurance on the hull bad news not a scratch on the plane.
 
Even if I wouldn’t fly my plane this week, it’d be nice knowing I could. Now that I can’t, it’s major suckage. Should be back in service July 1.

So what do you all do when your plane is out of service for its annual inspection?

How long does it normally take to get yours back, assuming all’s normal and no extra squawks?
Flat rate manual for a Cessna 172 100hr or annual is 16 man hours. Cost of annual $200 to $2,000 or I have done them for a 6 pack of Budweiser.
 
Even if I wouldn’t fly my plane this week, it’d be nice knowing I could. Now that I can’t, it’s major suckage. Should be back in service July 1.

So what do you all do when your plane is out of service for its annual inspection?

How long does it normally take to get yours back, assuming all’s normal and no extra squawks?

I let a buddy park his plane in my hangar for free so that I can fly it when mine is in annual. :)
 
Friend took me flying. It was great! Funny how it feels in the right seat, and not having to do anything if I don’t want to.

Plane is done!! 3.5 days, including a few of my own squawk list.
 
No boredom here I do most of the work. The wife also helps open it up for service/annual.

I plan for 24 man hours for annual. I rent a hangar for 1 month, do the annual then spend the rest of the time with squawks and upgrades. The IA that does the inspection charges me $250 to $300. Hangar rental is $400. Annual is in the winter in a heated hangar...:)
 
I do mine over three days. Day 1, engine/fwf stuff; Day 2, brakes, re-grease wheel bearings, replace tires if necessary and check empennage attachments; Day 3, internal/external control linkages, brake & fuel plumbing, ELT, autopilot servo and anything else accessed inside. Payment in full afterward: lunch at In-n-Out Burger. :D
 
Friend took me flying. It was great! Funny how it feels in the right seat, and not having to do anything if I don’t want to.

I know it's probably bad to admit it here, but I really enjoy just riding in the back seat. I find it fun and relaxing.
 
My first annual on the new plane took 4 days which included an ADS-B install as well as an install of a new gear leg. I was there most of the time and had the plane ready for the mechanic to tear into as soon as he walked in the door.

I took care of things like cleaning spark plugs and bearings.
 
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