MuseChaser
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2019
- Messages
- 2,039
- Display Name
Display name:
MuseChaser
Just wanted to let this out...
A little over a year ago, I met a father and son A&P team that helped me with a few issues... leaking nosegear strut and clogged fuel tank vent tube.. and allowed me to assist. I liked working with them so much that I asked if they'd be willing to do this year's annual as an "owner assist" and oversee the creation and installation of new interior panels, carpeting, recovering of rear seats, and installation of a four place intercom. They were wonderful.. and it turned into a three month education for me. What we ended up doing turned into a MUCH longer laundry list than a typical annual due to a bunch of deferred maintenance caused by previous no-longer-involved partners in my plane. Basically, they trained me to do pretty much everything an annual requires, including what to look for as they did all of the trained inspection items, and we addressed a LOT of things that could have been left for the future but were a great training opportunity while the plane was all opened up. Installed a PowerFlo exhaust, rebuilt brake calipers and master cylinders, built new fuel lines, new windshields and glare shield, sumps, vent lines, ... and that's just scratching the surface. I would rather have been flying, but I wouldn't trade the experience they gave me for the world. For whatever reasons, I'm a better pilot now and have MUCH more confidence in the airplane due to having a much greater understanding of the systems involved.
I liked it so much, and I guess they had enough faith in what they saw, that they've given me the opportunity to assist, with their constant oversight, on other aircraft, including two other Cherokees, an Aztec, a Zenith 701, a TriPacer, a Cirrus, and even a Pitts 2B. Avionics harness building, pitot-static system work, vacuum system pumps... and they're having me log my hours. I doubt, very much, that I'll ever get to being an A&P, and I don't really want a "job" at this point in my life, but the education, experience, and opportunity to work under two such knowledgeable, kind, giving people is a real blessing.
IF you ever have a similar opportunity, TAKE IT. You might be a little sore at the end of each day, but it'll be worth it.
A little over a year ago, I met a father and son A&P team that helped me with a few issues... leaking nosegear strut and clogged fuel tank vent tube.. and allowed me to assist. I liked working with them so much that I asked if they'd be willing to do this year's annual as an "owner assist" and oversee the creation and installation of new interior panels, carpeting, recovering of rear seats, and installation of a four place intercom. They were wonderful.. and it turned into a three month education for me. What we ended up doing turned into a MUCH longer laundry list than a typical annual due to a bunch of deferred maintenance caused by previous no-longer-involved partners in my plane. Basically, they trained me to do pretty much everything an annual requires, including what to look for as they did all of the trained inspection items, and we addressed a LOT of things that could have been left for the future but were a great training opportunity while the plane was all opened up. Installed a PowerFlo exhaust, rebuilt brake calipers and master cylinders, built new fuel lines, new windshields and glare shield, sumps, vent lines, ... and that's just scratching the surface. I would rather have been flying, but I wouldn't trade the experience they gave me for the world. For whatever reasons, I'm a better pilot now and have MUCH more confidence in the airplane due to having a much greater understanding of the systems involved.
I liked it so much, and I guess they had enough faith in what they saw, that they've given me the opportunity to assist, with their constant oversight, on other aircraft, including two other Cherokees, an Aztec, a Zenith 701, a TriPacer, a Cirrus, and even a Pitts 2B. Avionics harness building, pitot-static system work, vacuum system pumps... and they're having me log my hours. I doubt, very much, that I'll ever get to being an A&P, and I don't really want a "job" at this point in my life, but the education, experience, and opportunity to work under two such knowledgeable, kind, giving people is a real blessing.
IF you ever have a similar opportunity, TAKE IT. You might be a little sore at the end of each day, but it'll be worth it.
