Field trip to Tulsa

Jim K

Jim K

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Wanted to put 6 hours on my engine before changing the oil again. Turns out, Tulsa is 3 hours from home, and i could drop the RV crankcase off to be modified to accept 390 cylinders.

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Literally next door. In hindsight I wish I had stopped in here and asked for a tour.

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So this was supposed to be the money shot. Racks and racks off cases lined up waiting their turn and probably fifteen Bridgeport mills set up to do each step. Unfortunately, my phone sucks and I'm an idiot, so you'll have to use your imagination

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The place really is mind blowing. I highly recommend asking for a tour if you find yourself in Tulsa. He said they have about 1000 cases in line and they can complete 12-15/ day. I also noticed a whiteboard with a list of "priority customers", for whatever that's worth. Surprisingly I wasn't on it. It was essentially a "who's who" of engine shops.

The peach cobbler at Wanda J's right next to the Sparks FBO is amazing. Fried chicken was also very good. I should've ordered 4 fried chickens and a coke.

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So, now I'm stuffed and have a 3 hour flight home ahead of me. Good times.
 
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Aircraft Specialties Services...I wonder if they intentionally named themselves A.S.S.? :D
 
mark.staggs said:
Aircraft Specialties Services...I wonder if they intentionally named themselves A.S.S.? :D
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Once on a flight, I was seated next to an exec from First Union bank. She told me they had to send out a policy memo prohibiting employees from using the company initials in written communications.
 
TCABM said:
No, but I’d have walked my case to the front of the line and hung out until the work was done, then have flown back.
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There's a reason I took it in 2 years before I actually need it...
 
Jim K said:
He said they have about 1000 cases in line and they can complete 12-15/ day.
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So <doing some quick math>, looks like you'll be back in about 15 weeks. Just in time for Halloween.
 
Jim K said:
There's a reason I took it in 2 years before I actually need it...
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They’ll move you up the line if you pay an expediting fee. It was worth it. Otherwise I’d still be waiting instead of flying.
 
Half Fast said:
They’ll move you up the line if you pay an expediting fee. It was worth it. Otherwise I’d still be waiting instead of flying.
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Yeah, I figured that out too late unfortunately. I would have gladly paid it. ASS does that as well, difference being that they actually just come right out and say it instead of you having to know the secret.

Building that 540, I learned a lot about not only building an engine, but also dealing with aviation machine shops. It's a very different world from auto/truck/ag stuff.

Also interestingly, he took my case and put it right on the shelf of the guy who cuts the cylinder holes, as opposed to in the back of line with the incoming. I feel like dropping it off in person might be another trick, and if I'm ever aog like that again, I'm showing up with donuts or pizza or both. Maybe just straight up cash bribes.
 
Jim K said:
Turns out, Tulsa is 3 hours from home, and i could drop the RV crankcase off to be modified to accept 390 cylinders.
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Isn't six enough? Seems like the mags you'd need to run 390 cylinders would be really complex, and the crankshaft must be a mechanical marvel! :D
 
I didn't fly my engine parts to Tulsa but they are close enough that I still hand delivered them and picked them up. UPS and FEDEX can destroy some one else's stuff....
 
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