I went by Cleaveland (like four times), and I was hell bent on finally treating myself to a Sioux drill. They talked me into getting the Pan-American drill for $80 cheaper, and I agree it's probably every bit as nice as the sioux for nearly half the cost.
Also, I grabbed a pneumatic cleco gun. Holy lazy awesome!
A couple of files, an automatic center punch, and a NEW SCOTCHBRITE WHEEL!
Any of you see the snake oil booth in one of the hangars that was selling the twisty gizmo that makes hose clamps out of safety wire? That's actually a pretty handy tool, and Dan and I each bought one. I almost cheaped out and decided to go home and try to replicate it in the shop, but I really don't need more projects like that.
In the fly-mart, I stopped by a couple of the little tool and parts vendors and bought some machine shop tools; a little 2.5" sine bar, a flat of VNMG inserts, a pin spanner. Also, some airplaney bits; a used 10" vixen file, a carbide rotary file, a 2-flute rivet shaver, and four small hartwell flush latches. I'm thinking about extended tanks in the RV, and those latches will be good for wingtip fuel doors.
At the Miller booth, I bought a pair of nice TIG welding gloves, and this really awesome micro-tig torch for tight spaces.
I had a bit of an ordeal trying to get weather working on my 496 for the trip, and I had to take it by Garmin's booth to get the firmware updated on it. Additionally, I got databases upgraded by jeppesen (which I absolutely hate having to pay for, but the databases on my 496 were dating back to 2006). After all that, XM WX was working, but my antenna was flaky (cable is going bad), so I broke down and bought a new antenna
Last but certainly not least, I ordered new front windshields for the cherokee! Mine are hazy and crazed, and they've got about six little cracks forming which really don't make me too happy. The plastics people were running 30% off show special, and I ordered 3/16" grey tint UV-resistant front glass for $450.
Now that I'm broke, I went down to the hangar last night, rolled the RV out into the middle, and set my fuse twist and riveted down my aft deck! We're hustling toward the finish line once again, folks!
CJ
