A flight without a bike aboard

[A2022]

It’s been a while since I flew without a bicycle onboard. With the weather cool and expected to drop further next week (-13°C low forecast), I decided to get up in the air. I pulled out my engine preheating gear—one runs on grid power, the other on ship’s power and fuel. Both worked flawlessly. I installed the cowl inlet air dams in about five minutes. It felt great to be back in the air, with an OAT of -10°C at 4,000 feet. After the flight, I stopped by the local airport engine shop to test fit a printed part on a crankshaft flange. It’s great having a shop onsite, and they seemed busy with plenty of engines in progress.

Flying without a bicycle aboard feels weird but the airplane must have been ready to go because she fired up within one blade.


Chris Staples "Golden Age" (Official Video)
https://youtu.be/jBjLJ0moWBI?si=7Potireqnql1zyqd















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12 years of usage for this starter

[A2022]

Another flight without the bike aboard… -2°C at takeoff and -17°C at altitude, with gusts up to 24 knots straight down the runway. I practically had the sky to myself. The whole point was just to fly and keep the engine lubricated. Oil temperature only reached 158°F, so I hooked up the dehumidifier to purge any moisture. The oil looks fine, and I’m planning to go to 100 hours before changing it. Before takeoff, I checked my daughter’s hatchback seal for a small leak and rolled the airplane outside, securing it with hangar gust locks as the helicopter air care lifted off next to me. Gotta enjoy the cool air and great performance while it lasts. The coldest I have ever flown was -30°C.

While at the hangar, I knocked out 10 full pull-ups and 38 half pull-ups, still taking it easy with the full ones.


KORDHELL - MURDER IN MY MIND
https://youtu.be/w-sQRS-Lc9k?si=g7mb0NnT7ORpZzpY