Stranded at F70
As you might suspect, flying a 60-year-old rental will have its downside... I decided to stop for fuel at French Valley Airport on the way back from Chino, and after taxiing over to the pump then pivot-turning with right brake and rudder to line up there, I noticed the right brake pedal seemed slack. Inspection of the brake mechanism (yes, they're the old Bendix cable-actuated type) indicated that it was stuck. I was barely able to pull the arm back with my hand, but even so the pedal would not move it again. Not good. May as well top off anyway, while I think about this... and as I went to grab the hose at the pump, the wind gusted and 70E decided she wanted to point into the wind. I' forgotten about that... had to leap over to grab her tail, as she swung at an idling Bonanza that had just pulled up! :o
She took 10 gallons, which meant I would've had 3 gallons to get to Brown from there... that would have been tight.
But what to do about the brake? The right wheel seemed to turn pretty freely, but I had no lue what might happen on my takeoff roll or landing at Brown... so I called the flight school and said I was tying 70E down there. There was one CFI at Brown that day... she offered to come pick me up in the 172, since her 3 PM student was a no-show.
While I was waiting, I tried to make the best of the situation with some spotting...
Here's the Champ's big sister: a Super Scout.
I had my new handheld radio on to listen for my ride on the CTAF, and noticed that the pilot of this Pawnee was a lady. Women can fly anything, but for some reason that surprised me.

A sweet C-310 just taking off:

She took 10 gallons, which meant I would've had 3 gallons to get to Brown from there... that would have been tight.
But what to do about the brake? The right wheel seemed to turn pretty freely, but I had no lue what might happen on my takeoff roll or landing at Brown... so I called the flight school and said I was tying 70E down there. There was one CFI at Brown that day... she offered to come pick me up in the 172, since her 3 PM student was a no-show.
While I was waiting, I tried to make the best of the situation with some spotting...

Here's the Champ's big sister: a Super Scout.
I had my new handheld radio on to listen for my ride on the CTAF, and noticed that the pilot of this Pawnee was a lady. Women can fly anything, but for some reason that surprised me.
A sweet C-310 just taking off:
Don't get involved unless you have plenty of time to waste. 

