Poplar Grove, Illinois... new friends (part 2)
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:19 pmYet another project: A C-140 which is getting the full treatment. The white wings have been recovered and are seen in the first shot in this thread. Ken is an A&P/IA and Lorraine helps a great deal with these jobs as well as being a master interior fabricator; she proudly showed me her "sewing room" over the hangar where she's restoring some Navajo seats.
A look inside... it was great to have a good look at a stripped-out 140, and Lorraine showed me a number of things to look for when shopping for one... I really hit pay dirt meeting these folks.
The C-85 from this Cessna will go on the Culver, making that little sucker a serious "pocket rocket"!
A look at L's handiwork... this is "Charlie", their only flying 140. I got to help L. take the skis off and put the wheels back on once we got it back in the hangar... my first time tinkering with an airplane; very rewarding.
Speaking of skis: Lorraine also took me for a hop in "Charlie", operating off one of the grass strips here. The snow was a bit "rotten", but I did OK. Four landings, each with a wild 180 on the snow to back taxi (full rudder, full power, and round you go in a big wild arc). We also bombed around the area at 2000 feet or so... quite a difference between this bird with its O-200 and the C85-powered 140 I flew a few weeks ago. No heavy wing, either... she flies straight and true.
The dollies seen here are removed after one taxiis over to the snow, then put back on to taxi back to the hangar (with the assistance of a heavy bar for leverage). As you might tell, the dolly wheels have no brakes. L. let me taxi it back, with her walking behind to swing the tail if needed (it doesn't steer well on the dolly wheels, even though the tailwheel stays as is for snow ops).
I did OK with that, too- luckily I've always believed brakes are for stopping, not for slowing down or steering... a useful habit.
Anyway, logged 1.2 more C-140 hours, on skis yet, and Lorraine's signoff (she's also a CFII; LOL) on the logbook entry closed out another page- my 13th page.
Thirteen was always my lucky number...
A flight report will follow soon, but for now all I'll say is: it totally sucked, and I just acted happy so as not to hurt their feelings.
I can't properly express my thanks to the Morris clan... they embody the "fraternity of the air" thing with real class and genuine warmth, and are also very generous with their beer.
Have a gander at their website (Spartan pics!! ):
http://www.taildraggeraviation.com/
A look inside... it was great to have a good look at a stripped-out 140, and Lorraine showed me a number of things to look for when shopping for one... I really hit pay dirt meeting these folks.
The C-85 from this Cessna will go on the Culver, making that little sucker a serious "pocket rocket"!
A look at L's handiwork... this is "Charlie", their only flying 140. I got to help L. take the skis off and put the wheels back on once we got it back in the hangar... my first time tinkering with an airplane; very rewarding.
Speaking of skis: Lorraine also took me for a hop in "Charlie", operating off one of the grass strips here. The snow was a bit "rotten", but I did OK. Four landings, each with a wild 180 on the snow to back taxi (full rudder, full power, and round you go in a big wild arc). We also bombed around the area at 2000 feet or so... quite a difference between this bird with its O-200 and the C85-powered 140 I flew a few weeks ago. No heavy wing, either... she flies straight and true.
The dollies seen here are removed after one taxiis over to the snow, then put back on to taxi back to the hangar (with the assistance of a heavy bar for leverage). As you might tell, the dolly wheels have no brakes. L. let me taxi it back, with her walking behind to swing the tail if needed (it doesn't steer well on the dolly wheels, even though the tailwheel stays as is for snow ops).
I did OK with that, too- luckily I've always believed brakes are for stopping, not for slowing down or steering... a useful habit.
Anyway, logged 1.2 more C-140 hours, on skis yet, and Lorraine's signoff (she's also a CFII; LOL) on the logbook entry closed out another page- my 13th page.
Thirteen was always my lucky number...
A flight report will follow soon, but for now all I'll say is: it totally sucked, and I just acted happy so as not to hurt their feelings.
I can't properly express my thanks to the Morris clan... they embody the "fraternity of the air" thing with real class and genuine warmth, and are also very generous with their beer.
Have a gander at their website (Spartan pics!! ):
http://www.taildraggeraviation.com/
