You better believe it! It’s the tagline of my blog and also how I live. This blog isn’t always about flying. It’s also about faith. So if the Christian faith offends you, simply move along. If you’re on the fence or questioning then you should know that it was Christ that gave me the courage to learn to fly, to build two airplanes and fly them, and courage through countless “oh shoot” moments while flying. This past year has brought some ground-level adventures to my family. There were some very heart-rending moments that would make some question the very existence of a loving God. And where was He through all that? He was right there with us. He didn’t prevent the suffering, but He gave us the daily grace we needed to get through it. He can do the same for anyone who asks.
Author: The Flying Dutchman
First Cruise Carbon Trike Repair
Well it’s finally happened. I’ve had to make my first repair on my Nirvana Cruise Carbon Trike. After flying on Monday I loaded up my trike into my trusty walk-on garden trailer and carted everything home. I rolled my trike into the garage and buttoned everything up. Thought all was well. The next day I was walking past my trailer when I noticed a small silver object wedged between the floor boards. When I looked closer it was one of the locking pins that fasten the motor frame on body of the trike!
When I picked the pin up and examined it I found that the ball bearings that allow the pin to lock in place had fallen out. I’m currently looking for a replacement pin but in the mean time I don’t want to be grounded! Since the ball bearings only serve to secure the pin in place and don’t bear any loads, the pin does that, I just needed to find a way to secure the pin once it has been inserted. I still have some safety wire left over from my airplane build projects so I used that to hold the pin in place. I can fly until I locate a replacement pin. Pins, actually. I’m going to order a new set to keep on hand.
A Little Flying Before The Week Starts
I was able to sneak off to New Jerusalem after we got back from Sacramento. It was a little windy and thermally so I had to wait about an hour for the wind to calm down. But once it was calm I strapped in and was rewarded with… a blown launch. Really got my lines tangled up this time but was able to figure it out without to much hassle. The second launch went MUCH better! I came back around and did some touch and goes. While on the ground I tried to kite my wing as far down the runway as I could. Then as the sun was setting it was time to just fly around and relax a bit.
Valentines Day Dinner and President’s Day RV Show
At the last moment I decided to take my wife away for an overnighter for Valentine’s Day. Our favorite hotel is The Westin along the Sacramento River in Sacramento. Cristy loves the large bedroom and very large bathroom with big claw-foot bathtub. We were lucky enough to get a river view this time!
The next day we headed over to the former McClellan Air Force Base. Now just an economic zone of sorts. One of the local RV companies had rented a large hangar and held an indoor RV show. Since they are a Grand Design RV dealer I wanted to give Cristy a chance to look at her favorite RV’s again.
Second runner-up, Grand Design Reflection 337RLS:
We both really like the layout of this coach. I also like that it is lighter and does not require as heavy duty a truck to pull it. However, it is small, and the materials are lighter weight (cheaprer) than the other models we liked. Here are a few pictures we took of the 337RLS:
First runner-up, Solitude 384GK:
Cristy really likes this one. There is tons of storage in the kitchen and throughout the unit. Really the only draw back is that it’s useful load is only around 2500 lbs. That’s not a whole lot for a house on wheels. This may still be an option though. Here are a few pictures:
And the winner is, Solitude 369RL:
This has the same general floor plan as the others but is more spacious and open. It also has the greatest useful load at 3300 lbs. It is their most popular model and so there should be a lot of used models on the market when we are ready to purchase. Again, we took some pictures of this unit:
So there you have it. We have now decided on our next home.
Cleaning Up Frees My Soul
The day started early for me. I wanted to fly this morning. I really wanted to fly from my home field, Oakdale Municipal Airport (O27). I woke up early and trailered up my Nirvana Trike. I got out to Oakdale and found nothing but thick fog. Figures. I decided to try my luck out at New Jerusalem but an hour later when I got there, it was too windy to fly. Figures. So I gave up and headed back home.
After putting the trike back in the hangar (my garage) I decided to amuse myself by cleaning up a bit more. My son who recently moved out is a pack rat. I’ve been slowing getting ride of all the junk (literally) that he’s be tucking away in the garage. After a trip to Hope Chest to donate some items and multiple trips to the garbage can I’m happy to report that there is yet another corner of the garage that is clean and organized. Seeing the garage slowly emptying out somehow makes me feel really good. Not only can I walk around the garage without stepping on or tripping over things but It also moves us a little closer to our goal of selling everything and hitting the road.
Today’s flights
Well after all the business of today I was able to sneak off to New Jerusalem just before sunset and get in a couple of flights in the PPG. The wind was a little switchy so I had to wait a bit. Then just as I was getting ready to go a Chinook helicopter comes barreling into the pattern. I had to get away from there quick. There is tons of downwash from the Chinook’s twin rotors. He messed up the pattern for about 15 minutes than went on his way. After he left I practiced some touch and goes with some kiting thrown in. I’m just now starting to get a feel for flying the wing while driving along on the ground. I need to practice that more.
I also used an app on my phone called PPGps. It’s a great little app that shows your position on a map, your ground speed, vertical speed, fuel timer, etc. It’s got a lot of grate little features like starting your fuel timer once you’ve reached a certain speed. You pretty much set it up before you take off and then leave it alone. It takes care of itself after that. Really like this app! PPGps is available from Google Play.
So all in all today I flew two flights and did 4 touch-and-goes. Only burned about 1.8 liters of fuel. I’ll start venturing farther away but for now, I’m still learning to handle this thing. I’m really enjoying the process!
Finally a new look!
Well, Airprayer has had the same look for about 10 years now. It’s about time to change. I hope you enjoy the new look!
Old silliness
I’ve been going to old files and mementos and ran across the following. It’s been floating around in other forms for years but this was our adaptation of it. This is from my days as a test equipment technician at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co, now Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Space. FYI, D5 refers to the Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile System.
D5 Test Equipment Technician Technical Skills Aptitude Battery
Instructions:
Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time limit 4 hours. Begin immediately. Work in numerical order (equipment remaining from question 1 may prove useful with questions 3 and 6.)
- Medicine: You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.
- History: Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day, concentrating especially but not exclusively on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific.
- Public Speaking: Two thousand drug-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.
- Biology: Create life. Estimate the difference in subsequent human culture if this form of life had been created 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English Parliamentary System.
- Music: Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.
- Engineering: The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision.
- Sociology: What sociological problems might accompany the end of the world? Construct an experiment to test your theory.
- Management Science: Define management. Define science. How do they relate. Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming a 7600 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm, design the communications interface and all necessary control functions.
- Psychology: Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodinias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, and Hammurabi. Support your evaluation with quotations from each man’s work. It is not necessary to translate.
- Economics: Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan on these areas: Cubism, the Donatist Controversy, and the Wave Theory of Light.
- Epistemology: take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.
- Classical Physics: Explain the nature of matter. Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact on the development of mathematics on science.
- Modern Physics: Produce element 107. Determine it’s half-life.
- (NOTE: At the time this was made up, there were only 106 known elements. Bohrium is element 107, discovered in 1981.)
- Energy Resources: Construct a working fusion reactor.
- Philosophy: Sketch the development of human thought. Estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.
- General Knowledge: Describe in detail, briefly.
Extra Credit: Define the universe. Give three examples.
Project 2020
I’ve added a new section to this website: Project 2020
It’s an exciting new phase to our lives. It’s not starting yet, but if you want to read about it, go take a look.
Super Bowl Win!
I’m not talking about the Denver Broncos, I’m talking about flying during the Super Bowl. I was the winner! No traffic on the road and thanks to a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) that came to within 2 miles of my airport, no traffic in the air either. Weather was perfect, the airport was quiet, and the sky was calling.
I blew my first launch (takeoff):
But the second launch went much better.
After I got up there, it was beautiful. Just flying around getting the feel for the controls still. I’m getting more comfortable with it though. I also did three touch and goes and kited down the runway for a short way. Need to practice this more.
