Author: The Flying Dutchman

I am a man who loves Christ, loves my wife, loves my family, loves my church, and loves aviation. In that order.

Hangar Flying

On By The Flying DutchmanIn AviationLeave a comment

That’s what pilots call telling stories, usually lies about their flying adventures.  Here’s one of my hangar flying stories.

We all decided to fly to Nut Tree in Vacaville to have lunch.  One of the planeless pilots rode with me in my old Aeronca Champ.  He was a talker, a very animated talker.  Even though we were wearing headsets and could hear each other just fine, he felt obliged to lean forward to every time he said something to me.  The thing you need to know about the Champ is that it is tandem seating, the passenger sits behind the pilot.  So each time he’d lean forward the plane’s center of gravity was upset and the nose of the plane would dip.  I’d reach up to the trim control and retrim the airplane to fly level.  Then he’d stop talking and lean back.  Then the plane’s nose would rise.  I’d reach up and adjust the trim again.  By the time we got back to Oakdale my arm was so sore from adjusting that trim tab.  I was happy to bid him good-bye. 

Not a a tale of daring-do but still, one of my hangar tales.

Life’s Little Blessings

On By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

There are times when I think I just want to throw my 18 year old autistic son out of the house. There there are times like this evening when I hear him in his bedroom singing “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord” at the top of his lungs… Blessed be His Name indeed.

Home again

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion, TravelLeave a comment

Just finished up a week of training in Austin, Texas.  The class was on a network security device made by TippingPoint.  The class was pretty good but I’m finding that I like travelling on the airlines less and less.  Not only being in a tiny seat crammed in with a couple hundred other people, not only having to go through security, but just having to be away from my family is no fun.

Just another week in the valley

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

A couple of highlights:

  • Continued painting my plane –
    I’ve got the cowling, windshield deck, spinner, and wing struts painted red.  I still need to add the black stripes to the cowling.
  • Made plans to attend training in Austin, TX –
    My boss was scheduled to attend a class on the Tipping Point security device in Austin.  He has a wedding to go to so he gave his seat to me.  What a gentleman!
  • A strange man asked my wife out for drinks –
    My wife buys dietary supplements from a chiropractor in Ripon.  Since the Dr was going to be in Modesto she asked my wife to meet her at the gym the Dr. would be going to.  As my wife was waiting a man approached her and tried to strike up a conversation.  She was polite but told him she was in a hurry, he ripped the phone numbers off his business card and handed the little scrap of paper to her and asked her to call him so they could go out for drinks.  Yeah, uh huh, keep holding your breath buddy.  Can’t blame him; my wife is beautiful.

Other than that not much happened.

This weekend’s progress on the S6

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

Just thought I’d post a quick update on where I’m at with the Coyote.  I started painting on Friday.  I painted the wing struts, wing tip fairings, baggage compartment door, and propeller spinner.  It didn’t go as bad as I thought it would.  I did get a few runs, and a friend stepped on one of the parts, but other than that it went great.

I spent Saturday and part of Sunday riveting on the windshield and skylight.  I also got to fly to Los Banos with some friends to have lunch.  This was a GREAT weekend!  Here are a few pictures of my progress.

skylightThis is the top of the windshield where it mates with the skylight.

 strutsHere are the front and rear lift struts.  They connect the wings to the lower portion of the fuselage.  Not only are they important, they look great!

Wings are finished

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

God gave us a glorious day here in central California.  Warm sunshine, some passing high clouds, and mild temperatures.  I volunteered at Oakdale Municipal Airport’s open house.  I was the cashier for our food stand.  On my breaks and after the event, I went over to my hanger and spent more time working on my wings.  Today I officially finished building the wings!  I still need to spray a clear coat to protect the fabric from the sun’s UV rays but other than that they are done!  I also need to paint a few small parts before I put the wings on.  I plan to do the painting this Friday.

We’re getting close!

Here’s a picture of the finished left hand wing:

2010-10-02_15-26-28_428

More wing work

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

Worked on the wings a bit more this morning.  I cut the control rod exits into the skins for flaps and ailerons. I also cut holes for the aileron and flap hinge hardware and installed the hinges.

Here is a photo of the exit for the flap teleflex cable.  This operates the flaps.  Also shown is one of the installed flap hinge brackets.2010-09-24_08-01-10_551

This is a photo of the aileron push/pull tube exit.  I’ll put the tube in when I mount the wings.2010-09-24_08-01-50_139

Missing my friends

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith3 Comments

I had a quick Facebook chat today with one of my oldest friends.  Sometimes she drives me crazy but I love her like a sister.  I started thinking about how to best witness to her.  I’ve always tried to show her Christ’s love and kindness.  But to this day I’m still not sure where she stands with Christ; she changes the subject whenever religion comes up.  Maybe that’s the problem, I need to talk less religion and more Christ.  I’ll be seeing her this summer for the first time in about 5 years.  I could sure use prayers for my conversations with her.  I’ve known her for over 30 years, I’d sure love to know her for eternity.  My heart aches to think of all my friends who have turned from Christ but especially for Melody.

AWOL

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion3 Comments

Mrs. Flying Deacon and I had a bit of a scare last night.  I went out to get a drink of water at about 11:30pm and noticed the front door was unlocked.  This is not an uncommon occurrence so I locked the door without thinking about it and headed back to the bedroom.  I poked my head into each kid’s room to check on them and noticed my son was missing.  Ah, he must be out on the front porch looking at his lizards.  I went back to the front door and quietly unlocked it and jumped out onto the front porch with my best “Ah-ha!” look.  But he wasn’t there.  I made a more careful search of the house but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.  By this time Mrs. Flying Deacon had gotten wind of the situation and was also looking.

Okay, time to go off the reservation and look around.  I got in my car and drove around the neighborhood checking his usual haunts but he was nowhere to be seen.  After I returned home we decided it was time to call the cops.  I called local police dispatch and explained the situation.  They had an office at my door within 15 minutes to their credit.  I explained to the officer that my son had apparently walked out the front door with no jacket and no shoes, wearing only a t-shirt and shorts and was now nowhere to be found.  She said she’d check the neighborhood and either return with him or call us and let us know what the next steps would be.  Ugh.  Sick feeling in the stomach.

She got back into her patrol car and went one direction while I went the other.  On a whim I turned toward the canal (which I had already checked).  I could see the patrol car in my rear view mirror.  Then much to my relief I saw my son across the street walking up the sidewalk apparently returning home from his night on the town.  I signaled the police cruiser behind me that I had located my wayward son.  I was relieved beyond belief to see him walking back so like any loving father I jumped out of the car, ran toward my son shouting “Hey!  You get over here right now young man!”

I first had him talk to the police officer who seemed somewhat in disbelief that he was just as we described him.  She couldn’t believe he left without his shoes.  So the first thing she said to him was, “Hey, are you alright?  Why did you leave without your shoes?”  I was thinking, Oh come on, handcuff him or something.  After she was satisfied that everything was okay I sent him to sit in the car while the officer and I concluded our business.  To my surprise she said, “Good job dad.  You found your son.  So many people just wouldn’t care.  They expect us to find them.  But you came out and looked for him and found him.”

I took him home and had a “brief discussion” with him on appropriate times to leave the house and what it means to be grounded.  Then we all went to bed but it still took Mrs. Flying Deacon and I some time to de-stress and sleep.  As upset as I was with him I had to admit to myself, I always will go out and look for him.  Always.

Riveting experience

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

I started riveting the fabric onto my wings today.  I got the bottom of one wing down and started on the bottom of the other.

2010-09-19_17-26-36_577

Was one of those magical afternoons.  The weather was sunny and cool, Scotty was wandering around the airport enjoying the day, and I got a lot of work done.   Perfect end to a perfect day of worship and rest.