sparky, the jellybelly plane is sick as sh*t. nice.
The toys. Anybody want to trade a P-51 for a DA-40? After all I can carry 4 people aloft to your one. -------------------- J.R. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Right on Jim. I do believe that if you dipped the thing in sheet it would still be beautiful. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Long time no speak. How is the Sparkster? Is he still at Stead or back home? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hya Brian....Si...long time no speak. House by you? Trust the Hillclimb went off ok. Finally got blower gears changed at Stead about 3 weeks ago to no avail. Still shaking like a peach orchard boar at some power settings. Really does St Vitus Dance in hi blo. Think it may be bearings that gears spin in. Eng guy is as fustrated as us. Brant went to 15k ft outa Stead and pointed the thing west. Cruse climbed to 17.5 and dropped into the valley. Taking eng out and back to o'haul shop in Tehachapeepee soon. What a nightmare. About a 20k loss of earnings at Reno. I'l be sleeping in your back room at the shop soon....... Move over mule..... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sorry to hear. I know how those things can go. Some days the bear eats you and it never seems to end. If you need an extra set of hands and you don't think I'll be in the way let me know.
That 'Bear' & me have danced a whole bunch of times in my lifetime and I dont think he is finished with me just yet. Brant will get the Merlin out himself soon. I just get in the way anymore. Up in KFalls since Reno. Be down before Christmas sometime for a few days. I'l stop by and see you guys. Thanks for the offer of help Brian. Perhaps when it goes back in sometime next spring....summer....? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hey Sparky, we finally got moved in to our little house up north and we are busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the hives trying to get everything set up or down. Wish that I could help you figure things out with that Merlin. A rotating thing like a blower can be a problem . I'm no expert but did you sleeve the carburetor rocker bearings tight enough ? Maybe jingstrup on the oversnorter came loose. No kidding, I wish that I had an answer for you. Keep me informed. Bob
My 2005 Piper Meridian. The hangar mate is a G-IV, not my plane though! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I get 260 kts (about 300 mph) true airspeed at 25,000 feet. Faster than the Ferrari, but then nobody can see me up there
Steve, 260 seems to me to be about the same as Sparky. Probably a little cheaper to run and has a real heater too.
For sure ceaper but I bet that nice Piper is as pricey as the 51. Waddyayamean no heater? All those coolant lines that run under the floorboards between the rads in the scoop and the mo keep the cockpit plenty warm....too warm in the summer. 105c for coolant and 75c for oil. Sortta like a 328. A hotfoot without the match. Nice article about Les in the Horse.
Like an old Ferrari. A/C works great in Winter. Heater works great in Summer? I bet he's all warm and cozy at 25,000. But that turboprop just doesn't sound the same. I'll have to have a look for the article. Haven't seen it yet.
Actually Spark indicates 260 mph and at 12.5 up our tas is about 300. Have never gone up to 25 but up there speed is 350 mph or so. Fuel burn about 50gph. Whats the fuel flo Turbo Piper Gene?
Nothing sounds as good as a Ferrari. All you get from the turbo prop is a little poof when it starts up and then a lot of roaring. As they say, a great way to turn money into noise.
