Florida in 6.3 hours!

[Jay Honeck]

Whee-hoo, we made it to Deland, Flori-duh in just 6.3 flight hours last
Sunday, with a fuel stop in Tennessee! Nothing like CAVU and a nice
tailwind to make for an enjoyable flight.

When we left Iowa the temperature was a chilly 14 degrees... When we landed
in Florida, it was 80. Sure felt good...

A week of shopping for the upcoming "Apollo Suite" (at the Kennedy Space
Center, of course) and the requisite visit to Mickey World and Epcot,
ensued. Other than a day of solid rain (spent largely indoors at Epcot),
the weather was awesome.

Of course, due to inclement weather and a minor mechanical problem that
caused my first-ever emergency landing (which turned out to be fouled plugs,
thanks to running that awful 100 LL through Atlas' veins -- GOD I hate that
crap), it took us two full days (but just 9 hours of flight time) to get
home, but what the heck.... That's just part of the fun of flying your own
plane -- you're never quite sure where you'll be spending the night.

(Last night we were in Macon, Missouri. Never heard of it? Me, neither!
But the motel was the nicest -- and cheapest -- of the entire trip.)

It was a great trip, but it's good to be back -- and with "only" 142 emails
to answer!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Montblack]

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
<snips>
> When we left Iowa the temperature was a chilly 14 degrees... When we
> landed in Florida, it was 80. Sure felt good...


Welcome back to March snowstorm land.

> Of course, due to inclement weather and a minor mechanical problem that
> caused my first-ever emergency landing (which turned out to be fouled
> plugs, thanks to running that awful 100 LL through Atlas' veins -- GOD I
> hate that crap), it took us two full days (but just 9 hours of flight
> time) to get home, but what the heck.... That's just part of the fun of
> flying your own plane -- you're never quite sure where you'll be spending
> the night.


Is there a different power setting technique you could use when forced to
drink that stuff? Would it matter? If it's worked in the past, what do you
think was different this time?

Looking forward to the pics on your site - after you get through your
e-mails.


Montblack

[Jay Honeck]

> Welcome back to March snowstorm land.

I must admit that we watched with glee as Minnesota and Northern Iowa were
crushed by a late-winter snow storm. I'm now convinced that Florida TV
stations make their living by showing endless footage of northerners
suffering in the cold, as this seemed to make up the lion's share of the
news while we were there.

> Is there a different power setting technique you could use when forced to
> drink that stuff? Would it matter? If it's worked in the past, what do you
> think was different this time?

Yeah, with our engine you have to lean severely on the ground to make 100 LL
work, which we *thought* we were doing. Unfortunately we were trying to
depart on Friday while President Bush was in Orlando, which meant that in
Titusville (where we spent most of the week) we were 2 miles inside the
30-mile TFR. Thus, in order to depart we had to be under a VFR flight
plan, which somehow got "lost" in the system, which meant a long period of
"idling" while we waited for them to sort out the mess.

After 15 minutes running at the departure end of the runway, we were finally
assigned a squawk code, and cleared to depart. At about 500 feet the engine
started running roughly, and my JPI monitor showed #2 cylinder off the
bottom of the scale. I announced that I had to return to land, at which
point the controller asked if I wanted to declare an emergency. I told him
no, that I just needed to land because of a rough engine, and he cleared me
to land on any runway.

The landing was uneventful, but I couldn't get the engine to run right, no
matter how lean we ran it up. Eventually I found an A&P at the helicopter
place on the field (the largest helicopter school in the world, BTW. I've
never seen so many choppers in one place!) to help me, and he lent me the
tools to pull the plugs. Little BB's of lead fell out of a couple of them
as I pulled them, and after cleaning they all tested okay.

We re-installed them, and all was well the rest of the flight home -- but it
was certainly unnerving, not knowing if it would happen again.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Gene Seibel]

Smithville, TN? Stopped there today for some $2.45 fuel. From
Edwardsville, IL to Chattanooga with a great tailwind. Made a work
related stop at CHA and then on to Gadsden, AL where I'm working this
week.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.






Jay Honeck wrote:
> Whee-hoo, we made it to Deland, Flori-duh in just 6.3 flight hours
last
> Sunday, with a fuel stop in Tennessee! Nothing like CAVU and a nice

> tailwind to make for an enjoyable flight.
>
> When we left Iowa the temperature was a chilly 14 degrees... When we
landed
> in Florida, it was 80. Sure felt good...
>
> A week of shopping for the upcoming "Apollo Suite" (at the Kennedy
Space
> Center, of course) and the requisite visit to Mickey World and Epcot,

> ensued. Other than a day of solid rain (spent largely indoors at
Epcot),
> the weather was awesome.
>
> Of course, due to inclement weather and a minor mechanical problem
that
> caused my first-ever emergency landing (which turned out to be fouled
plugs,
> thanks to running that awful 100 LL through Atlas' veins -- GOD I
hate that
> crap), it took us two full days (but just 9 hours of flight time) to
get
> home, but what the heck.... That's just part of the fun of flying
your own
> plane -- you're never quite sure where you'll be spending the night.
>
> (Last night we were in Macon, Missouri. Never heard of it? Me,
neither!
> But the motel was the nicest -- and cheapest -- of the entire trip.)
>
> It was a great trip, but it's good to be back -- and with "only" 142
emails
> to answer!
>
> :-)
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"

[Dan Luke]

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
> Little BB's of lead fell out of a couple of them as I pulled them, and
> after cleaning they all tested okay.

My Lyc's plugs used to do that until I switched to hotter plugs. Also,
for taxi the mixture must be leaned almost to the point that the rpm
drops and taxiing must be done at no less than 1,000 rpm. All three of
these precautions are according to Lycoming's plug fouling bulletin. In
addition, before shutdown the engine should be run lean for 15-20
seconds at 1,800 rpm.

That gd LL is a mortal pain. Unfortunately, my O-360 is
high-compression; there's no STC for mogas.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

[Ben Jackson]

On 2005-03-21, Dan Luke > wrote:
> My Lyc's plugs used to do that until I switched to hotter plugs. Also,
> for taxi the mixture must be leaned almost to the point that the rpm
> drops and taxiing must be done at no less than 1,000 rpm.

I don't even push the mixture all the way in on start anymore. I have
an IO540 so the start happens with the throttle cracked and the mixture
full lean. I just push it in about an inch with my thumb when the
engine starts to catch.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Jim Burns]

Isn't GA great Jay??!!
I've got a weekend trip to rival yours... Thursday night - Sunday afternoon
1425 nm

Stevens Point Wi - Louisville, KY - Nashville, TN - Lawrenceville, GA -
Adams, WI - Stevens Point, WI

Depart Stevens Point WI Thursday night at 10pm to get out of Dodge before
getting 10 inches of snow
Flew through/over the storm as it was dumping on Madison, departures
from MSN halted due to heavy snowfall
Arrive Louisville, KY at 12:30am
Spend Friday morning visiting customer in Louisville
Depart Louisville Friday noon
Arrive Smyrna, TN 1pm
Spend Friday night and Saturday night at Opreyland Nashville
Depart Nashville Sunday morning
Arrive Lawrenceville, GA (Atlanta area) one hour later
Pick up 2 seats for the Aztec
Depart Lawrenceville, 11:00 central time
135 knot ground speed, 47knots right on the nose at 8000 ft.... MEA of
7000... winds worse up above... once we got into lower country we had a
scattered layer at 6000....
We pulled the power back, leaned it out, and settled in for a long ride
home.
Arrive Adams, WI 1600 central time, 5 hours in the air, 120 gallons of fuel
20 minutes back to KSTE and we were home.

Tip for the plug fouling, maybe you already do, but it really helps... lean
it for all ground operations... although ours are injected 540's, when we
start we go from idle cut off to full rich as the engine starts, then set
throttles to 1000 rpms... then we bring the mixtures back until we get max
rpms for the throttle setting... usually a rise of 3-500rpms.... then we
reduce throttles back to 1000 rpms.

Jim


"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:oAm%d.90177$Ze3.11501@attbi_s51...
> Whee-hoo, we made it to Deland, Flori-duh in just 6.3 flight hours last
> Sunday, with a fuel stop in Tennessee! Nothing like CAVU and a nice
> tailwind to make for an enjoyable flight.
>
> When we left Iowa the temperature was a chilly 14 degrees... When we
landed
> in Florida, it was 80. Sure felt good...
>
> A week of shopping for the upcoming "Apollo Suite" (at the Kennedy Space
> Center, of course) and the requisite visit to Mickey World and Epcot,
> ensued. Other than a day of solid rain (spent largely indoors at Epcot),
> the weather was awesome.
>
> Of course, due to inclement weather and a minor mechanical problem that
> caused my first-ever emergency landing (which turned out to be fouled
plugs,
> thanks to running that awful 100 LL through Atlas' veins -- GOD I hate
that
> crap), it took us two full days (but just 9 hours of flight time) to get
> home, but what the heck.... That's just part of the fun of flying your
own
> plane -- you're never quite sure where you'll be spending the night.
>
> (Last night we were in Macon, Missouri. Never heard of it? Me, neither!
> But the motel was the nicest -- and cheapest -- of the entire trip.)
>
> It was a great trip, but it's good to be back -- and with "only" 142
emails
> to answer!
>
> :-)
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[Scott Skylane]

Jay Honeck wrote:

/snip/
> Of course, due to inclement weather and a minor mechanical problem that
> caused my first-ever emergency landing (which turned out to be fouled plugs,
> thanks to running that awful 100 LL through Atlas' veins -- GOD I hate that
> crap)/snip/

Jay,

you do seem to have a bit *too* much trouble with 100LL. There are lots
of these engines running around on Avgas without near as much
difficulty. I'm wondering what spark plugs you are running? Can you
check, and let us know?

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane

[Dan Girellini]

"Jay Honeck" > writes:

> After 15 minutes running at the departure end of the runway, we were finally
> assigned a squawk code, and cleared to depart. At about 500 feet the engine
> started running roughly, and my JPI monitor showed #2 cylinder off the
> bottom of the scale. I announced that I had to return to land, at which
> point the controller asked if I wanted to declare an emergency. I told him
> no, that I just needed to land because of a rough engine, and he cleared me
> to land on any runway.
>
> The landing was uneventful

Yeah...but was it a greaser or did this break your streak, Jay? :-)

Dan.

[Jay Honeck]

>> The landing was uneventful
>
> Yeah...but was it a greaser or did this break your streak, Jay? :-)

Actually, it was pretty good. I had departed to the north, and then --
after being cleared to land on any runway -- I tried to swing it straight
around for Rwy 09, entering from the base leg.

This proved impossible, as in my haste to get back on the ground I had
turned in extremely tightly, which turned out to be too tight for a safe
landing on 09. So I just kept it coming around into a downwind for 36, and
landed without difficulty.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Flew through/over the storm as it was dumping on Madison, departures
> from MSN halted due to heavy snowfall

Yuck. It makes me shiver just to think about a flight into a major winter
snow storm, at night...

> Spend Friday night and Saturday night at Opreyland Nashville

You talking about the Opryland Hotel? Man, that is one neat hotel.
Outrageously priced, but cool nonetheless.

> Pick up 2 seats for the Aztec

You needed two more seats?

> Arrive Adams, WI 1600 central time, 5 hours in the air, 120 gallons of
> fuel

Ouch. I tell you what, it hurt buying avgas 65 gallons of that blue crap at
a time on this trip -- I can't imagine 120! I've gotten very spoiled with
mogas, and the sticker shock of buying $200 worth of gas at every stop made
me realize how lucky I am to have that auto gas STC.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> you do seem to have a bit *too* much trouble with 100LL. There are lots
> of these engines running around on Avgas without near as much difficulty.
> I'm wondering what spark plugs you are running? Can you check, and let us
> know?

Yeah, I'm wondering about that. I know this time was probably due to the
extended period of idling, awaiting my clearance to depart -- but, shoot, I
had it leaned back pretty good. Or so I thought.

I may need a hotter running plug. Any suggestions?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Dale]

In article <JNM%d.9117$fn3.7400@attbi_s01>,
"Jay Honeck" > wrote:


>
> Yeah, I'm wondering about that. I know this time was probably due to the
> extended period of idling, awaiting my clearance to depart -- but, shoot, I
> had it leaned back pretty good. Or so I thought.

I've been wondering about the 100LL "problems" also. I never had any
problems with the O-470 in my 182, and we don't have any problems with
the IO-520s in the 206s. Now the 206s are used in a skydive op so it's
climbpower for most of the time they're running, with low power during
the descent. My 182 I used 2300/22inches for cruise...leaned on the
ground but not to extreme. In just over 800 hours I only had a fouled
plug twice that I can remember.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

[Jim Burns]

The "heavy wet" part told us that there was a temperature inversion above,
because ground temp was only 24F. The snow was falling through a layer of
warmer air that was between 3000 and 6000. Tops at 15, no iceing above 6,
we flew at 11 and only found light snow.

Yep, Opryland Hotel. We stayed there 15 years ago for our honeymoon, this
was an anniversary trip. You're right outrageously priced. $200 and $300
rooms, they actually make you pay $8 per day to park, mixed drinks $6-$7...
TAX on 2 $6 mixed drinks = $2.47 !! Resort tax & state tax...printed right
on the reciept.

Nice relaxing weekend away from Wisconsin's snow and ice plus flying topped
off with a very happy wife.... priceless.

> You needed two more seats?

The rear seat in our Aztec is a bench. The seatback of the bench seperates
the cabin from the rear baggage compartment. The seat rails for the center
bucket seats extend all the way under the rear bench. So several Aztec
owners have field approvals to remove the rear bench and put buckets in the
rear row. This allows you to remove one of them for extra baggage and
allows access to the rear baggage from the cabin. It also makes carrying
skis and more than 4 sets of golf clubs easier.

We found higher gas prices the further south we went. Granted, we didn't
take the time to shop, we simply didn't have time to divert. One nice thing
about having 140 gal tanks is when we are close to cheap fuel, we try to
plan to get as much as we can.

Jim

[Newps]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>>you do seem to have a bit *too* much trouble with 100LL. There are lots
>>of these engines running around on Avgas without near as much difficulty.
>>I'm wondering what spark plugs you are running? Can you check, and let us
>>know?
>
>
> Yeah, I'm wondering about that. I know this time was probably due to the
> extended period of idling, awaiting my clearance to depart -- but, shoot, I
> had it leaned back pretty good. Or so I thought.
>
> I may need a hotter running plug. Any suggestions?

If you constantly have problems with 100LL then the problem is you or
your engine. I run mostly mogas but literally I cannot tell when 100LL
is in the tanks. It runs exactly the same in all seasons on any mixture
of mogas/100LL. I have never had a fouled plug and I don't lean
carefully on the ground, sometimes I pull the mixture out sometimes I
don't. Makes no difference. And here in the summer the DA usually gets
to 7000. If you have all these problems then you've got a problem not
related to the type of fuel.