Days as a hanger rat

[Jack Allison]

I think I've logged about four days of hanger rat duty over the past two
weeks. Still have a long way to go in terms of accommodations (chairs,
table, shelves, etc...but having your own hanger sure makes it more fun
(and, IMHO, justifiable) to hang around the airport.

Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). Also used up a can
and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.

Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
probably go for it.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

Hangar ratting is fun. Before I tapped into the night light pole and stole
110 for the hangar by snaking some "outdoor romex" from Home Depot, I had a
small (500 watt) Honda quiet generator that I put out back with a sound
reflector/absorber. Unless you are running a refrigerator, there is no
reason to have power ALL the time, just when you are there. It ran for
about six hours on a gallon or so of gas and easily powered a couple of
fluorescent lights, a hand drill, and even a small compressor (VERY small
compressor) when required.

It is also a neat repository for the gas samples, as opposed to tossing them
out onto the taxiway.

Jim


>
> Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
> solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio from
> them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd probably go
> for it.

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
Jack Allison > wrote:

> I think I've logged about four days of hanger rat duty over the past two
> weeks. Still have a long way to go in terms of accommodations (chairs,
> table, shelves, etc...but having your own hanger sure makes it more fun
> (and, IMHO, justifiable) to hang around the airport.

[snip]

fyi - here is a (poorly formatted) list of the stuff recommended for hangars
from the collective wisdom of rec.aviation folks.


First Aid Kit

Small "dorm room" refrigerator for beverages and snacks.

A couple of "chocks" nailed to the floor (to prevent the tail
from hitting the back wall)

chocks

Table/bench
rolling work table

Cabinet

Small wet/dry vac

Rubbish barrel

Push broom

Fire extinquisher

Extension cord and portable light

Small tug (& fuel container for tug - it also runs on 100LL)

Airplane supplies/parts

Whiteboard with maintenance status (e.g., ELT due date)

A couple of folding chairs

small compressor for inflating the tires

papertowels and other cleaning supplies

Snow shovel and ice chopper

FAA-approved sand in a bucket or container



I'd drill into the concrete something that I could use to lower the
tail and get the nosewheel off the ground.

When I got my current hangar, it had a D-ring already there right
under the tail, so it makes servicing the nosewheel easy.



* 36" - "long handle" floor Squeegee - maybe wider
(Thank God for spell checker)

* Minivan third row bench seat, on a 2x4 frame w/casters.
(Seats are free if you look around)

* Small college fridge, or a $50 used regular fridge
(already mentioned)

* A few 5 gallon plastic buckets w/handles
(Free if you look around - We have some green pickle buckets from Margene's
farm in our garage, use them all-the-time)

* Old stereo with some old (80's) speakers attached up high on the wall.
(Very available at garage sales)

* Scanner on shelf, with aux. scanner speaker attached up high on the wall.

* Bucket filled with Floor-Dri for oil spills...from the car.

* I've seen medium sized picnic tables - Nothing beats sitting at a nice
comfortable picnic table.
(down caster for easy moving - up caster for sitting in place. We do this
with theater pieces all the time)

* Microwave

* Bathroom in the corner? Walk up a few steps RV/houseboat set up?



To add a few items that perhaps were missed (I can't "see" this entire
thread, for some reason...):

- A workbench! Absolutely invaluable...

- An oil filter cutter mounted to aforementioned workbench.

- Shelves, shelves, shelves. It's amazing -- no matter how many you have,
you fill 'em.

- Astroturf on the floor. We covered the entire hangar floor with
astroturf -- it REALLY keeps the dust and dirt down. (Our floor is only
concrete under the plane itself -- the rest is gravel.

- A kitchen! Our T-hangar is a corner unit, giving us about a third more
space than an average T-hangar. I built a counter-top with shelves
beneath, and then equipped our kitchen with fridge, microwave, pantry, and
food prep area.

- A torpedo heater that runs on Jet-A.

- A screened in tent. (Really!) This is in the kitchen area. It's not used
to keep bugs out, but to keep the heat down, closer to the floor. In cool
weather, the heat from our torpedo heater doesn't go very far in such a
large spacer. We have found, however, that by directing it into the tent
area, the canvas roof keeps the heat in pretty well. (We've attached
several small electric clip-on fans inside the tent's ceiling, blowing
downward -- which also helps keep the heat where we want it.) With this set
up we're able to have cookouts in the hangar comfortably down to about 40
degrees.

- A TV/VCR. If you have kids, the ability to let them watch a movie while
you sip a few cold ones with friends is awfully nice.

- A gas grill. (Of course!)

- A porta-potty. The girls insisted on this, and it's made hangar parties
much more enjoyable. Use 4 x 8 foot sheets of foam insulation to "wall off"
a privacy area around the potty.

- Speaking of 4 x 8 foot sheets of insulation, we have used industrial
adhesive to glue a bunch of these sheets to the bare metal walls of our
hangar. Not only do they provide a little "R" value, but they are terrific
for stapling your printed digital photos of your flying exploits to. We
have a complete wall, floor to ceiling, covered with 8.5 x 11 inch photos of
our flying trips, going back to 1998 when we bought our first plane. It's
really a conversation starter! (The lighter colored walls also REALLY help
brighten up the place.

- Lots of lights! I replaced the single little 60 watt bulb with a
three-way splitter, and three big halogen spotlights. Haven't blown a
circuit breaker yet, in almost five years, and it's lit up like day
inside...

- A rolling utility cart. Makes working on or cleaning the plane MUCH nicer
to have your tools right at hand.

- Several creepers, both prone and sit-up versions. No matter how many you
have (we have three), they will NOT be where you want them. :)

- A big dry-erase board, to track maintenance, your biennial, your medical,
how much you owe the kids for opening the door, etc.

- A big, industrial vacuum cleaner, with 30 feet of hose.

- Bicycle(s). They make the long walk to the terminal or maintenance hangar
a LOT quicker.

- Snow shovels, brooms.

- A couch and several chairs.

- A patio table and chairs.

- Lots of electrical outlet strips. We've only got two "real" outlets in
the hangar, split into about a billion with electrical strips. (Make sure
you get the fused kind, and take care not to turn on everything at once!)


A LOT of bench space and pegboard for hanging tools. One curious thing about
my hangar. I have an overhead light. When I raise the door, it vibrates the
hangar and the light goes OUT!!! It comes on by itself later on. It is not
an incadescent light, but it is not a long tube flourescent either. Looks
more like a streetlight. Why would it do this?

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

[Jay Honeck]

>I think I've logged about four days of hanger rat duty over the past two
>weeks. Still have a long way to go in terms of accommodations (chairs,
>table, shelves, etc...but having your own hanger sure makes it more fun
>(and, IMHO, justifiable) to hang around the airport.

Ah, Jack. You are discovering the truly BEST part of owning an airplane.

Last night, Montblack and his girl were at our hangar, supping on burnt
offerings and sampling the many fine microbrewed products that they had
contributed to the effort. We spend many hours enjoying the beautiful
evening, and each other's company, whilst absorbing the soothing absolution
of hops and grains.

Tonight, Mary and I were attending one of the too-frequent dinners required
by our position as innkeepers. The food was mediocre, the entertainment
dull, and (worst of all) everyone was smoking, which made for a bleary-eyed,
smelly evening.

On the brighter side, it was an open bar... ;-)

Still, at our earliest convenience, we "stepped outside for some fresh air,"
hopped in the Mustang, dropped the rag top, and made a bee-line for the
sanctuary of our hangar, where we proceeded to bask in the glow of Atlas,
and a few more of Montblack's excellent left-over microbrews.

There is nothing -- NOTHING -- better than hanging around YOUR hangar, with
YOUR airplane, at the end of a long day. Maybe it's the bottled-up
potential of an airplane that you own -- or maybe I'm just nuts -- but the
atmosphere is at once laid-back and electric.

To look at your plane and *know* that you can be in Florida by lunchtime (in
our case) is simply an intoxicating elixir -- even if you never, ever use
it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jack Allison]

Jay Honeck wrote:
> Ah, Jack. You are discovering the truly BEST part of owning an airplane.
Hmmm, I'd vote that the best thing is actually flying the plane you own
and hanging around before/after flying is a very close second.

> Last night, Montblack and his girl were at our hangar, supping on burnt
> offerings and sampling the many fine microbrewed products that they had
> contributed to the effort.
You did eat your two fruit meals first, right? Just checking :-)

We spend many hours enjoying the beautiful
> evening, and each other's company, whilst absorbing the soothing absolution
> of hops and grains.
Mmmmmm, sounds very much like Oshkosh to me. Did Paul bring the mini
van? How many coolers and BBQs?

> Tonight, Mary and I were attending one of the too-frequent dinners required
> by our position as innkeepers. The food was mediocre, the entertainment
> dull
Well, sure, I mean, Paul is pretty entertaining so anything is dull by
comparison :-) And, we all know his burnt offering abilities at the BBQ
so I'm sure the food wasn't nearly as good as his.

, and (worst of all) everyone was smoking, which made for a bleary-eyed,
> smelly evening.
One of the things I like about CA...no second hand smoke to deal with.
"Smoking or non-smoking?" is a question you just don't hear when going
to a restaurant.

> -- or maybe I'm just nuts
You're really wondering about this? Survey says?...you're nuts Jay!
Then again, so are the rest of us...um...so where were we? Oh ya,
discussing the finer points of being a rat in your own hanger. Yes, I
could get very used to this. If only the hanger wasn't a 20 mile drive
from the house.

>
> To look at your plane and *know* that you can be in Florida by lunchtime (in
> our case) is simply an intoxicating elixir -- even if you never, ever use
> it.
Ok, in my case, I can be over lake Tahoe in about 35 minutes...on a cool
day when there are no nasty T-storms building...San Francisco is just
over an hour the other direction...but yes, I get the point. Florida by
lunchtime for me would require a jet (and the requisite larger bank
account) :-)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jack Allison]

Wow Bob...that's quite the list you've compiled. I'll have to save a
copy of this one...lots of good ideas.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Blanche]

Jay Honeck > wrote:
>dull, and (worst of all) everyone was smoking, which made for a bleary-eyed,
>smelly evening.

Which is why I can no longer work as a bartender. If I'm anyplace with
smoking, the clothes immediately go into the washer (even if I don't
turn it on) and I head for the shower no matter how tired I am. Seems
that my tolerance (which used to be fairly high) has gone to
absolute zero.

A joy of Oshkosh is no smoking in the North 40!

For those of you who smoke, take all the offense you wish. My mother
smoked until the last 6 weeks of her life, so I've been around it
forever. And am one of those children who suffer the effects of
pre-natal smoking mothers. Afterall, the physician said it wouldn't
hurt the baby...

[end of soapbox]

[nttp.ca.inter.net]

<A LOT of bench space and pegboard for hanging tools. One curious thing
about
<my hangar. I have an overhead light. When I raise the door, it vibrates the
<hangar and the light goes OUT!!! It comes on by itself later on. It is not
<an incadescent light, but it is not a long tube flourescent either. Looks
<more like a streetlight. Why would it do this?

Bob,

Based on the info you provided ... here's my wild guess: you might have a
mercury vapor or metal halide lamp. They take a few minutes to warm up
before you get light. If you have an intermittent contact (loose wiring,
socket etc), then the bulb will shut off and come back on in a few minutes.
It could also be defective.

Here's a good link. You can probably identify your bulb throught this link
(or others):

http://www.neon-lighting.com/articles/Types%20of%20Lamps.htm

[Jay Honeck]

>> Last night, Montblack and his girl were at our hangar, supping on burnt
>> offerings and sampling the many fine microbrewed products that they had
>> contributed to the effort.

> You did eat your two fruit meals first, right? Just checking :-)

Absolutely! 179 pounds, as of this morning!

> Mmmmmm, sounds very much like Oshkosh to me. Did Paul bring the mini van?
> How many coolers and BBQs?

Nope, he and Margene drove the "fancy car" to Iowa. (He didn't need to haul
grills this time!)

> , and (worst of all) everyone was smoking, which made for a bleary-eyed,
>> smelly evening.
> One of the things I like about CA...no second hand smoke to deal with.
> "Smoking or non-smoking?" is a question you just don't hear when going to
> a restaurant.

Well, this was at a private club. No rules allowed, if you know what I
mean.

> Yes, I could get very used to this. If only the hanger wasn't a 20 mile
> drive from the house.

Ouch. That does put a damper on the "spur of the moment" stuff -- but it's
better than no hangar!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> For those of you who smoke, take all the offense you wish. My mother
> smoked until the last 6 weeks of her life, so I've been around it
> forever. And am one of those children who suffer the effects of
> pre-natal smoking mothers. Afterall, the physician said it wouldn't
> hurt the baby...

On her death bed, when she could no longer speak, my mother was still
clutching burned-out cigarettes, and instinctively dragging on them. It was
absolutely pathetic.

Of course, when she was pregnant with my sisters in the 1940s, her doctor
PRESCRIBED cigarettes, to help "calm her nerves."

I can't believe I ever smoked. More amazingly, I can't believe Mary married
me when I was a smoker! (Quit in '86, haven't had one since...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Doug Vetter]

Bob Noel wrote:
> A LOT of bench space and pegboard for hanging tools. One curious thing about
> my hangar. I have an overhead light. When I raise the door, it vibrates the
> hangar and the light goes OUT!!! It comes on by itself later on. It is not
> an incadescent light, but it is not a long tube flourescent either. Looks
> more like a streetlight. Why would it do this?

Bob,

I was an electrician in a former life. The symptom you note is usually
caused by a bad bulb, though it can be caused by a bad ballast /
capacitor as well.

A word of advice -- it would be wise to replace the bulb sooner rather
than later, or it may damage the ballast. If that happens on an
interior fixture less than 400W output and you need to pay someone to
replace it, it's generally cheaper to replace the entire fixture.

And while I'm on the subject, this applies to fluorescent strip fixtures
as well. If you have those and notice dark black rings at the ends of
the tubes, they are at end-of-life and should be replaced (that is to
say, before they go dim), or the ballasts will overheat and eventually fail.

-Doug

--------------------
Doug Vetter, CFIMEIA

http://www.dvcfi.com
--------------------

[Jack Allison]

Blanche wrote:

> Which is why I can no longer work as a bartender. If I'm anyplace with
> smoking, the clothes immediately go into the washer (even if I don't
> turn it on) and I head for the shower no matter how tired I am.

Reminds me of a Friday night bowling league I was in years ago. I'd
wear an old jacket and when I got home, everything in the wash and I
went through the shower.

> My mother
> smoked until the last 6 weeks of her life, so I've been around it
> forever.

Mine too...though the timeframe from lung cancer diagnosis until she
passed away was longer. What I found really amazing was that she quit
absolutely cold turkey immediately after she was diagnosed.
Unfortunately, 30+ years of smoking had taken it's toll

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[RST Engineering]

Jesus Murphy, where do you put the airplane?

Jim



"Bob Noel" > wrote in message
...
>
> fyi - here is a (poorly formatted) list of the stuff recommended for
> hangars
> from the collective wisdom of rec.aviation folks.
>
>
> First Aid Kit> --
> Bob Noel
> no one likes an educated mule
>

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
"RST Engineering" > wrote:

> Jesus Murphy, where do you put the airplane?

lol - this was a list of things people suggested when I posted
a request for suggestions. I merely strung the posts together.
While my hangar is big enough for a light twin, I don't have
all that stuff.

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
"nttp.ca.inter.net" > wrote:

> <A LOT of bench space and pegboard for hanging tools. One curious thing
> about
> <my hangar. I have an overhead light. When I raise the door, it vibrates the
> <hangar and the light goes OUT!!! It comes on by itself later on. It is not
> <an incadescent light, but it is not a long tube flourescent either. Looks
> <more like a streetlight. Why would it do this?
>
> Bob,
>
> Based on the info you provided ... here's my wild guess: you might have a
> mercury vapor or metal halide lamp.

actually, that contribution to the list was made by
Doug > (I think).

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

[[email protected]]

On 8-May-2005, "Jay Honeck" > wrote:

> I can't believe I ever smoked. More amazingly, I can't believe Mary
> married me when I was a smoker! (Quit in '86, haven't had one since...)


And if health and social concerns don't convince you, consider that quitting
a 2 pack a day habit will save maybe half the cost of buying, maintaining,
and flying a basic airplane.

--
-Elliott Drucker

[RST Engineering]

Phyllis Diller once commented that she was really into the Cub Scout thing
with her kid and was active in all the groups. She said she gave it up when
she got to two packs a day.

{;-)

Jim



> wrote in message
news:wVufe.3182$941.918@trnddc08...
> On 8-May-2005, "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
>
>> I can't believe I ever smoked. More amazingly, I can't believe Mary
>> married me when I was a smoker! (Quit in '86, haven't had one since...)
>
>
> And if health and social concerns don't convince you, consider that
> quitting
> a 2 pack a day habit will save maybe half the cost of buying, maintaining,
> and flying a basic airplane.

[john smith]

That's about the same time you started gaining weight, wasn't it?

Jay Honeck wrote:
> I can't believe I ever smoked. More amazingly, I can't believe Mary married
> me when I was a smoker! (Quit in '86, haven't had one since...)

[Viperdoc]

You can tell you're a hangar rat when you spend more time futzing around in
the hangar than you actually do flying.

Example: flew 1.1 hours today- spent four hours washing/waxing the plane
(still not done), emptying garbage cans, adjusted the gas powered tug,
played with the dog, tried to fly my son's RC plane on the ramp (not a great
idea when it nearly hit my plane), took a nap on a patio chair, got the wife
to help wax the plane (even on mother's day), and then came home.

It's kind of our summer home at the airport- wait until we start the Weber
up again, then it'll be even longer hours!

[Jay Honeck]

> That's about the same time you started gaining weight, wasn't it?
>
>> I can't believe I ever smoked. More amazingly, I can't believe Mary
>> married me when I was a smoker! (Quit in '86, haven't had one since...)

Nah, when I quit smoking I started going to the gym every day. From '86 to
'88, I was in outstanding shape.

Then in '88 I started my first business...THAT is when I started gaining
weight.

Unless you're really aware of what's happening to you, working a zillion
hours per week is a slippery slope to eating fast foods, snacks, and not
exercising. It took until my third business for me to be aware of what I
was doing to myself.

Slow learner, I guess...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jack Allison]

Viperdoc wrote:
> You can tell you're a hangar rat when you spend more time futzing around in
> the hangar than you actually do flying.
>
> Example: flew 1.1 hours today- spent four hours washing/waxing the plane
> (still not done), emptying garbage cans, adjusted the gas powered tug,
> played with the dog, tried to fly my son's RC plane on the ramp (not a great
> idea when it nearly hit my plane), took a nap on a patio chair, got the wife
> to help wax the plane (even on mother's day), and then came home.
>
> It's kind of our summer home at the airport- wait until we start the Weber
> up again, then it'll be even longer hours!
>
>
Sounds like you covered some of the more important bases:
1) Commit aviation
2) Playing with the dog (especially if it's the airport dog)
3) Taking that all important nap in the patio chair
4) Futz around in hanger/on the plane

Not a bad day's work at the hanger if you ask me.

Yikes, watch out for RC airplanes on the ramp, eh? :-)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Denny]

Jack,
For an unpowered hangar, a battery and a solar panel will do nicely as
a power source... There are all kinds of 12v appliances that can be had
to make the hangar a better hang out... Check into some of the boating
chat groups for gobs of information - examples...

http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop

Also, the RV chat groups will have info... I'll let you look them up...
And a google will bring up ten thousand web sites...

Besides the battery(s) and solar panel(s) you also need a charge
controller to keep from boiling the battery(s)...
A portable air tank is handy for large amounts of air, blowing things
off, inflating a flat tire, etc., and can be pumped up at home or using
a friends compressor...
I have an 80 gallon compressor in the shop but we still use the
portable tank all over the farm - and keep it charged and ready at all
times..
A 12v tire pump is great for topping off the tires and will run off
your battery system, or the car, etc... I've used it on the plane, on
the road, and out in the field many a time...
A camping, portable, 12v fluorescent light, will be useful...
The car/travel 12v coolers that use solid state heat convertors will
make a handy cooler for the barbecue party / saturday night at the
airport...
12v fans for the muggly days...

You will find that 110/220v power in the hangar is not necessary,
especially if that hangar comes with a higher price and a monthly
electric bill...

denny

[Jay Honeck]

> You will find that 110/220v power in the hangar is not necessary,
> especially if that hangar comes with a higher price and a monthly
> electric bill...

???

How are you s'posed to keep the beer cold???

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

[ShawnD2112]

That sounds like a perfect day spent. And remember that time spent at the
airport is not deducted from your lifespan!

Shawn


"Viperdoc" > wrote in message
...
> You can tell you're a hangar rat when you spend more time futzing around
> in the hangar than you actually do flying.
>
> Example: flew 1.1 hours today- spent four hours washing/waxing the plane
> (still not done), emptying garbage cans, adjusted the gas powered tug,
> played with the dog, tried to fly my son's RC plane on the ramp (not a
> great idea when it nearly hit my plane), took a nap on a patio chair, got
> the wife to help wax the plane (even on mother's day), and then came home.
>
> It's kind of our summer home at the airport- wait until we start the Weber
> up again, then it'll be even longer hours!
>

[[email protected]]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> Unless you're really aware of what's happening to you, working a
zillion
> hours per week is a slippery slope to eating fast foods, snacks, and
not
> exercising. It took until my third business for me to be aware of
what I
> was doing to myself.
>

Working will do it to you, particularly if you have a fairly
sedentary occupation. A few years back I spent 2 years out of work
(on purpose). Most of my time was spent flying, hiking, mountain
biking, yard work, etc... After returning to work (sitting on my ass
in front of a computer for 50 hrs./week), I realized that I'd kept
eating my old diet, but had totally wiped out the "burn" side of the
caloric intake / burn cycle. Before I realized it, I'd gained 25 lbs.
in about 5 months. Pretty scary for a normally skinny guy like me.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Viperdoc]

I just have to get my wife convinced that there is value in filing five
volumes worth of Jepp charts and I'll have it made!

[Blanche]

> wrote:

>Jay Honeck wrote:

>> Unless you're really aware of what's happening to you, working a
>zillion
>> hours per week is a slippery slope to eating fast foods, snacks, and
>not
>> exercising. It took until my third business for me to be aware of
>what I
>> was doing to myself.
>>
>
> Working will do it to you, particularly if you have a fairly
>sedentary occupation. A few years back I spent 2 years out of work
>(on purpose). Most of my time was spent flying, hiking, mountain
>biking, yard work, etc... After returning to work (sitting on my ass
>in front of a computer for 50 hrs./week), I realized that I'd kept
>eating my old diet, but had totally wiped out the "burn" side of the
>caloric intake / burn cycle. Before I realized it, I'd gained 25 lbs.
>in about 5 months. Pretty scary for a normally skinny guy like me.

I used to work in downtown, parked at the local downtown university
(which is why I started taking college classes which led to another
graduate degree but that's another story) and was walking 1.5-2 miles
each way between parking & work (hey, at 50 cents/day v. $4-10/day!)
And walking to lunch everyday.

Soon as I took another job in the 'burbs, no more walking like that
everyday. Still haven't taken off the weight.

[Kobra]

Jack,

>"Jack Allison" >
> Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
> the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). >

I remember the first week I was in my new hangar (part dirt and part asphalt
floor). I had "bugs" too.

I go to the airport and park my car in front of the hangar with the front
end facing into the hanger. The hangar is not cleaned
out, the doors are a beast to open, the electric doesn't work and there are
these HUGE FRICKIN' INSECTS nesting in there!!! They're big, black, ugly,
ant/hornet-like mutant intergalactic, people-eating aliens!! I swear to
God! I will attach a picture.

These things actually dive-bombed me when I was attempting to open my hanger
door! They swarmed around my head and face forcing me to retreat to my car
shrilling like a seven year-old girl!

Just before I could pull the car door shut, one uninvited pest rudely buzzed
in, repelling me out of the car by shear reflex. I leapt out, arms out in
front of me high dive fashion, body horizontal to the ground, when I begin
to noodle my situation: "Hmmm, did I put the car in first gear!?" Then
everything went in slow motion. Body still horizontal, seeing lots of
asphalt coming up into my face, envisioning headline that reads, "Man seen
diving out of car and carried away by carnivorous insects as driverless car
totals his new airplane parked in hanger".

By shear luck or the divine grace of God the car was still in neutral and
stayed put. I saw the beast fly out the still open door and I dove back in
and made a beeline (no pun intended) out of there! I went straight home not
knowing what to do. Then in my garage was the solution. On my workbench
was an old tennis racket. It just lay there like Excalibur beckoning me for
an illustrious battle!

Now armed, I return to the front line to recapture my hanger. As I pull up
I see two friends of mine at their hanger. Ahhh reinforcements!! To make a
long story short we swat about five of these monsters, put them in a baggie
and reclaim the lost hanger.

I left one of the dead carcasses at the airport manager's office to
research. They didn't get one dime out of me until those creatures were
evicted!!

Gene





Also used up a can
> and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
> ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
> not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.
>
> Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
> solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
> from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
> probably go for it.
>
> --
> Jack Allison
> PP-ASEL-IA Student
> Arrow N2104T
>
> "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
> with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
> you will always long to return"
> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>
> (Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jack Allison]

Hmmm, I'll count my blessings in that my bugs were just ordinary wasps.
Rumor has it there was a black widow in the hanger as well (never saw
it but I do expect to find them as it's a perfect place for them).


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jon Kraus]

Send me the pics Kobra... Jon Kraus

Kobra wrote:
> Jack,
>
>
>>"Jack Allison" >
>>Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
>>the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). >
>
>
> I remember the first week I was in my new hangar (part dirt and part asphalt
> floor). I had "bugs" too.
>
> I go to the airport and park my car in front of the hangar with the front
> end facing into the hanger. The hangar is not cleaned
> out, the doors are a beast to open, the electric doesn't work and there are
> these HUGE FRICKIN' INSECTS nesting in there!!! They're big, black, ugly,
> ant/hornet-like mutant intergalactic, people-eating aliens!! I swear to
> God! I will attach a picture.
>
> These things actually dive-bombed me when I was attempting to open my hanger
> door! They swarmed around my head and face forcing me to retreat to my car
> shrilling like a seven year-old girl!
>
> Just before I could pull the car door shut, one uninvited pest rudely buzzed
> in, repelling me out of the car by shear reflex. I leapt out, arms out in
> front of me high dive fashion, body horizontal to the ground, when I begin
> to noodle my situation: "Hmmm, did I put the car in first gear!?" Then
> everything went in slow motion. Body still horizontal, seeing lots of
> asphalt coming up into my face, envisioning headline that reads, "Man seen
> diving out of car and carried away by carnivorous insects as driverless car
> totals his new airplane parked in hanger".
>
> By shear luck or the divine grace of God the car was still in neutral and
> stayed put. I saw the beast fly out the still open door and I dove back in
> and made a beeline (no pun intended) out of there! I went straight home not
> knowing what to do. Then in my garage was the solution. On my workbench
> was an old tennis racket. It just lay there like Excalibur beckoning me for
> an illustrious battle!
>
> Now armed, I return to the front line to recapture my hanger. As I pull up
> I see two friends of mine at their hanger. Ahhh reinforcements!! To make a
> long story short we swat about five of these monsters, put them in a baggie
> and reclaim the lost hanger.
>
> I left one of the dead carcasses at the airport manager's office to
> research. They didn't get one dime out of me until those creatures were
> evicted!!
>
> Gene
>
>
>
>
>
> Also used up a can
>
>>and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
>>ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
>>not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.
>>
>>Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
>>solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
>>from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
>>probably go for it.
>>
>>--
>>Jack Allison
>>PP-ASEL-IA Student
>>Arrow N2104T
>>
>>"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
>>with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
>>you will always long to return"
>> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>>
>>(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)
>
>
>
>

[Jon Kraus]

Great story Kobra!!! I must say that the way they are described I was
thinking they were going to be at least as big a Bumble Bee.. :-) I
guess that insect stories are like fish stories... The more they are
told the bigger they got. :-)

Best laugh I've had all day... Thanks!!

Jon Kraus

Kobra wrote:

> "Jon Kraus" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>Send me the pics Kobra... Jon Kraus
>>
>>Kobra wrote:
>>
>>>Jack,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Jack Allison" >
>>>>Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
>>>>the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). >
>>>
>>>
>>>I remember the first week I was in my new hangar (part dirt and part
>>>asphalt
>>>floor). I had "bugs" too.
>>>
>>>I go to the airport and park my car in front of the hangar with the front
>>>end facing into the hanger. The hangar is not cleaned
>>>out, the doors are a beast to open, the electric doesn't work and there
>>>are
>>>these HUGE FRICKIN' INSECTS nesting in there!!! They're big, black,
>>>ugly,
>>>ant/hornet-like mutant intergalactic, people-eating aliens!! I swear to
>>>God! I will attach a picture.
>>>
>>>These things actually dive-bombed me when I was attempting to open my
>>>hanger
>>>door! They swarmed around my head and face forcing me to retreat to my
>>>car
>>>shrilling like a seven year-old girl!
>>>
>>>Just before I could pull the car door shut, one uninvited pest rudely
>>>buzzed
>>>in, repelling me out of the car by shear reflex. I leapt out, arms out
>>>in
>>>front of me high dive fashion, body horizontal to the ground, when I
>>>begin
>>>to noodle my situation: "Hmmm, did I put the car in first gear!?" Then
>>>everything went in slow motion. Body still horizontal, seeing lots of
>>>asphalt coming up into my face, envisioning headline that reads, "Man
>>>seen
>>>diving out of car and carried away by carnivorous insects as driverless
>>>car
>>>totals his new airplane parked in hanger".
>>>
>>>By shear luck or the divine grace of God the car was still in neutral and
>>>stayed put. I saw the beast fly out the still open door and I dove back
>>>in
>>>and made a beeline (no pun intended) out of there! I went straight home
>>>not
>>>knowing what to do. Then in my garage was the solution. On my workbench
>>>was an old tennis racket. It just lay there like Excalibur beckoning me
>>>for
>>>an illustrious battle!
>>>
>>>Now armed, I return to the front line to recapture my hanger. As I pull
>>>up
>>>I see two friends of mine at their hanger. Ahhh reinforcements!! To
>>>make a
>>>long story short we swat about five of these monsters, put them in a
>>>baggie
>>>and reclaim the lost hanger.
>>>
>>>I left one of the dead carcasses at the airport manager's office to
>>>research. They didn't get one dime out of me until those creatures were
>>>evicted!!
>>>
>>>Gene
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Also used up a can
>>>
>>>
>>>>and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
>>>>ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
>>>>not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.
>>>>
>>>>Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
>>>>solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
>>>
>>>>from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
>>>
>>>>probably go for it.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Jack Allison
>>>>PP-ASEL-IA Student
>>>>Arrow N2104T
>>>>
>>>>"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
>>>>with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
>>>>you will always long to return"
>>>> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>>>>
>>>>(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

[Jon Kraus]

Great story Kobra!!! I must say that the way you descrivbed them I was
excited as hell thinking I was going to see the elusive hanger creature
Waspus-Teradactolus. But the creatures in the pics are more like
Waspus-Tinyopolus.. :-) I guess that insect stories are like fish
stories... The more they are told the bigger they got.

Best laugh I've had all day... Thanks!!

Jon Kraus

Kobra wrote:

> "Jon Kraus" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>>Send me the pics Kobra... Jon Kraus
>>
>>Kobra wrote:
>>
>>>Jack,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Jack Allison" >
>>>>Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
>>>>the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). >
>>>
>>>
>>>I remember the first week I was in my new hangar (part dirt and part
>>>asphalt
>>>floor). I had "bugs" too.
>>>
>>>I go to the airport and park my car in front of the hangar with the front
>>>end facing into the hanger. The hangar is not cleaned
>>>out, the doors are a beast to open, the electric doesn't work and there
>>>are
>>>these HUGE FRICKIN' INSECTS nesting in there!!! They're big, black,
>>>ugly,
>>>ant/hornet-like mutant intergalactic, people-eating aliens!! I swear to
>>>God! I will attach a picture.
>>>
>>>These things actually dive-bombed me when I was attempting to open my
>>>hanger
>>>door! They swarmed around my head and face forcing me to retreat to my
>>>car
>>>shrilling like a seven year-old girl!
>>>
>>>Just before I could pull the car door shut, one uninvited pest rudely
>>>buzzed
>>>in, repelling me out of the car by shear reflex. I leapt out, arms out
>>>in
>>>front of me high dive fashion, body horizontal to the ground, when I
>>>begin
>>>to noodle my situation: "Hmmm, did I put the car in first gear!?" Then
>>>everything went in slow motion. Body still horizontal, seeing lots of
>>>asphalt coming up into my face, envisioning headline that reads, "Man
>>>seen
>>>diving out of car and carried away by carnivorous insects as driverless
>>>car
>>>totals his new airplane parked in hanger".
>>>
>>>By shear luck or the divine grace of God the car was still in neutral and
>>>stayed put. I saw the beast fly out the still open door and I dove back
>>>in
>>>and made a beeline (no pun intended) out of there! I went straight home
>>>not
>>>knowing what to do. Then in my garage was the solution. On my workbench
>>>was an old tennis racket. It just lay there like Excalibur beckoning me
>>>for
>>>an illustrious battle!
>>>
>>>Now armed, I return to the front line to recapture my hanger. As I pull
>>>up
>>>I see two friends of mine at their hanger. Ahhh reinforcements!! To
>>>make a
>>>long story short we swat about five of these monsters, put them in a
>>>baggie
>>>and reclaim the lost hanger.
>>>
>>>I left one of the dead carcasses at the airport manager's office to
>>>research. They didn't get one dime out of me until those creatures were
>>>evicted!!
>>>
>>>Gene
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Also used up a can
>>>
>>>
>>>>and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
>>>>ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
>>>>not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.
>>>>
>>>>Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
>>>>solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
>>>
>>>>from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
>>>
>>>>probably go for it.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Jack Allison
>>>>PP-ASEL-IA Student
>>>>Arrow N2104T
>>>>
>>>>"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
>>>>with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
>>>>you will always long to return"
>>>> - Leonardo Da Vinci
>>>>
>>>>(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

[ORVAL FAIRBAIRN]

In article >,
"Kobra" > wrote:

> "Jon Kraus" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Send me the pics Kobra... Jon Kraus
> >
> > Kobra wrote:[i]
> >> Jack,
> >>
> >>
> >>>"Jack Allison" >
> >>>Yesterday's mission: bug killing. Bug bombed the hanger (after pulling
> >>>the plane out...went flying while bugs were dying). >
> >>
> >>
> >> I remember the first week I was in my new hangar (part dirt and part
> >> asphalt
> >> floor). I had "bugs" too.
> >>
> >> I go to the airport and park my car in front of the hangar with the front
> >> end facing into the hanger. The hangar is not cleaned
> >> out, the doors are a beast to open, the electric doesn't work and there
> >> are
> >> these HUGE FRICKIN' INSECTS nesting in there!!! They're big, black,
> >> ugly,
> >> ant/hornet-like mutant intergalactic, people-eating aliens!! I swear to
> >> God! I will attach a picture.
> >>
> >> These things actually dive-bombed me when I was attempting to open my
> >> hanger
> >> door! They swarmed around my head and face forcing me to retreat to my
> >> car
> >> shrilling like a seven year-old girl!
> >>
> >> Just before I could pull the car door shut, one uninvited pest rudely
> >> buzzed
> >> in, repelling me out of the car by shear reflex. I leapt out, arms out
> >> in
> >> front of me high dive fashion, body horizontal to the ground, when I
> >> begin
> >> to noodle my situation: "Hmmm, did I put the car in first gear!?" Then
> >> everything went in slow motion. Body still horizontal, seeing lots of
> >> asphalt coming up into my face, envisioning headline that reads, "Man
> >> seen
> >> diving out of car and carried away by carnivorous insects as driverless
> >> car
> >> totals his new airplane parked in hanger".
> >>
> >> By shear luck or the divine grace of God the car was still in neutral and
> >> stayed put. I saw the beast fly out the still open door and I dove back
> >> in
> >> and made a beeline (no pun intended) out of there! I went straight home
> >> not
> >> knowing what to do. Then in my garage was the solution. On my workbench
> >> was an old tennis racket. It just lay there like Excalibur beckoning me
> >> for
> >> an illustrious battle!
> >>
> >> Now armed, I return to the front line to recapture my hanger. As I pull
> >> up
> >> I see two friends of mine at their hanger. Ahhh reinforcements!! To
> >> make a
> >> long story short we swat about five of these monsters, put them in a
> >> baggie
> >> and reclaim the lost hanger.
> >>
> >> I left one of the dead carcasses at the airport manager's office to
> >> research. They didn't get one dime out of me until those creatures were
> >> evicted!!
> >>
> >> Gene
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Also used up a can
> >>
> >>>and a half of wasp spray, the stuff that kills them on contact from 20
> >>>ft. away. Found two birds nests (unoccupied). Basically, all critters
> >>>not paying hanger rent have been eliminated.
> >>>
> >>>Power sure would be nice. I have a friend who has rigged up a couple of
> >>>solar panels and he powers a couple of fluorescent lights and a radio
> >>>from them. If we get a chance to move to a hanger with power, we'd
> >>>probably go for it.
> >>>
> >>>--
> >>>Jack Allison
> >>>PP-ASEL-IA Student
> >>>Arrow N2104T
> >>>
> >>>"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
> >>>with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
> >>>you will always long to return"
> >>> - Leonardo Da Vinci
> >>>
> >>>(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>
> begin 666 monster bug.jpg
>
>
> end

Looks like a mud dauber -- usually not too aggressive.

--
Remove _'s from email address to talk to me.

[john smith]

looks like a hornet to me.