Was in the Bay Area near San Fransciso last week and called an old friend to see if he wanted to go flying. Great, he says, meet me at my office at 4:00 PM and we'll go up. It's an absolutely beautiful afternoon. Cloudless sky, little haze, no wind, and green everywhere (it's the two weeks after...

As I mentioned in a couple of other threads in RAP recently, the trim jackscrew is very worn in our '74 Archer. The wear seems to be nearly half of the thread depth. In other words, you can move the screw laterally inside the drum about half of the height of a thread. It can be rocked angularly...

Recently one of my partners reported that the compass (standard whiskey compass, not a vertical card) on our Archer was reading 20-25 degrees off of runway heading at departure. Today a new partner was up with an instructor for his sign off and reported the same thing. I hadn't noticed, but we...

There has been talk of making Mode S a requirement sometime in the future. Our transponder is giving trouble again. Does it make any sense to consider putting in a Mode S transponder now, if we have to replace ours? We can get a yellow-tagged Mode C transponder or even a new exchange from...

We have been having trouble getting decent replacements for the above, which pop into the holes in the top of the wing to allow the main gear struts to be pressurized. Our mechanic uses 1 1/2" plastic (Polypropylene, I think) hole plugs from McMaster Carr, but they don't seem to stay in our...

Our 74 Archer has the standard two-lever horizontal quadrant for heater and defroster control. The last time I flew it, the heater was stuck on. Moving the lever had no effect. Our feet were actually hurting it was so hot. The defroster valve seems to work fine. Yesterday, I took the little...

Went out the the airport to carve up some air this afternoon in the Archer. During the preflight, I noticed that I could get almost no flow from the right sump drain. Was concerned that if the sump drain was blocked, there might be stuff in the tank that could also block the fuel line or...

IIRC, last year someone (Jim Weir?) designated a Rec.Aviation FRS channel so that everyone could find each other more easily. My brothers and I plan on being there this year. Did it work out and was it any help last year? Are there plans for repeating such a thing this year. If so, what...

It looks like the Archer needs a new engine. We're just short of 2,000 hours, the pressures are all 70 or above, and it's not making metal, but there is a lot of loud piston slap going on. We get mixed opinions about whether or not this can cause a sudden stoppage, so we're probably erring on...

....without any noobs reposting that stupid Night Before Christmas rhyme about Santa. A good start for 2009. -- Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it. ~ Andre Gide

Aircoupe Alon A2 with C90 engine with two props, one 48" pitch and the other 52". It doesn't make the static runup RPM minimums with either one, for instance the 48" prop should be 2225 to 2325 rpm, I averaged out to 2162 rpm. Likewise the 52" prop falls short 100 rpm or more. Three years ago...

Folks, I'm hoping you can help me diagnose an odd EGT gage behavior. Background: 1965 Aircoupe with Continental C90-16F engine (has vacuum pump). Plane based in N. California so freezing temps not a factor (pre-heat not needed nor used). Has both a CHT and EGT on different cylinders, with the...

With the demise of 80/87 avgas, I bought a gallon of TCP and will start adding that to the 100LL that I must now buy. However, scouting around the internet I found something that claims to be similar in function but safer: decalin. Here's a blurb from Aircraft Spruce. My questions are, has...

A friend of mine just got a new Continental engine for his Cessna (182RG I think, but don't those have struts? This one doesn't, but it isn't a Cardinal... I don't know my Cessnas too well... anyways). He says the factory had it sent with some expensive brand of 5W-30 (or was 5W-15? something...

What does everyone use for cleaning dirt/grease up on landing gear? We're not satisfied with soap/water due to the fact the brush/scrubber/sponge can't get to all the nooks and crannies. A hangar neighbor suggested brake cleaning fluid. Thanks

Peter wrote There are various documents such as the cert of airworthiness, and (for an N-reg in Europe) the FAA radio license, which some say need to be carried in original. The Radio License doesn't come from the FAA, it is isued by the FCC. Bob Moore

Well, I'm about to throw some AMUs at redoing the interior of my cherokee 140 (with Airtex stuff). What opinions do people wish to share wrt the pros/cons of relatively light colors for the interior rugs, wall panels, seats? Do the lighter color fabrics show the dirt too easily? (heat/cold are...

In preparation for winter, I have a question. the situation: T-hangar with bi-fold doors. Run-off from the roof collects in front of the hangar door (because the tarmac doesn't slope away from the hangar - in fact there is a slight dip in front of the hangar). In the winter, water collects and...

While I was down because of surgery I had the mechanic put in nulites on the six-pack, the clock, and the suction gauge (the turn coordinator was already lit). Tonight was the first night I got to fly at night and these nulites beat the red overhead light every which way. way cool Highly...

new proposed rule in today's federal register (watch the linewrap) http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008 /E8-3822.htm It would appear that the FAA wants to make the aircraft registration certificate invalid if the registration hasn't been properly...