After Annual ...

unicate wrote:
Finally picking up my airplane tomorrow after a 2-month annual.

Thanks to those who responded, even though most of it ended up being
about the guy in the nomex/helmet!

Picked up the airplane, we did two takeoffs and landings at that
airport, then went back, shut down. Everything seemed great. Then I flew
back to my home airport, let her rest for an hour, then took her out for
another two-hr flight. Wow, WHAT a difference. He did *a lot*, replaced
a lot, cleaned a lot ... it runs, sounds, feels MUCH smoother and more
solid now.

Happy to have her home...
Thanks again.

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:15:37 -0700, unicate wrote:


Have a few hundred more hours to go before a major engine overhaul, but
just about every part was taken out, scrutinized, cleaned, overhauled,
and replaced. Any tips/advice on that first test flight after that kind
of maintenance, other than the obvious?

It's always amazed me at the number of parts that are left in the
bucket after an annual.

My first inclination was for you to tell the IA to fly with you on the
first flight.

But I would not do that with some of the pilots that bring their
planes in.

Not you, of course, but I don't know you.

Mike Weller

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"N93332" wrote in message
...
The 2 different mechanics that I have taken my plane for annuals are both
pilots. The 1st annual (pre-purchase inspection) mechanic was also a CFI
and gave me the checkout in the plane for insurance purposes after the
inspection. When I take my plane in for annual, I give him permission to
'test fly' it when he's done; he usually does...

That's all very wonderful.

Still, there are perfectly valid reasons unrelated to the maintenance for
a mechanic to "hesitate even at the offer".


You bet there are!
Reminds me of what the examiner said when I asked "How can you tell I can
fly in 1 hour?"
The one thing he said that stuck "Did you ever get into a car with someone
and wish you were somewhere else by the time they backed out of the
driveway?"
I've made the decision to go, or not to go up with others just seeing how
they taxi, preflight or even hearing them talk.