Morning Cup Of Coffee And Weather
- Thread starter Tour 931
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Sweeney
Administrator
Good morning world. The sun is still rising north of Timms Hill.
Very nice. I missed the sunrise Monday at the park -- but the little bit of the sky I caught, was remarkably similar. Beautiful.
FWIW --- made it home finally at 11:15 on Tuesday. The drive back was brutal, having to stop for another night at Tippicanoe River State Park in Winamac Indiana -- nice night, only a hand full of people there. But it gave me what I needed -- a good night sleep, and most of all not driving at night. I'm finding that is something I do NOT enjoy any more. In decades past, I'd drive 20 hours straight to get to our Florida escape -- no more.
We spent 6 days in Yellowstone and the Tetons WITHOUT the crowds last week
Last visit was 1994 with 4 kids and a pop-up. Weather was beautiful - upper 50's low 60's for highs and lows around 35-40. Did some fly fishing and hiking and saw plenty of wildlife. We saw our first Grizzly and Wolf which was just awesome.
No CampInn, we stayed at Grant Village Lodge. What a place!
Last visit was 1994 with 4 kids and a pop-up. Weather was beautiful - upper 50's low 60's for highs and lows around 35-40. Did some fly fishing and hiking and saw plenty of wildlife. We saw our first Grizzly and Wolf which was just awesome.
No CampInn, we stayed at Grant Village Lodge. What a place!
A couple more...
Van_and_Terri
Ranger
Beautiful!
The Postman
Ranger
Just wow! Great pics!
Thanks. It's hard to take a bad pic when you're surrounded by that kind of scenery. And we lucked out and hit it with the Aspens at their peak of color, which we've never seen 
Sweeney
Administrator
It amazes me how fast the weather changes up there. I mean we picked our camper up in early november (I think -- maybe mid) and it was icy and snowy --- which had me freaked out, and is how I found Colinite wax.
Does the same here too, but not with the brutaility you deal with
We'll see overnights kissing freezing in about 3 weeks --- Halloween is usually when we start turning on the furnace. Still too soon!
Does the same here too, but not with the brutaility you deal with
We'll see overnights kissing freezing in about 3 weeks --- Halloween is usually when we start turning on the furnace. Still too soon!
Yep, 90 on Saturday, hard freeze this morning....nice part was that there were a lot fewer bugs to clean off the plane when I landed this afternoon. One more hard one should finish them off.It amazes me how fast the weather changes up there. I mean we picked our camper up in early november (I think -- maybe mid) and it was icy and snowy --- which had me freaked out, and is how I found Colinite wax.
Does the same here too, but not with the brutaility you deal with
Sweeney
Administrator
HAHA -- been flying much lately? I keep hopign to get the money and time to line up together. I found a local resource who knows Corvair inside and out --- apparently, he can build them in his sleep. It may not be smart, but the engine is coming first -- I have it, and its taking up the same space wether it is assembled and tested, or rusting.
OF course this is predicated on the fact I'll be home over the winter --- I may be in florida or warmer climates!
From there, empennage, wings, and fuselage - mostly starting small allowing me to move completed itesm to storage for final assmebly. I got the itch, its time to just do it...pay as I go and as I can afford it rather than thinking of it as one big bite, which is what has stopped me.
Of course I say then and i start thinking...hm....fiberglass...I know a lot more about that than when I decided metal was the way to go --- and I think I get can be plan on a Long-EZ 'inspired' blueprint...
The Postman
Ranger
My morning coffee contribution...my Victron account (from using the batt charger and bt shunt) generates lots of interesting stuff...
Where is the guy who was talking towing his campinn with an EV...@long...something?
www.victronenergy.com
Where is the guy who was talking towing his campinn with an EV...@long...something?
Solar powered miles in Cybertruck and camper - Victron Energy
Whilst Eddie and his wife Louise go hiking, their Cybertruck refuels itself from the sun. Proponents of living sustainably, their tow vehicle just has to be electric …and they prefer boon docking to organised sites. Those two preferences seemed to be incompatible until Eddie had an idea which...
www.victronenergy.com
Yeah, you can't look at it in its totality or it will overwhelm you both financially, and looking at the amount of work. Like eating an elephant.
It took me 8-1/2 yrs to build mine, and if I spread the cost out over those years, it really isn't more than a lot of folks spend on their hobby's, and it pretty much turned into my only hobby over that time period.
Unless we were out of town, I made sure I did something on it every day, even if 10 minutes of work was all I had time for. Since the GlaStar is a true composite plane having aluminum wings, and control surfaces, along with a fiberglass fuselage, and a chrome molly steel cage surrounding the passenger compartment, I got good experience in most of the building techniques, and fortunately had some great mentors looking over my shoulder throughout, making sure I was doing things right. As well as a great builders forum to ask questions on as they arose.
I think the Corvair engine is one of the few automotive engines that have enjoyed a fairly good history when used in the right aircraft, and when not using PSRU's to try getting the most power out of them. With the price of aircraft engines more than doubling since I built mine, I might be looking in that direction if I was going to build today.
Building an experimental aircraft isn't for everyone, but for those who have the knack and desire, to learn and apply some new skills, it's a way to end up with a plane that can perform better, and if you are meticulous, be built better than many factory built ones. They can also be built and maintained for significantly less as well.
If you just want to fly, you may be able to buy an airworthy used factory built plane for less than building, and get in the air a lot quicker, and there's nothing wrong with that either. There are also a half dozen experimentals on our field, but mine is the only owner built one currently flying. There is another one under construction by it's owner. The rest were purchased from the original builders or subsequent owners, and that isn't a bad option either, with most maintainence being able to be performed by the owner if desired, but annuals will need to be done by an A&P, or the original builder if he was issued a repairman's certificate by the FAA for that plane, like I have for mine.
Sweeney
Administrator
I've got the engine, I am going to start there - need to insulate the 'shop' a basic 16x20 shed. Smaller than I want, but I think I can make it work until it all "comes together" The advice to do something daily is great advice --- keeping a project moving regardless of speed is a lot easier than restarting it --- I've seen it a dozen times in my life if I"ve seen it once.
The plane is 23 foot tip to tail, remove the engine and rudder and you get at least that much back. That will be _tight_ but it should be workable. Installing the motor likely will be the last thing I do before it moves to a hangar. We'll deal with that as it comes
The Corvair engine IS an aircraft engine -- I think that is why it has been so successfull, a lot of people don't know that -- it was intended to be used in a helicopter, but the war came to an end and Chevy was left with an engine they didn't know what to do with.
Wasn't able to find anything about it being developed for a helicopter, but did find an extensive history on the engine here, including a list of experimental aircraft it has been used on near the end of the article: Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 engine - WikipediaI've got the engine, I am going to start there - need to insulate the 'shop' a basic 16x20 shed. Smaller than I want, but I think I can make it work until it all "comes together" The advice to do something daily is great advice --- keeping a project moving regardless of speed is a lot easier than restarting it --- I've seen it a dozen times in my life if I"ve seen it once.
The plane is 23 foot tip to tail, remove the engine and rudder and you get at least that much back. That will be _tight_ but it should be workable. Installing the motor likely will be the last thing I do before it moves to a hangar. We'll deal with that as it comes
The Corvair engine IS an aircraft engine -- I think that is why it has been so successfull, a lot of people don't know that -- it was intended to be used in a helicopter, but the war came to an end and Chevy was left with an engine they didn't know what to do with.
It was the subject of a lot of R&D during it's GM production run, and quite a bit more since, as several Corvair engine guru's have worked to make them dependable alternatives to the Lycoming and Continental engines most widely used in aircraft. Basic Corvair Information , Spyder Engines | Azalea Aviation
One note of caution if you are going to start with the engine. Corrosion is the enemy of engines that sit for extended periods of time without being run/lubricated on a regular basis. It can be minimized with some precautions both while building it and after. There are pickling strategies to use when building to keep moisture from exposed steel that will help, and something called an engine saver to keep the crankcase filled with dry air using a small air pump, and a large desiccant container to recirculate and dry the air. A relatively small investment to protect a relatively large one.
Have fun!
Sweeney
Administrator
The helicopter story may be apocryphal. I heard it from an expert. I've got the block, and am building off of (no title) and have talked WIlliam sereral times. I have heard NOTHING but good things about his methods. I also have a corviar restorer up in Muncie Indiana that apparently can reassemble and engine from parts while blindfolded. Betweent hese two I think I should be in good shape.
The guy up in muncie was really interested in my project.
I plan on having the block, and plan on a MPI inspection -- I think that is what its called...magnetic fields and dyes -- its about the best way to find microscopic cracks. Regardless. Well aware of that risk.
Once I have it done I'll fog the thing with Boeshield -- which if you havn't heard of it, is amazing stuff. Developed by boeing its the best rust inhibitor you can get.
But that is still a ways away.
The guy up in muncie was really interested in my project.
I plan on having the block, and plan on a MPI inspection -- I think that is what its called...magnetic fields and dyes -- its about the best way to find microscopic cracks. Regardless. Well aware of that risk.
Once I have it done I'll fog the thing with Boeshield -- which if you havn't heard of it, is amazing stuff. Developed by boeing its the best rust inhibitor you can get.
But that is still a ways away.
By the looks of what you've done around your place, you deserve a lazy day now & then.....enjoy your coffee!
Sweeney
Administrator
I remember those days! Before my life went ballistic a couple of years ago, one of my favorite things was a lazy morning on the couch, enjoying a fire in the fireplace, a cup of coffee, and if I was in a devil-may-care diet mood, a slice of coffee cake! I'm dreading the change in seasons, I hate winter weather. But having a little time to recharge is definately a welcomed though.
OK -- why is chocolate cake bad in the morning, but "coffee cake" is somehow ok? Seriously...