Aug.
22,
2008
As some of you know I have been working on Blackhawk helicopters at Ft. Campbell
now for nearly 3 yrs.. One of the benefits of getting to do that is that after
working there for 2-1/2 yrs. You can meet the requirements for getting your FAA
Form 8610-2 which is the "Airman Certificate And/Or Rating Application" that allows
you to take the FAA A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) Test. If you pass the
written test (three actually General, Airframe, and Powerplant), you can then take the oral and practical test. After passing and
completing all of this you are then issued a FAA A&P License which allows
you to work on aircraft. I do not need this to work on my aircraft because since
I built mine I was issued a repairman's certificate that allow me to work on it
only. I don't need it to work on the military aircraft because I have previous
military experience that covers that. With this A&P License I will be
able to work on or in the aviation field if I so desire or need to in the
future. I took a week vacation for work this week and attend a 9 day cram course
for which is called a FAA Part 65 course. On completion of getting a A&P License after going through the
school course you earn 59 college credit and only need to complete a English
Composition class to earn an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Aviation
Maintenance Technology. The school is located in Clarksville, TN. North Central
Institute http://www.nci.edu.
I
took my General test Saturday Aug.16 and scored a 78. I took the Airframe test
on Monday Aug. 18 and scored a 87. I took the Powerplant test Wed. Aug. 20 and
scored a 94. I know I could not have done this without help from above, I did a
lot a praying to be able to pass these test. I should be taking my Oral and Practical
test by the first part of Oct.
Aug. 30,
2008
Today being the 5th Saturday of the month I flew to JWN in Nashville for their
Flyin lunch. As I was leaving a bonanza taxied around me while I was doing my
runup, he radioed me, it was a buddy, Chris Ferraraccio, from Clarksville, who
also flies a RV4. He was flying to his home strip (19TN)
which was right along my route and he invited me to stop by. I hadn't ever flown
into his strip, he said it was real smooth so I did a fly by to get the feel and
then came back around and landed. Final approach is through the trees over the
barn and thought the other trees. He has a very nice Home-hanger and
runway-yard. You never know what's hidden in them woods.
Sept.
20,
2008
Today I followed a buddy, Mac, about 45 min. north to drop off his plane for an
annual. When we got back his step-daughter was visiting and wanted to see what
it was like to do aerobatics in a small plane. So I just had to do the honors
:-) Her name is Erin Grugan. She was very interesting in everything about the
plane. She was also very interesting and fun to talk with. She loved doing the
aerobatics (step turns, rolls, loops, wingovers)!
Sept.
25,
2008
Today I took Mac to pickup his plane and I had my camera so I got a few pics of
his plane as we were flying home. Some of them turned out pretty good click on
the image below to see the pictures.
Oct.
4,
2008
Today Clarksville, TN was having a Aviation Day at Outlaw Field. I took my
oldest granddaughter with me. She played with a buddies dog, got some hearts
painted on her face, jumped in some bouncers and got a balloon.
Oct.
5,
2008
Today I drove to Nashville to meet up with Bob Yoreck he is a Designated
Maintenance Examiner (DME) and he gave me my Airframe and Power Plant
Oral and Practical Exam. I PASSED!!! I am now a certified A&P mechanic
:-)
Oct. 11,
2008
Flew to Franklin, KY - Welcome field for their flyin lunch. They had a really
big turn out. I forgot my camera but I had my buddy Mike Richardson send me some
of his so I could post them here. Thanks Mike!
Oct.
31,
2008
I took the camera up today and made a short video of a joy ride. A roll to the
right, a roll to the left, a loop, and a sloppy half cubin eight :-)
Nov. 23,
2008
Our new terminal bldg. is now open. There are still
a few things that need to be taken care of but it shouldn't take long.
Dec. 27, 2008
I have one Mag and one Lightspeed Ign. on my plane. My Mag fell under the a
Service Bulletin which required a tear down, inspection and parts replacement.
Good thing I recently got my A&P rating and learned how to do the work.
Click on the picture below to see the pictures I took. I took it apart, cleaned
and inspected it, replaced some parts, checked the e-gap and points gap.
Reassembled it, installed it, timed it to the engine and dam if it didn't start.
:-)
Click on collage to view
pictures
Dec.
31, 2008
Bad day for me today I was permanently Laid off from work, 3 yrs and 3 month
after I started working for DynCorp at Ft. Campbell, KY. I really enjoyed
working on Blackhawk helicopters but the company started a new contract and had
to trim the work force.
