Wow Polvie.....You did some flyin! Me? About 2 1/2 years total including my training. 270 hours in my log......
The only time I did any short or soft field procedures was during training. Kept that white stripe right in the middle. <g>
I was a "severe clear" flying dude. None of that cloud stuff for me. I did start my IFR training, before I stopped fyin though.
Hey? Did ya hear about the gas mix up Chevron had about 6-7 years ago?
I was doing my solo.......my instructor Rick and I flew out to a small uncontrolled airport, Franklin field, and we landed. He hops out, grabs the handheld radio and says "okay...I want you to take off, fly the pattern and land to a complete stop"
YES!! YES!! Finally....freedom....unlike you, that was exactly the way I felt BECAUSE of the feeling I had, in control of this 152 ..... all by myself. So....I do the pattern thing......FREEDOM....1000ft above the runway......announce my position in the pattern all the way around.....land....taxi around to him....he says "good job...now I want you to do some touch and go's"
YES!! YES!!...again...that feeling........around and around I go....I forget how many times.....what a feeling...my first solo.
Okay...were done and heading back to Executive Airport......we land, taxi back to the FBO...I am so dang excited.....now I get to go fly anytime, by myself......KeeewwLLLLL!
We hop out of the airplane and are walking back into the FBO and here comes the FAA examiner, Jack, walking out to meet us. Nice guy....real friendly...he's the one who talked me into taking lessons there. He ask's "So, how did your solo go?" Rick says "fine....everything a okay!" Jack says "Good...now I have some bad news....all our planes are grounded......Chevron has mixed general aviation fuel with jet fuel and all our planes have that bad gas in em. All engines at the very least have to be rebuilt, or maybe new ones put in. We already have had one dead stick landing as a result. It could be months before your flying again"
WHAT???? I was flying around on my solo with BAD GAS??? And to boot, I can't fly for months?
I was crushed....and felt very lucky at the same time!
Hundreds of planes were affected all over the west coast. The FAA ended up ordering Chevron to by new engines for all those planes. The owners and Lycoming made out like bandits, by my flying career was held up for a couple of months or so.
I'm glad they didn't call me on the radio while I was soloing and tell me about it......I would have been a nervous wreck.
.....thats my story # 002. <g>
:0)
Ramblin |
