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  1. kl7jw added a post in a topic A real soldier   

    Well, my parents were legally married to each other.   And even though I was a Warrant Officer, I didn't do this one.

    John Hart
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  2. akflyer added a post in a topic A real soldier   

    so which one were you?


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  3. kl7jw added a topic in Jokes   

    A real soldier
    A long time ago, at Ft. Rucker, AL the Officer Student Company consisted of an entire square block of the old WWII barracks.  Any and all Officers and Warrant Officers that were assigned to F. Rucker for a course of instruction were assigned to the Officer Student Company for administrative purposes.  The ranks of the Officers and Warrant Officers ranged from Lieutenant General all the way down to the Warrant Officer W1.  Upon reporting to the Officer Student Company, an Officer would sign in, then be directed to an old barracks building that housed personnel, travel, and finance.  In processing would be completed in less than an hour, then they had to walk across the parade ground that had been turned into a parking lot to the other side of the block to be issued the books and study material for the course of instruction that they would attend, which usually consisted of a double armload of material.  One older Warrant Officer that had been in the Army for 25 years already was returning to his car with both arms full of books and material when he was approached by a Second Lieutenant.  The lieutenant had not yet completed flight school, but he chose to admonish the old CWO4.  The Old Warrant Officer stood there while the Lieutenant chewed on him for not saluting, then the lieutenant directed the old CWO4 to put the books down and render a salute.  The CWO4 complied, then picked up his books and stood up when the Lieutenant asked, "What have you got to say about this?"  The old Warrant looked the lieutenant in the eye, then said, "When you get home tonight, tell your mommy you talked with a real soldier today." and walked away as the Lieutenant stood there with his mouth open and a look of disbelief on his face.
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  4. kl7jw added a post in a topic Dinner Yesterday   

    If I sell the house, I'll move to Soldotna!  ;D  I just put it on there because.  Hey, if somebody wants it I'll sure let it go.  Maybe, just maybe my wife will agree to another move to Alaska.  We've only moved 36 times in the last 46 years!
    John Hart
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  5. akflyer added a post in a topic Dinner Yesterday   

    lol..I took it easy at dinner last night.  It was a balmy 15 with winds 20-58... today is the same but gusting 62.  Another day of sitting in the office watching a whiteout outside.. Phase III emergency travel only an that must be lead by a loader or grader..Real nice out there.

    I see you have the place up for sale.. just changing locations in the area or moving to another state?
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  6. kl7jw added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Dinner Yesterday
    As usual, I ate too damn much of that turkey and cornbread dressing with giblet gravy.  Probably should have gone hunting in AK instead!  Got to get outside, but it is cold here in OK.  It got down to 28 degrees F.:

    John Hart
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  7. akflyer added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    yes it is cheaper... to the tune of about 300 hundred bucks cheaper.... thats a few hours in the air, or two hours folding wings    Sorry Guy had to slip that one in there....
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  8. kl7jw added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    I think the guage needs that vacation to the lower 48 if the doctors say so!  Not a bad price to repair it these days.  Sounds cheaper than buying a new meter anyway.

    John Hart
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  9. akflyer added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    I just got a reply from the guys at EI instruments..

    Leonard-
    You have a unit that is quite old.  I would guess that one of the calibration pots has decided it wants to travel to Oregon to be replaced.  We can completely refurbish the gauge for about $65.00 plus shipping.  The turn around time is usually only about 2 days.
    Please let me know if I can help further.
    Thank you,
    Dave Campbell


    I think I will just pull it out and send it off and that will leave me more time to work on the wing..  I gotta get off my butt and get this thing in the air.
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  10. akflyer added a post in a topic 11 hr drive   

    Just a shot in the dark... but are there not any roads to stick close to?  I would take a million pine trees any day over a flight last year we did... mountain passes with 65 gusting 80...not my idea of a good time.. when we got back (well after dark) and landed on the lake on skis all three lights (fuel warning) were solid red and the puter said we had 4 minutes of fuel left.... the turbine eats that up quick.. real fun shooting and approach to an un-lit lake with skis knowing you dont get a second chance.

    I would have to say that if the kitfox crew can fly from various points in the south to Alaska and back, you can make a short hop for holidays.

    All that and I never even called you a woosy LOL..  You can call me a woosy when it come to flying in crowded or congested airspace..If I gotta call someone other than my local tower I get edgy.. I am a bush baby not a city slicker..

    <have some for me on turkey day.. I am stuck back at work...
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  11. 84KF added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    11 hr drive
    I am leaving for New Joysey'  from Michigan this evening and am looking at a 10-12 hr drive.

    Any one every flown the route in something no larger then a C-172? (say...a Kitfox 5?)

    I have done the Florida to Michigan trip in a Vagabond Cub but if you stay to the west you avoid most of the mountains. Our esteemed Alaskan friends will call me a woosy, but there is something about millions of pine trees, as far as you can see, all pointing up at ya like spears.   

    I guess what I'm wondering is if flying the length of Pennsylvania something to avoid, or with the proper planning can it be done with minimum pucker factor.

    Ok AK boys...,  hit a flatlander below the belt...       :beerchug:...

    Steve
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  12. akflyer added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   

    hope the wife gets better.  I know lots of people that had to move outside for medical reasons then were able to move back!

    At any rate enjoy where you are and fly the crap outa that fox.
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  13. kl7jw added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    It's looking pretty good already from the condition it was in.  If I were a betting man, I'd bt that meter case developed a leak that let moisture into it, whether in vapor or liquid form while it sat under that tarp outside.  Good chance of some type of corrosion in there causing the problem, and it could have ruined the meter.  Look inside.  It could also be a lot easier to repair than we think.

    John Hart 
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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    Thanks John.  I have not flown the plane yet, just in the process of re-building it.  The connections are bright and shiny on the back, but I will pull it out anyway and open the case and see if there is anything obvious in there.  The plane has not flown in 5 or 6 years.. The guy I bought it from could not remember when he wrecked it lol.. I found it under a tarp in Wasilla last year..  One more wing to replaace the rib tails on and she will be good to go.






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  15. kl7jw added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    Forgot to add that Penetrox or another brand may be availble at Lowe's, Home Depot or most any electrical supply house.

    John Hart
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  16. kl7jw added a post in a topic amp/volt meter troubles   

    Don't know that these ideas will work, but it sounds like grounding problem, either internally or between the case of the instrument and the airframe.  Another possibility is the toggle switch for switching from Amps to Volts.  Give the switch a shot of contact cleaner , or WD-40, right where the handle goes in to it, without power applied, work it back and forth then put the power to it.  You are in in a salt air environment there around Soldotna, and it's a bear on electrical contacts inside switches.  Next thing I'd check is the posts for connecting the wires.  Might be just corrosion on the posts between the wires and posts.  If that's the case, get a bottle of Penetrox, and put it on the posts and wires after cleaning and before assembly.  I use the stuff on ALL electrical connections that I take loose and re-install.  It also works wonders on battery terminals and cables.  Clean the posts and cable ends to shiny metal, allpy a moderate coating, and no more corrosion.  Penetrox just happens to be the brand name I bought.  There are other brands that are just as good but I don't know the names of them.  The stuff is used in house wiring between dissimilar metals in distribution panels and junction boxes to preclude oxygen from the metal-to-metal joint and prevent corrosion and electrolysis.  I use it on my car, aircraft, and ATV battery terminals, as well as when rewiring nearly anything.

    John Hart  
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  17. kl7jw added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   


    Outstanding!  It sure would be a plus if I could get more technical data on that sucker.  It seems like a pretty good prop, functions OK for the couple of hours that I ran it, but with it seeping grease along the parting surfaces of the hub, I'm just a little skeptical of the thing.  Aslo, it would be great if there were parts available for it.  I don't have a problem with effecting repairs, but I want to be certain I don't get into one of thos blade-flinging episodes if I can avoid it. 

    Oh, I used to to live in AK myself.  I'd like to go back, but got some medical problems with the wife of 46 years.  Maybe someday, if I don't get too old and crippled up myself!
    Thanks,

    John Hart
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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   


    well to be an honest injun.. dont have a weight in mind.  I do know the stock Avid skis lack on floatation in the powder especialy if you go with wheel skis.  I am going to add about 12" to the length on the straight skis and maybe a tad more to the width on the wheel skis.


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  19. eskflyer added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   

    John there is hope for a manual on the nsi CAP . There is a new company that is making them actually part of the old company changed names lol . Ill find the info and forward it to you and on the site here.

    Welcome to the world of Steve and the crazy AK guys
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  20. eskflyer added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   

    Off the record a kitfox 2 will be around 1430 max on floats that is floating on snow . Steve I am pricing the 4130 and find it is cheaper to buy here than to buy and have it shipped grrrrrrrrr. found the uhmv 1/4 cheap in Anchorage though. Yall take care now and fly safe

    Sig Below
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  21. 84KF added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   

    "......I will make a run of 4 sets for various guys in the area."


    Just out of,....ahh,..curiosity.. what sort of maximum A|C weight are we looking at here?
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  22. akflyer added a post in a topic 1960's Army Aviation   

    that one got me laughing good... I can totaly picture a buch of guys running around with a loud mouth DI behind em hollerin fly focker fly....
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  23. 84KF added a topic in Jokes   

    1960's Army Aviation
    John,  and the rest of ya too,
       Here is a story my cousin told me when he was home on leave back around 1969.

    Knowing he was failing in college in S. Florida and would loose his deferment..., Bruce decided to enlist.  Wanting to fly so as to stay out of the mud, he joined the Army and went on to flight training after basic training.
    Bruce came from a flying family and his father had worked for Piper in Vero Beach most of his life. He had his Private Pilot licence since high-school and would tell how he and his buddies would buzz the local beaches looking at girls.

      The first day of pre flight training found all the pilot candidates in formation. All new to the game, they listened to an Officer give a talk about Army Aviation and the the different jobs they may be doing in the future. He explained that besides helicopters, the Army also flew "fixed wing" aircraft in many roles.
      At that time, it was well known that helicopter pilots faced grave dangers in Viet Nam. Bruce knew this going in.
    The Officer commented that depending on aptitude, some of them may end up in "fixed wing aircraft" which was considered a bit safer.

    He, the Officer, then asked the formation if any of them knew how to fly already and to raise their hand to indicate that they did. Bruce, "seeing the light", and hoping to be assigned to the "safer" fixed wing aircraft raised his.

    The Officer had the "fliers"  step forward and form a line .


    The Officer then shouted ...OK mother F##ckers.......   FLY!!!!!  FLY!!!!!

    For the next hour Bruce, and the others, who "knew how to fly" had to run around the compound flapping their arms and elbows in an attempt to fly as they had said they could.  (At this time picture Bruce, half-drunk, running around the room telling the story, waving and flapping his arms and jumping up and down..."

    The final statement of the Officer was ...."Now we're going to teach you how to fly the Army way."

    Bruce went on to fly MediVacs in Viet Nam, survived, and went back to Ft.Rucker as an instructor.


    John, I know it's a large world, but his full name is Brian (Bruce) McPhail.  ??

      Steve
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  24. kl7jw added a post in a topic I like this site...No one hassles me here.   

    Wellllll, just put on a bigger engine to compensate for the weight!  Just think how well they would work on powder as light as the Avid is!

    John Hart
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  25. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    amp/volt meter troubles
    I have the digital amp/volt meter shown below.  The problem is that most of the time when I hit the master it will read 3.4 or maybe 6.2 volts.  When I put a regular volt meter across the terminals it (the second meter) will show 12+ volts as it should.  Sometimes a "timex" tap will make the meter read right sometimes it wont.  Sometimes flipping the switch between amps and volts will make it read right...  Any suggestions other than pull it out and take it to an electronics tech.. I am thinking it has to be a loose or dirty connection in the housing.

    Is is possible that I could rig a small powder charge to go off so I dont have to bloddy my knuckles (from tapping the hell out of it) inflight to keep it working?

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