"The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men..."It was never my intension to buy a "project." I, simply mindedly, just wanted a toy with which I could bore a few holes in the sky... Unhappily, what looked like a toy, was really a project in disguise, and the tasks that need to accomplish before heading skyward are legion, Further, they increase each time I talk to someone who should know... First it was the gentleman that first assembled this particular vehicle (23 years ago). He confirmed the story that it had only flown twice, but went on to say that it didn't meet the criteria for being classified as ultralight because it was too heavy (see FAA regulations in the box below). This would have mandated a protracted and laborious interaction with the FAA to get the vehicle registered as a "sport aviation" aircraft (one of the many requirements being that the owner show proof he/she built over 50% of it). I had a conversation with a very gruff official at the FAA district office in Scottsdale, who informed me that the manufacturer listed the empty weight as 254 pounds, and "that's what we have to go with." I then informed him I had failed my medical certification, and upon hearing that, he said I couldn't fly anything. I asked him to read Sec 103.7 paragraph (b), and after a minute of silence, his only comment was, "Have fun!"
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FAR Sec. 103.1 ...For the purposes of this part, an ultralight vehicle is a vehicle that:
(a) Is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant; (1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight... FAR Sec. 103.7 Certification and registration... (b) Notwithstanding any other section pertaining to airman certification, operators of ultralight vehicles are not required to meet any aeronautical knowledge, age, or experience requirements to operate those vehicles or to have airman or medical certificates. |
With the legalities out of the way, I confronted the physical problems. The first problem was finding a home for the plane. The unprotected fabric covering mandates that it be hangared. San Manuel was the obvious place, but all the hangers there are full (and there is a waiting list...) Hanger space is available in Benson at $225/month, in Marana for $272 (plus tax), and in Safford for $165. I finally talked my way into sharing a hanger in Kearny with two other guys, for $50/month. The price is nice, one of the hanger co-renters has been extremely helpful (I have yet to meet the other), and the best part is that the hanger next door houses a certified mechanic who is willing to help and lend tools. I didn't think people like that existed any more...The fabric (referred to as sails) was mostly off and had to be replaced (only $1495). Then there was a rebuild kit for the fuel pump ($10 some odd), another for the carburetor ($20 some odd), four engine and two exhaust system mounts, each containing four rubber grommets (which Ace Hardware has for $3.09 each), five fan belts that run the reduction gear (at $11.69 each), five feet of fuel line (including a foot of super heavy line that transfers pressure pulses from the engine to the fuel pump), a fuel filter, an air filter (circa $35), an air speed indicator, and seals for the crankshaft (along with a gasket set [outrageously priced at $152 and shipped from Austria via slow swimmer {and still not here yet}]). Oh, and don't forget the $100 worth of connectors that hold the aluminum tubbing together, and the broken sleeve that held the two halves of the horizontal stabilizer together. And did I mention the plastic covering the coils that are part of the magnetos that are cracked? Nathen, Barbara, and Dave Ellis helped put fabric on the tail parts. We made good progress until we encountered the above mentioned, broken piece. Working alone, I covered the horizontal stabilizer and one aileron, but managed to ruin the second aileron (a replacement [currently being shipped] is circa $350). Other than the cash hemorrhage, the hardest part of the whole project is waiting for parts to be delivered (Honey, did UPS come today?). |
Another current project (almost relegated to "also ran" status) is an addition to the shed. A few letters ago, I detailed how the foundation had cracked and rotated, and how I straightened it. Here is my attempt at stabilizing it. First I hauled in rocks and stacked them against the outside of the foundation. Because the ground falls off rapidly on the downhill side, it took a lot of rocks. This pile probably measures three feet at it's deepest spot.
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The next step was to cover the rocks with dirt. This is an attempt to further stabilize them. It will work in the short term. In the long term, it is anybody's guess. The source of this dirt will be obvious in the next photo.
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The existing foundation had been buried in a couple of places. It is hard for me to really believe it, but almost a foot of dirt has washed into the space between the shed and the rabbit house, slowly on a human time scale, but instantaneously on a geological one.
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The only "help" I got on this dig came from my puppy, who dug furiously at any dirt I happened to get on my shovel, and then lay down in the cool, damp, trench. Barbara has taken to controlling the cat using a squirt bottle filled with water. I attempted the same with the dog. It was efficient at first, but within a short period it became a game, and he was attempting to drink the squirts. He doesn't like being in the sun in the heat of the day, so I was able to work sans his "help" during that time interval. In the final analysis, he was about as helpful as any normal three-year-old child.
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I finally got a row of blocks laid on the foundation, but not before Compton chewed through my leveling line three times...
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My old chop saw gave up the ghost after I attempted to cut thru some tires. I took it apart in a repair attempt, only to find that plastic components in the switch had melted together. Try finding a replacement for that switch on the internet. So, I purchased a new saw. Harbor Freight is becoming one of my favorite stores.
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The view from the inside hasn't changed, but from the outside I must look like an old man. When I purchased the block, and again when I purchased the rebar, the clerk at Home Depot insisted on having someone help me load them. I'm not sure whether to be thankful or offended...
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At any rate, I cut some of the stuff up and started welding. I decided to construct this set of joists out of half-inch rebar. The roof I built using 5/8 rebar doesn't give a millimeter when I walk on it, suggesting that it is over built. Besides, my source for cheap #5 rebar dried up and #4 rebar is much easier to work with.
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To this point, I have 9 of 10 joists completed. Soon, I'll have both the top and the bottom done, and lack only the middle... As far as I can tell, Tucson is in the midst of a drought of used 2 X 4 lumber. That is unfortunate, as Home Depot really likes their wood, and they don't give it away.
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Jon's two oldest boys came to stay with him for a week, and he brought them here for a few hours. We enjoyed the visit and, given Barbara's affinity for children's toys and games, I suspect they did too.
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How do you like Kaleb's "photo face?" I think it is sort of a involuntary reflex every time a camera is pointed in his direction.
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Daniel has grown so much, I didn't recognize him. But then, it has been a couple of years and humans change more during their first decade than any other time.
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Mark came for another visit. After reading how the indians used to use them, he wanted to harvest some saguaro fruit and boil them down to a syrup. This product is reported to have a sweetness comparable to molasses.
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Unfortunately, a survey of half the state reveled the location of only three fruits. So, we (with Karren and Jim) made a second attempt to find the jasper mine. Karren found three turtles (or tortoises or whatever they are called) on the roads, but our jasper hunt yielded the same results as the saguaro fruit hunt. Well, maybe next year...
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My Fujifilm camera has been getting lazier and lazier about focusing. Then finely, it stopped talking to my computer--so it was time to acquire a new one. I debated replacing it with a camera having the same dimensions that fits comfortable in my pocket, or moving up (at least in price) to one with better optics. Shopping on e-bay can be enjoyable, if you are not pressed for time and you don't lose you head or your temper. I watched a Fujifilm camera, new in a box bearing a price tag of $279.99, go for $75.10 (My maximum bid was $60 and I was high bidder for a couple of hours). In the last 30 seconds, the price skyrocketed from $31 upward. That sort of thing is kind of fun to watch. I then turned my attention to a pair of pocket cameras, a Sony and a Fujifilm. The Sony auction ended 48 seconds before that of the Fujifilm, adding another consideration to the mix. Again, I was high bidder on the Sony until the last 15 seconds. When that sale ended unsuccessfully for me, I flipped over to the Fujifilm auction (that I was following in a separate window), and bought it for $20.50 including shipping. It is the next step up from the camera I had, taking 14 megapixel pictures instead of 10. It uses the same memory sticks, but takes AA batteries instead of rechargeable ones. Needless to say, I am quite pleased with the deal, and if the camera actually works, I will be happier yet!
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Additionally, I have been working on family history type stuff, and have posted Joan's photo history of the life Sessal and Charlotte Allen (my maternal grandparents). I also posted Grandpa Allen's missionary journal (yes, he really did eat dog with some indian friends ("Oh boy! Some stew."), and also horse ["Tastes like Jack-rabbit."]). He talked about working in Challis Idaho, and swimming in the hot springs where Nathen and I camped on our bicycle ride to Canada. Mission rules must have been a bit different in those days, as he told of hunting and killing 51 jack-rabbits. He "made jack-rabbit sausage and then the women folks pronounced it good." In addition, I posted the journal Grandpa kept of his first Alaska trip (he helped build an air base in Anchorage Alaska during the latter part of WWII). If this sort of stuff interests you, a link to it can be found at www.grandmasweb.com/allenancestors/sdallenstories Still in progress is the personal history Nella Hatch wrote. All these projects have been relatively time consuming, but enjoyable. |