Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[bindian]

Brandi,
With no military, NASA, or FAA static or aerial demonstrations at the EAA show this year and likely not any in the near future years because of budget trimming, that seems like too fur' a piece to go and way too much walking and or shuttling between the various areas for my old creaky bones, so I won't be going to Oshcosh. From what I read on the net, everything is being trimmed back at the EAA AirVenture show, to be more basic again but still spread out over miles.
Smaller shows within my hundred mile radius are plenty good enough for me.

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/notices/2013-07-25/OSHKOSH.pdf

Ron,
I won't be going for all the "G" stuff. I've seen that stuff. It's the old beautiful birds that spark my eye.
Also, a side trip to the float/seaplane mooring lake would be hoot also. Who knows, we could see a DC-3 on floats.:thumbsup::licking::licking::licking:
Besides, Ellington Field, just south of Houston is where NASA keeps some of their toys. Their B-57 atmosphere research "bomber" or Canaberra for you British is a neat look see.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I work at the NE corner of Hobby Airport. I went to A&P School on the south side of Hobby back in 1978. This morning I took a tour around Hobby and was sad to see that Precision Aeromotive, who sold hardware and supplies and rebuilt round engines, has closed their doors. Aviall has closed also. Numerous old hangars near the old, original tower/terminal are shuttered and empty. The old hangar when I learned practical aircraft practices is now home to a Grumman G Five. That same hangar where we shivered on cold mornings in the small classroom and smelled 100 octane and jet fuel in the afternoon. Trunkline Gas's old hangar, next door where I first saw the results of burning av gas in a jet ....and where the mechanics had a ping pong table, has been wiped clean. Maybe a tornado, but now is only ramp space for an old Lear 23, an old Falcon 10 and a Cherokee Six. No Howard 500 sitting out on the other side of my school's hangar, leaking oil on the ramp. It's sad to see the old area and how things have changed. But one thing that always is happening in aviation is change.
hugs, Brandi

 

[mikim]

I worked the B57 at Ubon back in the day when we were still using 'em as bombers in SEA. They had a piece of armor under the tail that the crew chiefs kept well painted. If the pilot pulled back on the stick too quick on take off or flared a bit much on landing he'd scrape that armor and owed the crew chief a beer. They had a modification that added a central air data computer for things like altitude and airspeed indicators that were not direct pressure indicators. We didn't have a book on repairing the darn thing and me and a partner in crime sent 2 of 'em back to the factory in pieces trying to figure it out. We eventually were able to fix a lot of it.

 

[farmgirl19]

Bindian; At least Hobby, is still operational in heavy rains! The college educated boys that designed IAH put the generator in the basement of the control tower. So, in heavy rains, when there is electrical failure, the generator is in a flooded basement, so it doesn't work either. HOB is the alternate for IAH, and with good reason. Close enough to get to in a couple of minutes, long enough runways, and a gernerator that isn't underwater when needed! Newer technology isn't always better!

Anyone see the info on the UPS Airbus crash in Birmingham? Autopilot was still on when the craft hit the trees. Warnings in the cockpit had already gone off, anouncing "Sink Rate". Again, pilots were so busy letting the comoputers do the job, they forgot to fly the airplane. I have an article written by an old pilot, as well as some of the "Black Box" info that has been released. PM me if you are interested. Even if everyone was interested, it is too long an article and too much info to post here. Comes back to the same factors as Asiana in SFO.

One person has already suggested an hour of aerobatic flying in a Starduster, every 18 months as part of the checkride requirements for being an airline pilot! Maybe then, all pilots would know how to maintain airspeed, altitude and attitude. :drink:

 

[Bird]

Aviall has closed also.

You are talking about at Hobby only, aren't you? They're still in business elsewhere as far as I know. A former neighbor and friend, who died 11 years ago, was a retired Army sergeant and worked at Aviall at Love Field in Dallas as a computer operator.

 

[bindian]

Bindian; At least Hobby, is still operational in heavy rains! The college educated boys that designed IAH put the generator in the basement of the control tower. So, in heavy rains, when there is electrical failure, the generator is in a flooded basement, so it doesn't work either. HOB is the alternate for IAH, and with good reason. Close enough to get to in a couple of minutes, long enough runways, and a gernerator that isn't underwater when needed! Newer technology isn't always better!

Anyone see the info on the UPS Airbus crash in Birmingham? Autopilot was still on when the craft hit the trees. Warnings in the cockpit had already gone off, anouncing "Sink Rate". Again, pilots were so busy letting the comoputers do the job, they forgot to fly the airplane. I have an article written by an old pilot, as well as some of the "Black Box" info that has been released. PM me if you are interested. Even if everyone was interested, it is too long an article and too much info to post here. Comes back to the same factors as Asiana in SFO.

One person has already suggested an hour of aerobatic flying in a Starduster, every 18 months as part of the checkride requirements for being an airline pilot! Maybe then, all pilots would know how to maintain airspeed, altitude and attitude. :drink:

FG,
IAH had numerous rain washouts in and around the roads leading to the airport when it opened. From 1987 to 1991, I don't remember rain being a problem. Hobby is HOU. Now, is this the article you are referring to at this link..............Why it really should be about the man and not the machine
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

You are talking about at Hobby only, aren't you? They're still in business elsewhere as far as I know. A former neighbor and friend, who died 11 years ago, was a retired Army sergeant and worked at Aviall at Love Field in Dallas as a computer operator.

Yes Bird.........only at Hobby. Aviall at DAL does everything up to engine overhauls, as I remember.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I worked the B57 at Ubon back in the day when we were still using 'em as bombers in SEA. They had a piece of armor under the tail that the crew chiefs kept well painted. If the pilot pulled back on the stick too quick on take off or flared a bit much on landing he'd scrape that armor and owed the crew chief a beer. They had a modification that added a central air data computer for things like altitude and airspeed indicators that were not direct pressure indicators. We didn't have a book on repairing the darn thing and me and a partner in crime sent 2 of 'em back to the factory in pieces trying to figure it out. We eventually were able to fix a lot of it.

Mike,
The British have odd ways of doing things. What I found odd in the B-57 is how the wing spar, at the engine mount, is a round ring for the engine to sit in. Very odd.

Boeing 727-200s, because of their longer length over the -100s, had crushable honeycomb with a skid plate added as an afterthought for crews that over rotated on takeoff. When it was crushed, you had to do a hard landing inspection.
hugs, Brandi

 

[farmgirl19]

FG, Now, is this the article you are referring to at this link..............Why it really should be about the man and not the machine
hugs, Brandi

Yep, that is one of them. I have another as well. I think the link you posted said it quite well. I had the entire article sent to me as an email, not as a link. Thanks for posting in a manner that all could look at, should they want to.

 

[jinman]

I got .15" of rain this afternoon. It was a nice shower. It was coming down pretty good for awhile. Nice!