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Thad Phillips. Updated All content, logos, pictures and videos are the property of FatBoyz Aviation.
Copyright 2003 - 2006 |
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A complete index to
columns of Max Grogan Mountain Air, North Carolina
1007 First I saw sand bunkers on the
golf course. Then the runway flashed
below. I turned right and set up a
downwind leg at a heading of 140 degrees.
Looking out below my right wing I did not see the airport again until
I was past it a bit. By this time the
gear was coming down as I prepared to turn onto the base leg of the landing
approach. The approach end of the
runway appeared from behind trees as I was midway through the base leg. I thought how different this was from most
landings. Osh Kosh, B’Gosh, A Pilot’s Dream
0807 As I taxied
to the west I realized I was approaching AeroShell Square. This is the very center of the field on the
west side. This area is reserved for
the most important planes on display for the week or any given day. There might be the latest military fighter
plane or space ship for example. The
tug arrived and pulled me into the center of the display. Here I was for the first time and, although
by accident, I was parked in AeroShell Square! My plane was parked among the Very
Important Planes. Why My Engine Failed
0107 It was
visibly obvious, through the hole in the engine case, the connecting rod of
the number four cylinder had seized on the crankshaft, but not why. When the rod seized, welding itself and its
bearings to the crank, it was under power.
As the crank rotated, the rod, unable to rotate around its bearings,
was broken in half. Direction of the Day, Angel Flight Mission 062645 1206 Fourteen years ago my
wife and I struggled to cope with our daughter's losing battle with leukemia.
We learned a lot about coping during that experience. Through accident or
serendipitous misfortune many must cope with life changing events and
struggle to live and regain good health. Some do not survive long term. We
survivors with good health can provide a small measure of comfort. Those of
us who fly can do this by giving of our time and resources in various ways.
Angel Flight is one way I choose to help those less fortunate than I.
Bliss in “Bahabba”
1106 The weather
for our departure day was absolutely perfect.
The air was clear and hardly a cloud was forecast between Knoxville
and Bar Harbor. In addition, winds
aloft forecasts predicted a strong tailwind for the entire trip. Winds at 9,000 feet were forecast to be
from 310 degrees at 85 knots. We
lifted off at around 10:00 A.M. on a heading of 54 degrees. Key West to Quillayute
0706 Soon we
were put into queue with a large gaggle of Alaskan Airlines and Northwest
Airlines planes, mostly big Airbusses and Boeings, all of us headed for the
ILS to runway 16R. The controller
asked me to keep up maximum speed for trailing traffic and I did. We broke out of the clouds at about 2000'
AGL. These Things Always Happen to Other People
0706 The engine
in my Beechcraft Bonanza shuddered with a mild, then stronger vibration, and
within three seconds something inside it shattered. With a bang, a fist-sized
hole was created at the top of my Continental IO-520BB engine's case near
where the #4 piston connects to the crank. The propeller came to a sudden
complete stop. Then it got VERY, VERY quiet. Yes Dear, the Water Really is That Color
0306 As Bobbi stood by the car
and alternately gazed toward the Atlantic to the south and the Gulf to the
north she exclaimed: "Oh Max, just look at the beautiful colors of the
water!". I smiled and replied: "Yes dear, the water really is that color
you saw in the photograph, and I agree, it truly is gorgeous." 2005 Remembered
0105 The airports I visited
last year with a few comment on the airport and why I went there.
Some I visited several times but will list only once. How Does an Airplane Smell
1204 I never thought much of
Kris Kristofferson as a singer. But
his word pictures in the songs he wrote are a treasure. Do you remember “the Sunday smell of
someone frying chicken” line his song
title Sunday Morning Coming Down? Sure
brings back memories for me. Back In Time
0904 How many of us would go
back in time to relive former days of our youth? We all reflect on times past and enjoy the
memories, both good and bad. It seems
I talk of the past more now. Older
people talk more about the past because they have a lot of it.
We Have the Plane, So Where Do We Go Now?
0604 So how do we pilots weave
our spouses into the tapestry of our lives as pilots to include large bites
of cake and pie for ourselves? Food,
shopping, or entertainment? That’s it!
How about the promise of a trip to the outlet mall and a walk on the
beach to be followed by the “Catch of the Day”? How I Met Paul
0504 We had just
gotten inside the Sun-n-Fun main entrance and walked to the Experimental
Aircraft Association’s merchandise tent when a state of panic prevailed in
our small group. This material is for advisory information only. We suggest it not be relied upon for
navigation, flight or maintenance techniques. FatBoyz Aviation does not
assume any responsibility for accuracy of content nor any liability arising
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