Re: Hayden's Air Tour 2007
Greetings, PoA! I, Hayden, have another update on my life. I do apologize for the tardiness of this writing, however I've had a very busy past few weeks! Oshkosh itself was a grand time, and then my host took me on a business trip. He then became ill, and I nursed him back to health, being the good gnome that I am. Anyway, let me tell you a bit more about the details...
My host only spent two full days at Osh, and so along with that I only spent two full days with him. He seemed to enjoy spending time over by N34, with another friend of his. What is N34, you might ask? Well, I was curious...
And decided to find out more.
It turns out, N34 is the last remaining DC-3 in the FAA's Flight Inspection fleet. While it has long since been retired, now living a life of leisure on travel to air shows, this plane once existed to ensure the navaids we use every day for instrument flight (and frequently for VFR flight as well) were functioning properly. It's these fine people who keep the skies safe for us instrument pilots, and allow us to see without sight. My host says that whenever he does a real instrument approach and descends out of the clouds to have the runway presented before him, he is still amazed. This stuff is just too cool.
Although now replaced by King Airs and Lears, this DC-3 was a working plane that did these routes. As you can see, the equipment it has is a little old, with only basic ADFs and VORs. This was well before GPS became commonplace.
Where I'm sitting below is the station where someone used to confirm the signals used were, in fact, correct. Today you still have a person sitting in a similar station making this determination, although the equipment has changed since this plane was last in service. I also notice that there's a bucket hat sitting at this station, meaning the last person who operated this equipment must have been a glider goober!
My host managed to get me some left seat time. Few people know that I'm actually type rated in a DC-3. Unfortunately, I left my type rating in my other cap, so they wouldn't let me solo it. My host says that the manifold pressure gauge in this looks identical to the one in his Aztec, and still can't figure out why Piper put a gauge that goes to 75" of manifold pressure on a naturally aspirated aircraft. Apparently the answer was "Because it was cheap."
You might wonder where the modern radios are in this airplane. Well, that radar display (the yellow screen in the middle of the panel up top) is actually a fake cover. Under it, I'm told there's a Garmin 430.
Here I am waving hi!
Closer shot here...
I really liked N34. Aside from the fact that I have that DC-3 type rating I was talking about, it represents the kinder, gentler side of the FAA. The side that truly is here to help, and reminds us that they, too, are just other people who think old planes are cool. Not only does N34 have a lot of history as a working plane, but it's just cool in general. I learned that more than anything, to keep it flying they need support and money. I encourage you all to write your congressgnomes, and tell them that you want to see N34 keep flying. The price of keeping it flying is pennies in the bucket, and well worth it. There aren't enough of these sorts of planes around anymore, and we need to keep as many of them flying as we can.
While standing around N34, I also got to see this gnome's favorite DC-3 (N34 is my second favorite), Duggy! How can you not smile at a yellow DC-3 with a smiley face on it? I don't think I want to meet the person who doesn't smile at Duggy. That person has no soul.
My host had to do some work while he was there, but his work is very cool, at least if you ask me. He had to sit in this airplane that looks really fast and grab some data off of the computer to examine. I got to sit in it with him. He sure is serious about his work!
He then told me that if I could sweet talk the owner into throwing him the keys, that he'd take me flying. My gnomish charms were unsuccessful, however, so instead we just sat in it and made airplane noises.
There were, of course, more things to see at Oshkosh. There were parties (that I didn't attend, I had too much to drink at Grant and Leslie's), airplanes, more airplanes, things for sale, all kinds of fun stuff. It is worth going and seeing, at least for a day or two.
Unfortunately, my host didn't take any pictures of the flight home. On the way, he made a short hop down to Milwaukee to have lunch with one PoAer and one babe, and then filed direct back home to Williamsport at 11,000 ft. About 3.5 hours later, he got us home safely. I am promised that we'll be making some more flights in the Aztec and will take more pictures then.
More to come! I still have a trip to New York and to Boston to talk about!
-Hayden
I guess maybe 'cause the PIC of the 195 has taken me "under his wing." I'll keep you posted when more details are available.
