New Job Assignment - Aircraft of World War II

FLYBOYJ · 12-10-2007, 09:16 PM

I might of mentioned here that once and a while I get to fly out of USAFA doing engine break-ins on our PA-18-180 Supercubs. We put about 2000 hours a year on these aircraft so we change engines on each airframe yearly. Multiply that times six (soon to be seven) and there's a lot of "break-in" flying to do.

The engine break-in lasts 10 hours. During that time you're restricted in altitude and you vary the RPM so the engine bearings "break in" properly. Sometimes its pretty boring just droning along.

Today I got to fly a little over an hour. Its funny - the New Life Church (the one recently in the news for the shootings) is about 5 miles from the Academy. When I was outbound I bitched to the tower about all the helicopters hovering around the church - the tower folks chased them away!

I had a camera and forgot to take pictures in the air today so you guys got these two, one of the aircraft in the hangar, the other of my ugly mug - before yo ask, the cut on my nose is from my 22 month-old daughter - she whacked me with a plastic cup the other night!

Anyway the weather in Colorado is turning to dogsh!t over the next few days. The next time I'm up I'll try to get some pictures of the Academy and Southern Colorado.

-FBJ-

ccheese · 12-10-2007, 10:04 PM

That's a fine looking airplane, Joe. What do they do with them ??

Charles

FLYBOYJ · 12-10-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccheese

That's a fine looking airplane, Joe. What do they do with them ??

Charles

We tow sailplanes at USAFA - one segment of the contract I work on.

evangilder · 12-10-2007, 10:36 PM

Hmmm...flying around in super cubs to break in the engines. Like I said Joe, some guys get to have all the fun.

DOUGRD · 12-10-2007, 11:24 PM

Hey Joe, I got a question for you. Since you're breaking in these engines at a higher alt. than we in the flat, landlocked, frozen tundra of the upper Mid-west do you still use mineral oil for the break in period? How long do your breakins usually take?

FLYBOYJ · 12-10-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOUGRD

Hey Joe, I got a question for you. Since you're breaking in these engines at a higher alt. than we in the flat, landlocked, frozen tundra of the upper Mid-west do you still use mineral oil for the break in period? How long do your breakins usually take?

We go for 10 hours and use 80 weight mineral oil. Lycoming has a Service Bulletin we follow, in the summer it's hard to stay below 8500' density altitude they recommend.

FLYBOYJ · 12-10-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evangilder

Hmmm...flying around in super cubs to break in the engines. Like I said Joe, some guys get to have all the fun.

Hey - you've been having some fun lately too!!!!

Njaco · 12-11-2007, 12:49 AM

Some guys have all the luck!

Gnomey · 12-11-2007, 10:53 AM

Yeah, Joe certainly gets more than his fair share

ccheese · 12-11-2007, 02:50 PM

Just ran the registration number of that super-cub.... comes up stolen !!

Just kidding !! It's registered to:

DOSS AVIATION INC

Charles

FLYBOYJ · 12-11-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccheese

Just ran the registration number of that super-cub.... comes up stolen !!

Just kidding !! It's registered to:

DOSS AVIATION INC

Charles

That's Us!

ccheese · 12-11-2007, 03:15 PM

Sounds like a fun job, Joe, but I'll bet there is some real knuckle bustin'
work involved, too. It can't be all play....

Charles

FLYBOYJ · 12-11-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccheese

Sounds like a fun job, Joe, but I'll bet there is some real knuckle bustin'
work involved, too. It can't be all play....

Charles

Actually its pretty easy. We have the 6 aircraft and we supply the pilots. USAFA runs the operations where they direct the traffic on the ground, do the rope hook-ups etc. We maintain all the gliders (22 all together) plus 4 T-41s and 3 T-51s (150 hp C-150s). We also take care of 3 Twin Otters that are based out of Peterson AFB, about 20 miles away. Those are flown over to the academy daily and used for the skydiving program.

A great job and environment. Sometimes its a bit trying working with the USAF and civilian GA airplanes. Sometimes we get some USAF folks in here who don't understand general aviation, but for the most part its a great place to work.

Except during days when there are football games...

DOUGRD · 12-12-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

We go for 10 hours and use 80 weight mineral oil. Lycoming has a Service Bulletin we follow, in the summer it's hard to stay below 8500' density altitude they recommend.

Yeah, I can see where that might be a prime consideration. No sense running into "Cumulus Granite" right?

evangilder · 12-12-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Hey - you've been having some fun lately too!!!!

Yeah, I have. But I got a flying jones. It's been a while. I am trying to work on getting a PT-22 air-to-air shoot together. I always wanted to shoot those air-to-air.

12-10-2007, 10:04 PM	#2
ccheese Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 7,309	That's a fine looking airplane, Joe. What do they do with them ?? Charles __________________ I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either....

12-10-2007, 10:36 PM	#4
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	Hmmm...flying around in super cubs to break in the engines. Like I said Joe, some guys get to have all the fun. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

12-10-2007, 11:24 PM	#5
DOUGRD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alexandria, MN. USA Posts: 804	Hey Joe, I got a question for you. Since you're breaking in these engines at a higher alt. than we in the flat, landlocked, frozen tundra of the upper Mid-west do you still use mineral oil for the break in period? How long do your breakins usually take? __________________

12-11-2007, 12:49 AM	#8
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,228	Some guys have all the luck! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

12-11-2007, 10:53 AM	#9
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,218	Yeah, Joe certainly gets more than his fair share __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

12-11-2007, 02:50 PM	#10
ccheese Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 7,309	Just ran the registration number of that super-cub.... comes up stolen !! Just kidding !! It's registered to: DOSS AVIATION INC Charles __________________ I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either....

12-11-2007, 03:15 PM	#12
ccheese Older Than Dirt Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Posts: 7,309	Sounds like a fun job, Joe, but I'll bet there is some real knuckle bustin' work involved, too. It can't be all play.... Charles __________________ I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either....

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