I had a student who wanted to fly a 172 tonight, but both were taken when he needed them. It was also his 17th birthday. He's the one whose parents bought him a Cub, which he hadn't flown yet. Steve had two guys but my schedule was open, and J asked if I could fly his Cub with him for his birthday. He's in Marion, and originally I was going to take the RG over, but another guy had it at a time such that it would push me, and the 172s were busy, plus the Aerostar needed a 20 minute test flight after its annual, and hey, it's 10 minutes over and 10 minutes back, so...that's what I did.
J had his whole family over there at his hangar, and a few friends, too. His mom hadn't planned a big birthday party, so she was excited to find out we'd be going flying in the Cub, and his parents, grandparents on both sides, and a few family friends were all out there with lawn chairs, cooler, a cupcake cake in the design of a Piper Cub, and were all there to watch us fly this Cub for the first time. It was a little windy when we started, and it was his first time on concrete, and this Cub had a starter in the back seat, which was nice, and different.
We had taken off and we were cruising around looking at stuff, when I did a scan of my instruments and noted that the oil pressure was lower than when we took off. I didn't really think much about it, but apparently I thought enough about it subconsciously because I looked again shortly thereafter, and I thought it was even lower, but I wasn't positive. So I made a mental note of exactly where it was, we flew along and talked, I looked back, and it was Definitely lower now. So this time I stared at it, and watched it drop another 2 psi. Temperatures were holding steady, sounded great, felt great, but I said "Hey, J, let's turn around, we're going to head back to the airport." I explained why, and told him what our plan was, and what Plan B was too, and as we flew the pressure kept getting lower and lower. Finally we landed and got her shut down, as it was reading "done", but it was still running normally as we shut it down, fortunately. Neither he nor his family really understands that an engine failure was likely not that far in the future there, but I didn't feel the need to say that. ;) From what I hear now, the problem is probably easily fixed, which is great. I am thankful that I actually was looking at the oil pressure...I think if you would have asked me I'd say I probably don't spend much time looking at the gauges in a Cub when the door's open and you're having the scenery pointed out to you. I thought I mostly looked outside. But I must look in more than I think, because I caught that initial drop pretty quickly...
Next up a lady named Judy took me for a ride in her Pulse Autocycle. It's a motorcycle with an airplane-looking outside, low to the ground, 5 speed, and it goes on the highway and everything. It's a zippy little sucker, and with the canopy open it felt like you were in a plane. It was fun, I enjoyed that!
Then it was time for me to go home. I jokingly said J could go with me but he'd need a ride back to Marion. He wasted no time getting a ride back to Marion, and came with me back to Kokomo. :) It was another beautiful sunset evening, and we both enjoyed the day, the cake, the flying, and being able to help make his birthday a little more special.
When I got home, Kaylee needed to go shopping for a few items, including one she needed for the choir concert, so we went to Meijer, which was the only thing open that late really, and got what she needed. Then Steve and I, who hadn't eaten since lunch, went to IHOP and had bacon and eggs and hashbrowns and a crepe and it was GOOD STUFF, man. Meanwhile Kaylee wasn't hungry so I'd dropped her off at home to get some rest for tomorrow. The end of the day came with Steve saving the day on a MBros thing and me writing up this. :)
You can't see him and it's his GoPro on his plane, but he's back there. Meanwhile, there I am, looking at something outside. The window wouldn't stay up, but that will be fixed shortly. ;)
Gumby at sunset on the way back into Kokomo.
I was in the back of the autocycle going down the highway. It's very low to the ground. And zippy. Did I mention zippy? I like zippy. And motorcycle riders would give us the motorcycle wave when they passed, which made me smile too. Along with other people turning and staring hard. :)
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