Grasshopper

I actually felt a little worse today than I did yesterday, but it was 60 degrees and sunny and beautiful, and the L-2 (which is called a Grasshopper by the way) was done with its annual, and tomorrow I will be gone all day to Michigan for MBros, and after that we leave for Vegas until Sunday, and I wanted to fly that L-2 and this seemed likely a last good chance to do it.

First, I'm not supposed to fly the L-2, because the CAF took it off line, basically.  This time I decided to get yelled at after the fact rather than be told no and never get to do it.  It's just an L-2, but I had to fly with a guy and get checked out in one sort of like it, in Iowa, and go through paperwork and red tape and all sorts of stuff, and then never, ever, not once, have I gotten to fly ours, and then they got rid of it so once it leaves here, I never will again.  So, with the full knowledge that should I wreck it I would be in some trouble, I did it anyway.  Flew it, not wrecked it.   It was a post-annual test flight.  I got an email afterwards saying I shouldn't have flown it and can't fly it any more.  Oh.  Dear.  My bad.

I didn't know how much fuel it held, but it looked like it said 6 gallons per side and one side was down to about 1/3 (2 gallons) and the other about 1/2.  That seemed like not much gas so I topped it off so I didn't have to worry about it.  I didn't know what speed to use for anything, but the nice thing is that it doesn't matter in there.  It was a little windy, but not far off the runway.  It wasn't like the one I checked out in, which had more horsepower and smoother controls. So this felt a little different.  I took off, messed with some turns to get a feel for the rudder, did a few stalls, flew over Kaylee's school as everyone was driving away (except her), then came in and did some takeoffs and landings.  Three points, wheel, one-wheel.  I'm now legally tailwheel current again, and it was great.  But my head was hurting and getting thick, and I was feeling worse all over, so I landed.  I had Jon help me hand prop it and he helped me put it away, too, and helpers are much appreciated when one is not feeling one's strongest.

Afterwards I had to come home, and I laid down for a little while, had some Aleve, a little food, tried to recuperate, and finally felt better by late evening.  Which is good, as I have to be wheels-up at 7:30 am tomorrow.  That's going to hurt. I'll have another pilot on board for that one.

Kaylee has a genetics field trip tomorrow for AP Biology.  Steve has a stye in his eye, and it keeps gooping up and swelling up and bothering him.  I have the stupid Patty and Laura Lung Hack Cough we get that won't go away.  I'm hoping the trip to Vegas will dry me out like it did last time I had this cough and went west.  I detest coughing.

Photos from today, my one venture out before I ran out of energy.

From inside the hangar

View from the front seat

View from the front seat while turning somewhat steeply. ;)

View from backwards from the front seat. I like all the windows, and mine was wide open. :)

Outside in the sunshine view

Back in the hangar and looking like a WWII airplane in that light.