All Things Aviation Related

[FA-18C]

I remember asking a crew member moving around with rags wiping off fittings where there were seeping or pending drips. Eyes bulging I asked tongue and cheek if I should be worried. There is a lot of moving parts on those birds, and its not a ballet. With a humorous smirk looked me right in the eye and said "no sir, its good. If it stops leaking is when you start to worry..."

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by oldE

Bugs, Thanks for the explanation on the effect of the wing fences. I overlooked the swept wing factor and you straightened my thinking out. Now I'm going to have to read up on wing cuffs. I appreciate the education. The more I learn helps me realize how little I know.

Best
Les

My pleasure buddy! I learn something new everyday I mess around with this little fast mover. There is an interesting backstory why Burt’s suggested removing the wing cuffs and then updating the wing with “vortalons” instead, like the LongEZ has. Our’s still has the leading edge wing cuffs an I plan on keeping them. Many folks have changed them and many have left them. Since no two VariEZ are identical, they all fly differently.

There is a publication called “The Canard Pusher” which covers building these airplanes from the Variviggen to all of the following designs. These have been scanned and available for reading on different websites. I fortunately have all of the originals in a binder, and some are 6-10 pages all typed in micro font. I honestly have no idea how folks weee able to read it since the type is so small. It is funny that on the canard forum, there are a select number of people that will jump down your throat if you ask a basic question and haven’t researched the CP publications first. I get it, but sometimes I just don’t have the time to search decades of documents…..

Today I finished up some heat shields for the gear legs and brake lines.








One of our older pilots on field gave me a Suprise today and handed me some vintage publication on our little bird. Look forward to reading them.




Cheers
Bugs


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[Robert Coats]

[bugstrider]

Working on cleaning up the calipers. Removing the old Teflon tape and cleaning up the connections and researching the best liquid sealant to use if any.




Made a clean spot with some metal polish, guess I need to tackle this properly.

[bugstrider]

How Italians build canards……. Sexy





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[bugstrider]

https://youtu.be/pgpf5ktKVBc


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[dlockhart]

[bugstrider]

^^^^^Wholly SHIRT-balls that was close!!!!!!!!

Had a small air show at the house today. Pics makes it look far away when in actuality, it was purdy darn close, and cool. Some long-lining going on replacing a PG&E power pole in play since the late 40’s. Lined in equipment, a big arse pole and loads of gravel. It was cool to watch and the pilot worked his butt off, especially with the pole and the winds that decided to kick up at that precise moment. Filmed for ten minutes while he jockeyed it into position for ground guys.






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[bugstrider]

Signed copy arrived today!!! Snoopy Dance Time!!!!


Book and coin, win win

In case anyone is not sure who Ret. Brig General Olds was.

https://youtu.be/pZODV-Y1knE

[bugstrider]

https://youtu.be/8OGfEEocoYo


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[rsrguy]

Saw this at kosh...

[bugstrider]

^^^^^^ oh damn that is clean!!!!! Can’t fathom the hours spend polishing…… Wish I was there, post lots of pics for us living vicariously through you guys able to attend.


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[Racerbvd]

[rsrguy]

[rsrguy]

[rsrguy]

[rsrguy]

[rsrguy]

[RNajarian]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

. . . In case anyone is not sure who Ret. Brig General Olds was.

https://youtu.be/pZODV-Y1knE

My previous commander Col Daniel “Scro” Skottie entered the Air Force Academy in 1967 just when General Olds had taken the position of Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy. He held that title from 1967 to 1971 prior to his 1973 retirement.

Colonel Skottie had gotten to know General Olds pretty well during his time at the Academy. He had several great stories about General Olds during his time at the USAFA.

This was my favorite,

In fall of 1970 when Colonel Skottie was in his final year of school a group of around 100 cadets were assembled in front of the building where General Olds’ office was. It was a little after 8:00 am and the General was just getting in for the day.

As the General entered the building an anonymous random cadet LOUDLY yelled out “F**k you General!” for all to hear.

The General heard the insult.

He promptly went into his office and put the ENTIRE campus on lock down. Every one of the 4000 cadets were restricted to their quarters until further notice. ALL classes and activities on the entire campus were cancelled and no one was to enter or leave the Academy until the cadet responsible for the insult reported to the General in his office. As you can imagine this caused quite a disruption at the academy and the offending cadet was looking at an expulsion from the school.

The General gave his secretary specific orders on how the cadet who hurled the insult to him was to report.

For those who don’t know the typical reporting procedures are;

1) Knock once on the office door and wait for further instructions.
2) If no answer after 30 seconds knock again.
3) When the officer acknowledges you (typically s/he will say “Enter”) Enter the office and march at attention to the individual’s desk.
4) Take the most direct route in and use the appropriate facing movements
5) Position yourself approximately two paces from and centered on the desk
6) After you halt at the position of attention, you will salute and give a reporting statement, “Sir or Ma’am, Airman/Cadet (person’s last name) reporting as ordered.”

The General told his secretary to tell the cadet NOT to use his name but to say in step 6, “Sir, (Name omitted) reporting as ordered.”

The General went into his office and waited . . .

An hour and a half later there was a knock on the General’s door. The General’s office had a large picture window with a great view of the campus. His desk was placed right in front of the window in the center of the room. The General did not immediately respond to the first knock.

30 seconds later the offending cadet knocked again. This time a bellowing “ENTER” could be heard.

The cadet reported to the General with the modified reporting instructions.

“General, Cadet reporting as ordered.”

The General was seated at his desk with his high back leather office chair facing the picture window. His back was to the door and could not see the cadet as he looked out the window. General Olds was smoking a cigarette and had his phone on a side table.

The cadet stood at attention at the front of General Olds’ desk holding his salute waiting for a response from the General.

With his back still to the cadet General Olds picked up his phone, called his secretary and gave the order “All Clear.” Ending the campus wide lockdown and returning everything to normal.

The General, still seated in his chair and facing the window, raised his right hand over his high back office chair giving “the bird” to the saluting cadet and said “F**k YOU, get to class. Dismissed.”

The cadet left General Olds’ office. The General never knew who the disrespectful cadet was.

Colonel Skottie heard this story directly from General Olds’ secretary who he was friends with. He explained that General Olds felt it was necessary for the cadet to take responsibility for his actions but did not want this event to end his career.

Years after graduating Colonel Skottie ran into General Olds at a USAFA function. He was amazed that after 33 years General Olds still remembered him. The General mentioned he was working on a book (Fighter Pilot) which you showed in your post.

He was the last of the red hot fighter pilots.

[Racerbvd]