Stijn!!

[GH85Carrera]

Dang German bolts! I will have to look it up, but I bet it was over 300,000 miles ago I had to get rid of the factory delivered air shocks on my El Camino because they were crappy. The kept leaking. The real solution was to go to air bags for the load leveling, and then use Bilstien shocks. Anything else felt like a Pogo stick bouncy bouncy.

After over 300K miles one of the shock's integral mount bolts gave up and snapped. I heard a large clunk, but the Elky drove OK.

So I just removed that shock for now to prevent more clunking. I have a new pair of rear Biistien shocks on the way. Likely Monday or Tuesday delivery.

It is not bad, put the car on the scissor lift, remove the tire, and two top bolts, and one large lower bolt. Getting to old one off was a bit of a pin as it had many many miles of dirt and crud on the bolt heads, and the nuts on top. $220 for a pair of Bilstien shocks is not horrible. If they last another 300K miles it will not be me replacing them.

The shocks are fine, just that one broken lower bolt gave up.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by HHI944

I'm not sure how viable geothermal is here. Mini splits have gotten really popular. My house is small and very old, but the last owners insulated it really well and replaced the windows with Pella double pane. It has been a rough month temperature wise but, I'm keeping it very comfortable inside and I'm on track for a ~$120 power bill.

Yup, hence the "If ground temps allow"

Our installer said it would cost less than 50 for the AC to run the summer.

[GH85Carrera]

About a year ago we found a "kid" pilot about 25 years old or so. He wants to be an airline pilot. That requires 1,500 hours of flying time before they will even consider you as a pilot. We use him when my business partner is out of town. He loves the time and he gets paid to do it, and no cost to him. Renting an 182T like ours is $225 per hour, so he gets flying hours and paid at the same time. Win Win for him.

My business partner is our regular pilot. He is an instructor, and has all the hours he ever wanted, and flying is just a job now. My business partner is in has been in Tennessee right now on a long two month project.

Our connections with FEMA once again wanted him to fly to Guam, after a second big typhoon. We asked the kid if he would be interested in going to Guam, and flying Guam, Rhoda, Tinian, other island in the Mariana Islands area. He was excited to do it. As short flight to Houston, then all the way to Hawaii. A layover and then another long flight to Guam. Rent a 172, and fly his butt off for several days. He is having a blast, and his buddies will all be jealous. And my business partner is happy he does not have to do it again.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Our connections with FEMA once again wanted him to fly to Guam, after a second big typhoon. We asked the kid if he would be interested in going to Guam, and flying Guam, Rhoda, Tinian, other island in the Mariana Islands area. He was excited to do it. As short flight to Houston, then all the way to Hawaii. A layover and then another long flight to Guam. Rent a 172, and fly his butt off for several days. He is having a blast, and his buddies will all be jealous. And my business partner is happy he does not have to do it again.

That sounds like a great way to get his hours built up.
And nice area to be flying, nice things to see from the air.. flown over Tinian in DCS
i'm sure its better in person

[GH85Carrera]

When my business partner landed on Tinian to buy fuel, he needed to pee. He walked towards the tiny little airport building as they were fueling the airplane. A customs agent stopped him and said you have to stay with the airplane. He told the customs agent I need to use your restroom. I can just pee on the tarmac if you won't let me in the building. He had no luggage or anything in his hands, and he was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt.

The customs agent relented and let him use the facilities. He got right back in the airplane and left.
Tinian has a population of just over 2,000 people. Yet it is a country, part of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The USA fought a lot of battles to take those islands back from the Japanese. Lots of history of colonial occupation.

[GH85Carrera]

This morning, I am off to the Porsche dealership. They have a version of Cars and Coffee. That is a copyrighted name, so they call it Motors in the Morning. 98% Porsches show up with a few McLarens and a sometimes some Ferraris. Free coffee and free donuts. Fun to chat with friends in the club, and look at cars. Then we have a club lunch at a different place each month. Today is BBQ.