Missy Conversion - 1998 MCI 102

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

I hear ya! I do a few flying/camping trips every year (like this one).

I didn't need more reasons to hate you!! Closest I've done is a seaplane to Isle Royale. Closest to flying was a half hour Groupon trip.

Thus my advice - do it while your young!!!

That ship has not only sailed but sunk. Sadly all hands were lost.


Youth is truly wasted on the young.

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

2016 was the last update and presumably the last surgery? Removal of the hardware.

Still biking or have you given it up completely?

There were four surgeries in all. The second was removing some of the hardware in hopes of increasing range of motion (it didn't). The last two were ligament reconstructions.

I still ride but it has been a very difficult return. At least partially because I got fat being off the bicycles for so long. My road bike was a killer machine/hot rod (Pinarello Dogma) and I can't ride it - too aggressive of a position that my arm can't handle. Now relegated to a gravel bike (Specialized Diverge Comp) and MTB (Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp).

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I didn't need more reasons to hate you!!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

I still ride but it has been a very difficult return. At least partially because I got fat being off the bicycles for so long. My road bike was a killer machine/hot rod (Pinarello Dogma) and I can't ride it - too aggressive of a position that my arm can't handle. Now relegated to a gravel bike (Specialized Diverge Comp) and MTB (Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp).

That's all greek to me. But this sounds like a bad idea; Stumpjumper. If I only have 2 wheels, they need to be firmly on the ground. If I have four, I'm ok with only 3 being in contact with the ground.

Originally Posted by plane

I saw as slow as 106 kts ground speed which was immensely painful. Most of the flight was 120 kts or so – still painful.

Let's see, ... Knots to MPH, ... divide by Pi, carry the one,... that's still way more faster than Missy. Don't tell her I said that. What's normal cruising speed?


I don't remember what the Groupon plane was. Side by side two seater. It had a window you could open at least. What does your plane cost (in purchase and in keeping it up to date)? What does it cost for the upgrade to something with AC?

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

What's normal cruising speed?

About 180 mph. Tad bit faster than Missy - plus does loops and rolls much better!

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

What does your plane cost (in purchase and in keeping it up to date)? What does it cost for the upgrade to something with AC?

Costs are all over the map - about like our buses. So many options and variables. I do most of my own maintenance and hangar in a very affordable place so pretty inexpensive. Weight is super-critical in aviation. Air conditioning is not even considered until you get into the very expensive "limo" range. Most of the time, it isn't necessary. I'm more into the "fighter" type flying where power to weight ratio is king. Was going to be a fighter pilot and astronaut until the Air Force Academy failed to select me out of high school. Guess this is my way of achieving a bit of that dream.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

About 180 mph. Tad bit faster than Missy - plus does loops and rolls much better!

Not nearly as epic and spectacular tho.

Costs are all over the map - about like our buses. So many options and variables. I do most of my own maintenance and hangar in a very affordable place so pretty inexpensive. Weight is super-critical in aviation.

That I know.

Air conditioning is not even considered until you get into the very expensive "limo" range.

That I didn't know.

Most of the time, it isn't necessary.

That I would disagree with. Granted you aren't taking off from O-Hare or anything like that but even 5 minutes on the tarmac in a glass fish bowl is about 10 minutes too long. Guess it depends on personal thresholds. How often are you flying? Where are you flying? How much sweating can you stand. Etc. Those are all going to vary person to person.

I'm more into the "fighter" type flying where power to weight ratio is king. Was going to be a fighter pilot and astronaut until the Air Force Academy failed to select me out of high school. Guess this is my way of achieving a bit of that dream.

Putting along at 110 knots is going to take awhile getting anywhere so I can see why 180 is good. I would just assume that the difference between your buddy's plane (that left 2 days ahead of you) and your plane, there's a compromise of AC. You've got that much more power so dragging an AC around with you lowers your speed and range but hey the AC is really cold!!


You already have a Cadillac of a bus. Go buy a Gulf Stream from some bankrupt dot com business. Then you can all go in one plane and bring stuff.

[Tango]

Nice landing and sweet looking little RV. I've had a lot of fun in Pitts, Super Decaths and others, but I'm a sucker for open cockpit. Dearly loved the Great Lakes that was available here for several years. My first date with my last wife was in that plane. Belonged to one of the Astronauts until some Bozo endo-ed it getting on the brakes too hard (after an obviously long & bad landing).


More envy here too.

[Brewerbob]

Backcountry... get one of these (Beaver). Not exactly fighter but more cargo.

[Tango]

Those are mighty skimpy lookin floats you got there.
BTW...Love these...especially the last vid.


https://kottke.org/13/11/plane-lands...n-only-20-feet


And despite my love of open cockpit planes...I'd realllly like to take this one out for a spin...or a hammerhead...or a Lomcovák...or...


http://debbyrihnharvey.com/aircraft.html


My old aero instructors ride.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Tango

Those are mighty skimpy lookin floats you got there.
BTW...Love these...especially the last vid.


https://kottke.org/13/11/plane-lands...n-only-20-feet

It'll float as long as you keep the ground speed up.


Can't tell from that pic but that's one of the Mt. Denali planes. Most of their water is in the solid form.

[JDOnTheGo]

Originally Posted by Tango

Nice landing and sweet looking little RV. I've had a lot of fun in Pitts, Super Decaths and others, but I'm a sucker for open cockpit.

Thanks Tango. I'm with you - love the open cockpit planes! Seems like a person really needs about six variations of a "thing" to cover all bases - certainly true of airplanes.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo

Thanks Tango. I'm with you - love the open cockpit planes! Seems like a person really needs about six variations of a "thing" to cover all bases - certainly true of airplanes.

What am I missing here? A bug at 70mph in a bike is going to hurt. A bird at 150mph might very well kill you. Open cockpit plane just doesn't sound like a good idea. Never mind the avionics getting wet.

[Tango]

Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.


Actually, I have gone faster on a motorcycle (211) than most small panes fly. But both were big fun!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Tango

Actually, I have gone faster on a motorcycle (211) than most small panes fly. But both were big fun!

Yeah, I was being generous with the bike. Even with that, I would think the chances of a bird stirke are higher in a plane than a bike. A song bird might be all of 4 oz but add a beak and 150mph and it's going to more than hurt.


If I want bugs in my teeth, I can stick my head out the window of the car or plane.

[Tango]

Never had a bird issue...but did have to dodge a few jackrabbits and a big ass tortoise that was ambling onto the straightaway at Texas World Speedway.


Nature lover that I am...I avoided them all.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Tango

Never had a bird issue...but did have to dodge a few jackrabbits and a big ass tortoise that was ambling onto the straightaway at Texas World Speedway.


Nature lover that I am...I avoided them all.

You've done something VERY wrong if you hit a tortoise with a plane!!


Hitting rabbits with a plane is a rather common occurrence I bet. At least at Charles De Gaulle in Paris. Looking out the window of the plane, there were rabbits EVERYWHERE on the field. They were borrowing under the runways. I didn't see any flat ones but they were all over the place between runways.

[o1marc]

Those open cockpit planes do have windshields, to hit you they would have to go through the propeller and then through the windscreen before hitting you, it's rare.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Those open cockpit planes do have windshields, to hit you they would have to go through the propeller and then through the windscreen before hitting you, it's rare.

I've only seen the tsting videos done (on jets) using frozen turkeys. I've not seen it done on prop planes using tortoises but I'd bet money that would go thru your windshield.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I've only seen the tsting videos done (on jets) using frozen turkeys. I've not seen it done on prop planes using tortoises but I'd bet money that would go thru your windshield.

Most open cockpit planes I've been in don't fly near the speed of a jet, so the damage is less severe and you don't often see frozen turkeys at that altitude. Jets don't mince them before hitting the windscreen.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Most open cockpit planes I've been in don't fly near the speed of a jet, so the damage is less severe and you don't often see frozen turkeys at that altitude. Jets don't mince them before hitting the windscreen.

"It's simply a matter of weight ratios..." Only in this case you need to factor in density and velocity. Which is more deadly; a frozen turkey at 600 knots or a tortoise at 150 knots.

I'm guessing the jet testing used frozen turkeys just so they could launch them from their air cannons without turning them into turkey soup before leaving the barrel. Most geese strikes be it jet or prop don't involve a frozen goose.