And Away We Go!

corey    Flying, News, RV Project    

A few exciting things going on now:

1) Finally home from Vegas. I’ll have to try really hard next year to get on a different trip for my 2 weeks (required for my Reserve commitment) – I don’t think I could do it again so soon without at least some resentment. Hopefully we will get to go to San Diego again next year, in which case I’ll have to exert all the force a 3 stripe Airman has to muster and get in on it.

2) I start attending the Aviation Fundamentals class at Metro State College tomorrow. It actually started two weeks ago, but since I was in Vegas for military activities, I had asked the professor if it was cool if I started late – he said it was alright. The class is really Ground School for the Private Pilot license, which I have already done and passed; so it should be an easy class to get done but I’m sure I’ll learn more from it. I have this class (which is 6 credits) and then another class I need to retake (Single Engine Flight Sim I – 3 credits) in order to correct the snafu that is my GPA. (Due to issues with my then employer (TeleTech) I was unable to continue attending those classes back when I originally took them some 5 years ago and wasn’t able to drop them – so two big Fs that need to be fixed). Once my GPA is fixed I’ll have to sit down and decide exactly what my major will be; currently set at Aviation Technology, which I may continue with, I’ve also been eyeballing English (Literature, probably). I’m also interested in getting my A&P license but Emily Griffith only does classes during the day so I am not able to attend those, but maybe in the future.

3) Just yesterday I ordered the “preview plans” from Van’s Aircraft for the RV-7A. Along with that order I got the RV Training Project which is suppose to teach you how to do riveting and other tasks needed to complete an RV kit. They just came out with this training kit, which I think is a great idea. I’d much rather learn how to rivet, dimple, deburr, etc, etc, on a $35 kit than the $1600 empennage kit I’ll be ordering later on! Not sure when those two will come in, but I hope to get a tracking number any day now.

4) In the spirit of purchasing the RV Training Project, this evening I have purchased all the major tools (except one) to actually do the training kit. This includes a rivet gun and a bunch of specialty items that go with it. You can see the complete list of items I ordered from Cleaveland Aircraft Tool, if you are curious. The one item I’m missing is an air compressor. I’m hoping to borrow one for awhile and then eventually buy one. Currently looking at a Craftsman 25gal 6hp model that I think is the best I can get for a 120VAC compressor. I really want an upright 60gal model, but those all take 220V and I don’t know that I’ll always have access to a 220V circuit (like at an airport hanger).

So hopefully I’ll have updates next week when I get this stuff in and can break it open. Such times make you feel like a kid at Christmas again; as long as you don’t look at your bank statement too closely!

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