tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post3436787263053769963..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: Spirit of the NorthAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-14660488589136299732009-11-08T10:34:47.131+00:002009-11-08T10:34:47.131+00:00I think you'd find hangar guy just doesn't...I think you'd find hangar guy just doesn't understand changing his plans. He knows what he'll be having for lunch: the same as every Friday. Maybe the same every day. Floatplane spaces are passed down in families. People like him because he's dependable, and when he goes fishing he often gives his catch away because his wife already has dinner planned.Cirrocumulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11357630236254664430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-29391249002059680872009-11-07T18:59:56.080+00:002009-11-07T18:59:56.080+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cirrocumulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11357630236254664430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-68312340758350805462009-11-06T22:26:21.364+00:002009-11-06T22:26:21.364+00:00I've heard mechanics and others say that the p...I've heard mechanics and others say that the plugs have become "frosted..." during attempted starts like that. I guess it means that due to a weak spark and temperature changes in the cylinder, humidity has frozen on the plugs causing them to ground out.<br /><br />The only solution after that is heat, or a very long wait, or sometimes even taking out the plugs and drying them.<br /><br />I have no idea of the validity to all this but I have seen the plug removal method applied to a car at a local garage.<br /><br />Ah, the joys of winter.gmcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-31878420254807450952009-11-06T22:23:05.428+00:002009-11-06T22:23:05.428+00:00One night Reinhold Messner (who had previously cli...One night Reinhold Messner (who had previously climbed the Mt Everest without oxygen and all of other 8000ers as well) came home to his castle (he used to live in a small ancient castle) slightly drunk and figured out he had forgotten his keys. As an outstanding climber, he decided to just climb up and over the wall. During this attempt, he fell down and severly injured himself...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-21562713487062620592009-11-06T21:24:59.354+00:002009-11-06T21:24:59.354+00:00It's not entirely intentional flooding, in tha...It's not <i>entirely</i> intentional flooding, in that the goal wasn't so much to make a puddle on the ground as it was to get enough liquid fuel in the cylinders that the tiny portion of it that vapourizes in this temperature is sufficient to create a combustible mixture with the dense cold air. Once it starts leaking out on the ground, you're not changing the situation by adding any more. <br /><br />It works sometimes and most pilots have seen it work, but few have seen a manifold fire, so frustrated by the lack of a start and emboldened by the presence of the guy who'd have to fix it if we broke it, we tried it. I'm not claiming it to be superior airmanship.<br /><br />Whether it's lighting a stove, starting an engine, or lighting a campfire, anyone who has worked with recalcitrant fire knows that you'll start trying ANYTHING that might get it to burn, and can empathize fully with Tom Hanks character in Cast Away as he dances victoriously on the beach after starting a fire.<br /><br />If fuel is dripping out of your carb onto the ramp in Oakland, California, you'd probably be better off going inside and reading National Geographic for a bit while it dries out than trying to start.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-37457164401673538052009-11-06T20:46:52.667+00:002009-11-06T20:46:52.667+00:00For people who don't fly in winter conditions,...For people who don't fly in winter conditions, it might be interesting to mention that even at -3 degC, the sun would have melted (err .. sublimated) the frost off the wings of Aviatrix's plane if the clouds had ever cleared. It's one of those counter-intuitive things you wouldn't guess until you've tried it. <br /><br />In the same way, the sun will often cause light rime ice to sublimate off the wings once you climb above the clouds, even if the temp is well below zero. Go figure.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194758376900990105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-61756175025099003292009-11-06T20:26:14.167+00:002009-11-06T20:26:14.167+00:00Sorry to hear about the latest predicament. You s...Sorry to hear about the latest predicament. You sure seem to take it with admirable aplomb.<br /><br />Just curious about the visibly dripping fuel from the intentional flooding. My flight school here in the SF Bay Area (temps rarely at freezing) was adamant that we should try to avoid any start procedure that resulted in dripping fuel. The thought of course was that us hapless burger-chasers would burn the plane to the ground from the resulting fuel fire after start.<br /><br />Is there some un-published northern procedure for dealing with dripping liquid fuel such that post-start fire isn't an issue, or is this just a better way to heat adjacent planes' engines ;-)?<br /><br />Keep up the great blog!<br /><br />MartyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-34028805236238395052009-11-06T19:17:15.174+00:002009-11-06T19:17:15.174+00:00Sorry this post is late. It had the wrong time on ...Sorry this post is late. It had the wrong time on it.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.com