Photos Taken While Flying

[Sergio Vega]

Great pictures!

Thank you! I have to give credit to Ryan Douthitt and his business partner. They flew to Stockton, CA., in the blue Navion and brought my airplane back to Chino, CA., where it's getting finished up and, hopefully, ready to fly.   

[Sergio Vega]

So glad to see her out of there and flying again, Sergio! I hope everything is moving forward.

Thanks Adam. Like I said in another forum where these pictures where posted: "12 months, $30K, no logbooks, no airworthiness, no registration and no annual" but at least she's out of Stockton. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.   

[donv]

Is Stockton no longer the preferred maintenance facility for older Commanders? That's the sense I'm getting, but I don't have any first hand experience.

[Adam Frisch]

No, it's not. Stay away, unless maybe you're looking for an old part or something, then it might be OK. Don't do maintenance there. I don't want to elaborate here, but both me and Sergio have had very bad experiences in last years. Sergio even worse than me and I feel guilty as it was me that recommended that shop to him.

[Sergio Vega]

Is Stockton no longer the preferred maintenance facility for older Commanders? That's the sense I'm getting, but I don't have any first hand experience.

Like Adam said, it's not. And I feel the need to get the word out that you should stay clear of that place. Don't know what was the situation 20 or 30 years ago, but right now it's dangerous to have anything done to your airplane there, it should be shut down ASAP.

[donv]

Banning Pass and Palm Springs, early morning...

[Neil Morgan]

Held down by the Chinese into a fierce headwind, luckily Mongolia let us climb as soon as we entered their airspace. Airborne was just over twelve hours from Shanghai to London with an average wind component of just minus 17kts - would have made for a VERY long flight if we'd had this headwind component the whole way!

[JMA]

Not quite in the air yet.  Always amazed when you see the full wingspan of the Jetprops. 


https://www.flickr.com/photos/runway27r/44956567144/in/album-72157701576244741/

[donv]

I agree-- I love the long wingspan of the Commanders, especially the JetProps!

[Bruce Byerly]

A couple shots from last week’s adventures

[Adam Frisch]

What's the story with the 690B, Bruce? Needed to ferry it with wheels down?

[Bruce Byerly]

What's the story with the 690B, Bruce? Needed to ferry it with wheels down?

Yes Adam. I was told it was ready to fly and preflight showed otherwise.  The retract cylinders’ chrome looked like the surface of the moon. Seemed like a guaranteed hydraulic failure to me. The gear culinders are an essential pre-flight and maintenance item. You want them spotless as a rolled o-ring means your hyd fluid is leaving the plane.

It’s frustrating, sad, and incredibly wasteful that these planes are allowed to sit outside and die. This one is done. I believe I made its last flight. 

I have done over 2,000nm with the gear down over the last few weeks so at least I have a good idea on gear down performance!

Edit: We may have a chance to save it, but it’s not easy ...

[donv]

That bad, huh?

[SKYFLYER]

Your right... it is sad... especially when it is so easy to keep them preserved with just some common sense care.

[Adam Frisch]

Yes Adam. I was told it was ready to fly and preflight showed otherwise.  The retract cylinders’ chrome looked like the surface of the moon. Seemed like a guaranteed hydraulic failure to me. The gear culinders are an essential pre-flight and maintenance item. You want them spotless as a rolled o-ring means your hyd fluid is leaving the plane.

It’s frustrating, sad, and incredibly wasteful that these planes are allowed to sit outside and die. This one is done. I believe I made its last flight. 

I have done over 2,000nm with the gear down over the last few weeks so at least I have a good idea on gear down performance!

Edit: We may have a chance to save it, but it’s not easy ...

Sad to hear she might not be salvageable. A project for me, then! 

What are her stats? -10's? Looks so from the stacks.