Hi Guys (and Gals?)
Sorry for being so silent in the group, I was telling Glenn during the Flyin this forum is WAY WORSE than Facebook, once you get in and you start reading I get sucked in for HOURS!
Anyway, it seems that Glenn as usual was up and running and telling you what was happening so in order to illustrate the talks that he was talking about I will follow this posting with a link to ALL my photos from the meeting. If you want one in particular you should all be able to download it and do what the heck you want with it!
Steve! thought about you a lot! it was SURREAL to be flying a 35K w a turbo commander and seeing 737 and Airbuses fly by and because there was only a dynamic head set in the passenger seats and the radios were cut off in the back I just decided to hang out like the good old times when I used to hang out in my Dad's 560 where NO ONE (even the pilot) had head sets. Granted a straight 560 and a 900 is DAY and NIGHT as far as decibels, but with those composite 5 blades I just did not even bother damping the sound and I actually could hear most of the conversation between Robert and Morris during the 3.5 flight there (and back but that is another story). I have a couple of videos, I'll see how I can post them as well.
As you might see from the pictures we made it up to 375 kts GS, granted we had a hefty back wind, but also the door was leaking tons (that was part of my job identifying and photographing the leaks), the yaw damper was practically inoperable so we constantly had to adjust the rudder and the turbines are at the end of their lives... True AS never exceeded 290 kts but considering a 1981 airframe with still problems to be solved, not bad!
In the 900 like a 1000 you don't have the picture window, but you have the "loon" so I sat there for a while and darn it is an awesome view! (you will see it in some of the pictures how far back you are able to see the nacelles front and back). Indeed the luggage compartment is compromised, but Morris had a HUGE box with him for presentations, plus his luggage, plus Roberts' books (2 more boxes) and 2 more of his personal luggage and a ladder, all the necessary ground equipment for the plane and my stuff and there was still extra room!
Very informative meeting between the maintenance and avionics and just trying to push the airplane beyond the enveloppe, I know there is kinda of a gap between the old forum people and the new crew, but in both group of people there is a ton of doubt to make it to these fly ins, but if you have any doubts, on one of those I ended up having dinner with Bob Hoover and I can tell you the guy was sharp as a razor!
Lots going on on in these meetings, tons of great experiences, great pilot owner stories, just a fantastic time overall!
(Just to give you an idea last night Morris called me and spent an hour and a half debriefing about our trip...
haha AWESOME!!!
Not the best pictures, but I just want to show you the "energy" more than just flat quality.
Enjoy!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SPeWNrDAIxkyi7U32Peter (who just received a bunch of energy back from the group)
Hope to see more new faces next year and awesome to see the 520 and 680FL, Glen's 680FP and a batch of the 500's! haha! (the Towners own 33!) all work horses!
