Perfect weather... to make pilots!

Gang,

Please join me in congratulating the newest pilot in the world -- one Private Pilot Todd S., who earned his wings yesterday in Cessna 739 with DPE Tom Hamm!

Way to go, Todd!!



April is always checkride month around here, and we have no less than 7 more scheduled in the next 4 weeks. As you may or may not know, a checkride is the only time we will ask you to change a booking -- it is tough to align aircraft, instructors, and the busy FAA examiners, and we sometimes need to shuffle lessons around to accomodate everything. Rest assured that when it is time for your checkride, we will be able to "make things happen" also! We appreciate your understanding with this policy!

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The bugs are awakening. Every flight may result in a yucky leading edge and cowling -- please let the line know, we will work hard to keep things from getting out of hand with a quick application of a soapy sponge..

(gross)

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Cessna 25R has rejoined us at the home court. We will be putting the finishing touches on her early next week. We are literally one FAA inspection away from her return to service.



Some other updates while I'm here:

Cessna 630 is wrapping up a rather extensive annual, and we expect her return today or tomorrow.

Cessna 68U is cruising. She will be going down in appx 6-8 weeks for an engine swap, with downtime appx 2-3 days. This will coincide with a 100hr inspection, so added downtime should be minimal.

Cessna 739 completed her Annual and is humming along.

Cessna 17J is not bothering anyone.

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A word about starting 17J... and other fuel-injected Cessnas...

As many of you know, Cessna Aircraft are made by hand in Wichita, Kansas (technically Independence, KS since 1997) -- and for those unaware, Kansas is a mystical place filled with corn... and the Cessna aircraft factory, and which enjoys frozen snowy winters AND blistering hot summers.

I mention this because the start procedure for 17J is designed to work even in the frozen -10F Kansas winter. That's fine for them, but for those of us who live where shovelling coconut slurpee off of our cars every morning is not done -- it's overkill.

Specifically, if you omit the "boost pump" priming step from your start procedure altogether, or if it's a crisp early morning, you limit it to ~1 second only, you will find that 17J starts much easier. Give it a shot next time.

If you DO over-prime the engine, the trick is to advance the throttle full, mixture out, start, and then with 3 hands flailing every which way, set mags to both, mixture back in, and throttle back out. The book "flooded start" procedure will extract you from an over-boosted engine start every time.



...and they can keep their "snow"

That's all I know at the moment... suuuuuch nice weather, though! Enjoy it before the summer haze arrives!

Blue Skies,

- Mike

The return of good weather...

Pilots!

Who ordered up all of this funky wind? Yuck. Intrepid aviators were caught playing on runway 7 and enjoying the spirited use of flight controls in pursuit of a landing... we were able to point and chuckle at some of the better attempts... but now it's time for normal flying again! Whew!

Here are some things I know:

Cessna 17J has a new starter

Cessna 1ES is in the throes of an engine overhaul. We'll check back on her in May.

Cessna 739 completed her 100hr this morning and returns to market.

Cessna 68U is cruising along just fine.

Cessna 630 goes in for annual next week sometime.

Cessna 25R's gear doors have arrived from Australia! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now -- we are awaiting FAA approval for the ferry flight, and then FAA approval on the gear door repairs, and then... we'll have 25R back! Neat!



The owner of the club 182, N92073, has extended use of the aircraft to FlyC folks for the next 2 months, while the club membership ramps up and her interior refurbishment proceeds. I have gone ahead and added both to the FlyC schedule for now -- and so as to not annoy those who see club as a 4-letter word, I have activated the filtering mechanism for them as well :) The wet rate is $139/hr with no fuel surcharge. This is a lower cost-per-nm than 17J! Who said there is no such thing as a free lunch?



We have 1 seat left for the Paso Robles fly-out in the big planes, and a few pro-rata seats in the 172s. Let Beth know if you'd like it! beth@flycorona.com

We are preparing our next FAA-Safety Maintenance Seminar -- "How to change an aircraft tire!" Ever hear of anything so boring? Me neither -- yet, it's one of the most detailed, intricate, and critical operations a pilot can do to his own airplane... scary! Look for this to debut sometime in May, hosted by yours truly. (lord knows, nobody else would do it!)

Simply gorgeous weather abounds. Let's hope it holds for the weekend!

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Wine Country...

Pilots!

We have some details now for the Paso Robles trip that Beth and friend of the school Ryan F have been plotting. Here is what I know:

We plan to mount a social expedition to KPRB on Saturday, April 24, at 8am. This will be a pro-rata flight, with some cool things they've cooked up, to wit:

We have devised a number of strategies to get everyone equal leg time, and all legs will count as XC time for those contemplating their IFR rating!

Here's the plan:

1 or 2 FlyC 172s with up to 3 pilots each can pro-rata their flight, using any route they find acceptable (we have some to suggest)

For those interested in the club aircraft, here's a chance to try your hand with a CFI:

Bonanza 11N has 3 slots available and will be flying with CFI Marlon

Skylane 073 has 3 slots available and will be flying with CFI Elian




The Aircraft Museum at Paso Robles will provide a BBQ Lunch, as well as time on their Flight Simulator! Cool!

Costs for those interested in a club aircraft: $115 per person!

Costs for those in a FlyC 172: Flight time pro-rata and $15 per person!

Admission to the museum, lunch, and the simulator is included!

For 3 in a Skyhawk, plan on 4 hours' flight time (1.3 apiece)

For 3 in a Skylane, plan on 3 hours' flight time (1 apiece)

For 3 in a Bonanza, plan on 2.5 hours' flight time (0.8 apiece)

...we will be leaving at 8am on Saturday, and will plan to return to Corona by 4pm. A fun outing filled with planes, mountains, and cool views!

Give Beth a ring in the office (she volunteered to do the logistics -- I'm hopeless at it) at 951-272-3942, or email fly@flycorona.com to secure a spot!

Friends of FlyC -- have your own plane? Wanna join us? We'd love to have you along! You're welcome to tuck in on our group rates for the sim, the lunch, and the museum as well -- only $19 per person! (hey, we subsidized the others ;) )

Hope to see you there!



In other news...

Cessna 68U wrapped her 100hr.

Cessna 17J wrapped her Annual.

Cessna 739 is due for 100hr. She starts Monday -- and is available for SOLO ONLY this weekend. Her new audio panel seems to be the cat's meow.

Cessna 25R will be ferried back to KAJO either tomorrow or Monday, pending FAA inspection and ferry permit.

Cessna 630 is cruising. Thanks, 630!

Skylane 073 is undergoing some interior and avionics refurbishment, as planned.



We are getting serious about some "Written Test Cram" ground school sessions. The format would likely be a long 2-day weekend, and would include the written exam at the end. .. any interest, written-exam laggards? (You know who you are... Carlos!)

When the wind stops annoying us, it's going to make some mighty fine flying weather. I can't wait!

Blue Skies & Have a Hoppy Easter!

- Mike