Jim, thanks again for the ride. I should have my rudder pedals fixed tomorrow and I will probably make my first flight this weekend, or at least a lot of tail up taxiing.
I know three KR pilots that have had their first rides from you and I am sure that there are plenty more. Your dedication to helping other KR pilots fly safely is a great asset to the KR community. I hope to be giving rides in my KR at next years gathering. Jim Faughn wrote: >Hi all. I had a great trip to the Gathering this year. You read that I >was stuck in Trenton, MO when I made a no-go decision after looking at >the weather heading up to Red Oak. I have been portrayed as a >conservative pilot and that is a title I like. I enjoyed my time in >lovely Trenton and the airport manager was great. I stayed overnight and >then back to the airport the next morning to watch the clouds go by. >About 2:30 in the afternoon, I had seen the cloud layer stay the same >height for quite awhile so I thought it was time to see if I really had >a 700 ft ceiling. I did and got out of Trenton and headed to Red Oak. I >can't say it stayed that high the entire trip and if I was doing it >over, I would have stayed in Trenton. However, I made it under the scud >and on to a great Gathering. After arriving and the usual Hi's and >initial questions, I unloaded the plane and went flying with Steve >Alderman. We went for a few passes in formation and Steve told me he saw >something fall off my plane. Since I didn't feel anything I thought it >was probably one of the gap seals or part of one. They are made of a >very light Mylar and have broken and come off in the past. I made >another 200 mph missed approach and then came back around and made a 60 >mph pass. I then landed and was looking for the missing gap seal. None >were. What happened was I was missing an aileron counterweight. The >weight didn't fall off, actually the aluminum L bracket broke at the >manufactured corner and the weight with the arm fell off. This was >something that you can't inspect because it is buried under the >fiberglass. At 6:30 I tapped Mike Garbez and we went to his shop, made a >new bracket out of 4130, made new weights, drilled the holes and brought >it back to the hanger. I assembled most of it Friday evening and quit at >10:30. Finished it up in about an hour Saturday morning and declared it >fit for flight after inspecting everything another 3 times. > >Everything worked well so I gave rides to the people that were >anticipating their first flight within the next few months. I was very >pleased to do this and that is what I enjoy doing. Sorry about not >jumping to give rides to those who are thinking about a KR or who are >thinking about whether or not to finish one, that just isn't my thing. I >have a passion for keeping people alive who are about to fly but I'm >just not the factory giving rides for motivation or a new sale. The "new >wave" will have to step in for giving rides next year. > >Anyway, the purpose of the message is to acknowledge that I no longer >have a "plans built" KR. I have changed something so Mark, I guess I've >come around. PLEASE think very seriously about changing your aluminum >balance arms to steel. PLEASE. > >Take care. > >Jim > >Jim Faughn >4323D Laclede Ave. >St. Louis, MO 63108 >(314)652-7659 >Email - sub @ for "at" jfaughn "at" socket.net >Web Site http://jfaughn.com > > >_______________________________________________ >see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html >
