“Bring us a video of the tail” an aircraft restorer said, “it sounds fixable.”
Ok I’ll get it. I hadn’t been spending much time at Moraine but went down to the airport in hopes of getting a hand to video the internals of the tail moving and finally start to get some answers on my sister’s fate.
My childhood friend and another pilot friend were able to help me get a very shaky video that illustrated movement of the tail in unison from inside the tail.
As we were finishing up, my childhood friend said if it was his dad’s Bonanza, he would do anything he could to get it flying again.
Waiting the days until seeing my experienced airplane restorer friends was almost unbearable, the possibility of a path forward was like a patch of sunlight on an overcast day.
The furrowed brows of the two experienced aircraft restorers staring at the video didn’t say much more than concentration. After what seemed to be forever, the one that requested the video asked for the Bonanza’s books adding this might be something we can do.
The mechanic at Moraine had been holding on to the Bonanza’s books while I moved. After getting them from him, I headed directly to the aircraft restorers.
“This airplane has been well loved” the mechanic/restorer that requested the video and books. “I’d like to look at your sister’s tail myself. Would you mind if Rosie joined in on this?”
My jaw must have been on the ground. Of course! Rosie has been gaining hours towards her Airframe practical under the watchful eyes of the experienced mechanic and restorer. She had also been helping me get to know the area better and what goes on in a hangar from a maintenance standpoint.
The idea of going through this with Rosie made it seem easier. I’m remembering more about the ins and outs of all things Bonanza as we both learn about the inside of my sister’s tail. Besides, Rosie’s daughters are getting a ton our of this journey as well just from listening to us. Both girls are learning how to fly, one has soloed and the other studying for her written.
The experienced mechanic said on more than one occasion he thought about my Bonanza quite often. Rosie and I would often hear about his latest thoughts about my sis, as he calls her, from his time in his comfy chair.
The dinner conversations at Rosie’s house after Bonanza things had been discussed were enlightening as Rosie’s husband, while not in aviation, was more than interested in the project. Their daughters, between updates on ground school and questions about old-school flight planning, were reminding me who I had been at one time.
Depending on what was found, it could be something simple like bolts or more complex like the actual bulkhead needing attention. The possibility of DER approval on modification of parts if holes were oversized was also mentioned. If the parts were unusable, finding usable ones may be a problem. We won’t know until we go in.
Rosie, her husband and one of the daughters led by our experienced mechanic and restorer made the trek to Moraine and take a look.
Introducing everyone to my sister in person felt like one way or another we would have some answers. Her hangar isn’t the most welcoming, but it is out of the worst of the weather.
Opening up the inspection plates and examining with a mirror, borescope and more experienced eyes, the problem began to take shape. Seeing the movement in person seemed to make everything more real. Before long, plates were put back in place and we tucked the Bonanza back in to her nest.
Going over the Bonanza books more closely after seeing things for themselves, the next thing to happen became apparent. Take the tail surfaces off to get a closer look.
Text conversation over the next couple of weeks, schedules and resources were coordinated for disassembly and storage.