Sis Meets Friends at Urbana

Another packed weekend of working on airplanes has left the restorer and me frustrated that we have been on the ground rather than flying on some beautiful days.

Monday has rolled around, and we looked at our schedule – nothing that can’t be done another day.  

Want to go play?

No need to ask twice! 

I start looking at weather while the restorer suggests some places we could fly to.  The restaurant at Urbana is closed today, but things can still be done there. 

The restorer suggested heading off to the northwest from New Carlisle towards Wapakoneta, then east to Bellefontaine before heading back to Urbana, as it would give another hour of cruise flight towards the engine break-in period.  

Filling in more of my mental map is always appreciated.  Areas around Sis’s new home are becoming more recognizable from the air and on the ground.  

The airspace limitations near New Carlisle, as Dayton International’s Class C airspace rests above the airport, means staying below 2400 feet.  Departing the area to the north or east ensures staying clear of Dayton International and Wright Patterson AFB, just south of the airport.

Weather looks suitable for a sightseeing trip across the area.  Wapakoneta is someplace I would like to visit another day as a museum devoted to astronaut Neil Armstrong is located there.  

Arriving at the hangar, I’m sure Sis is as happy to get some air time as we are.  

I’m in the left seat for this leg of our flight, and then the restorer will fly the leg back from Urbana.

Temperatures are warmer than they had been for Sis’s freedom flight – I’m looking forward to enjoying a bit more heat while we fly.  

Heading out to Play

Pulling Sis out into warm daylight facing the taxiway, we close the hangar door and settle into the relative warmth of Sis’s cabin.

Engine start again necessitated bumping the starter when the prop stopped moving.  After two or three bumps, the starter engaged.  Taking time to set up avionics and instruments also allowed for the oil temperature to be close to 100 degrees before beginning our taxi. We set the flaps to ten degrees during this time using the mark the restorer placed on the outboard pilot side flap.

Halfway through the runway, the oil temperature was happily above 100 degrees.  

The runup was normal, with no issues.  

I lined up for the runway, twisting the throttle partway, then pushed the remainder in as Sis accelerated beneath us.  

I climbed towards the west and kept the airspeed below 100 miles per hour while the gear retracted.  

The restorer reminded me the flaps needed to come up, too.  It will take a few more flights before this becomes more ingrained.  

Flaps coming up.

Turning towards the north, I stay below 2400 feet until I clear Dayton International’s airspace. Then, I climb a bit higher to 2500 feet, turning on course to the northwest.  

The restorer, much more familiar with the area, told me when to stop my turn.  It didn’t feel like more than 30 degrees, not too long.  

Close cowl flaps and trim for level flight.

Getting set up for cruise, the restorer monitored engine settings while I concentrated on heading and altitude.  

Cylinder Head Temperatures were indeed higher than they had been with lower outside temperatures but still manageable.  The restorer leaned the mixture, bringing temperatures to an appropriate level while closely monitoring engine health.

Before long, the lake, Grand Lake, was in sight. Our turn east would come soon. 

The restorer talked of flights into this area from years before, his vivid recollections make it seem like yesterday. It seems more familiar hearing his memories.

Staying above the airspace around the airport for Celina (KCQA) just to the south of the lake, we turned north, then back to the east, passing the airport at Wapakoneta, (KAXV) off the right wing.  

Learning my way around the area, the restorer directed me east to Bellefontaine, (KEDJ) before heading south to the familiar territory around Urbana (I74).

The blue sky had few clouds throughout the flight, only a few bumps here and there as we let down into Urbana’s pattern from the northwest.  

Getting more comfortable with uncontrolled airport procedures, I extended past the active runway, 20, on my upwind leg above the pattern altitude before making my crosswind leg to join the downwind for landing on 20.  

Lowering the gear at about midfield downwind, we had enough time to plan for our base and final turns while monitoring the area.  

Lining up to land was comfortable as the gear was down and prop full forward, using the throttle to make minor energy adjustments along with the nose for airspeed.  As the long runway came up to meet us, I held the nose off as long as I dared, bleeding energy off to land.  

Taxiing into the restoration shop was a non-event, turning around to park in the grass by our old hangar before shutting down.  

Sis makes Friends

Hearing an engine shut down outside, a friendly face greeted us from an opening door.  

A longtime friend and colleague of both restorers, Uncle Paul smiles in the afternoon sun as he walks the short distance across the ramp to Sis.

Taking a break from welding, Uncle Paul was happy to finally meet Sis, as he has had conversations with the restorer while we have been puzzling out her journey.

Like the restorers, Uncle Paul is an A&P and IA who has produced beautiful, functional, and award-winning aircraft inside and out.  

The restorer said afterward he felt terrible about how her interior looked before our friend saw her.  Considering the interior is almost as old as I am, it’s not a surprise, though I feel terrible, too.  Only so much can be done at any given time.

The conversation led to what was going on with the T-28 inspection Rosie was heading up and the other restorer’s progress on the projects at the restoration shop.

While Rosie was at class that day, I wished she could have been there too as she and her family all helped support us in addition to the work they did on her tail.  

Rosie and her girls will see Sis another day.

Letting Uncle Paul return to his project, we walked across the parking lot to the restoration shop.

The other restorer was finishing up on some measurements when we popped our heads into the restoration shop.  

While the restorers have been discussing Sis on and off for some time, the other restorer has yet to meet her.  

It’s hard to believe how much has changed for the restorer, Sis, and me since showing the restorers the video of the tail moving a year and a half ago.  

The small discussions about Sis’s progress, likely made with those who know more than I do while working on other projects, have allowed the restorer to provide a pathway for Sis back into the air.  

While we were working on the Beech 18 interior, the opportunity to see behind the back bulkhead allowed for conversation and understanding of what made up the tail of an airplane.  What was necessary for an aircraft to fly?  

Learning about a related matter while working on something is familiar.  It happens time and time again to us.  Taking the time to open our minds and listen might not answer all the questions, but it will provide understanding frequently.

The other restorer said she looked good, seeing Sis from across the ramp walking to her parking spot.  

The discussion led to what we had in mind for Sis next.  She flies safely, first and foremost. What we can improve along the way will be great regardless.

With the wind beginning to pick up, we decided it would be a good idea to head back to New Carlisle.

Saying goodbye to everyone, the restorer settled into the left seat and I into the right.  

Heading Home

It took us a moment to get Sis started.  Once she came to life, I turned on the avionics and other panel essentials while the restorer got the rest of the checklist taken care of and then taxied out.

After completing the pre-takeoff checklist, the restorer announced his intention to depart and took to the runway for a departure to the southwest.  

Takeoff and departure were a non-issue, and before long, the restorer was back in the pattern at New Carlisle, lining up for a landing to the west using flaps to come in more slowly.

After touchdown, the restorer let Sis slow down as she rolled along, adding power to make it to the taxiway at the end of the runway.  

After this flight, Sis has almost 5 hours since her engine work. The restorer was happy with how everything was operating.  

The restorer has some small projects he would like to accomplish on Sis before long.  

Life has a way of telling us when a project needs to be done – let’s see what we are led to do next.