Cold Stretch

Not many posts of late for three reasons: 1) Weather hasn't been super conducive to flying; 2) Plane has been in the avionics shop getting the new transponder installed and a few other instruments removed, and; 3) I've been on the road quite a bit.

We've been having a pretty significant amount of winter weather in the Carolinas of late, including two snowstorms.  The first happened when we were up in WV on a ski trip, and I had told the avionics guys they could take the plane before I left since I was going to go straight from that ski trip onto a work trip.  Even if I had been around, there was too much icing that weekend to fly.  By the time I got back the next week, the work was still continuing, but temps were too cold for an unheated start (as a a rule, I don't start the engine without pre-heating below 40F).  The next weekend NC received a snow storm, although the precipitation dome over Raleigh meant that areas an hour west and east of us got about a foot of snow, while we only ended up with about two inches.  Even if the weather had been good, an FAA inspector needed to sign off on the transponder since it doesn't have an STC, so the avionics guys are just waiting on that.  

On the plus side, 4TV rode out the snow and ice in the heated hangar of the avionics shop, so I'll consider that a win!  I'm leaving on another work trip this week, but the plane should be signed off by the FAA by the time I'm back.  Turns out it was a good time to have them do the work.

Panel with the GTX-327, but sans Loran and ADF

I did go out there today, however, before leaving for my trip to Nebraska.  The avionics guys needed the W&B sheet to finalize their paperwork, and while I could have e-mailed it, I wanted to see the panel with the 327 in it.  Not only did they install the 327, but they also removed the ADF (box and gauge) and the LORAN unit I had asked them to pull out.  While I was expecting to see empty holes in the panel stack and where the ADF needle used to be, they had actually used parts they had around the shop to cover those gaps, giving it a clean look.  The 327 bench tested perfectly, and with the install I get another 24-months on the transponder inspection.  

I was pleased to know they checked a few of the other avionics/electronics while inside.  He mentioned that the VOR worked well, but that the localizer/glideslope had a very weak signal.  That wasn't a surprise to me, as I hadn't been able to get it to pick up an ILS.  The localizer/GS signal comes from the KX-155, and given its age, it's not a surprise that it may have some issues.  I was glad to hear that the actual CDI likely works just fine.  

This is also the first picture I've posted since spray painting the bottom panel, and adding new decals for the switches, etc.  Even though it's intended as a temporary fix till I can get aluminum panels, it really did improve the overall look of the panel.  I have a few more decals to apply, and some areas to touch up with a paint brush, but overall, it's an improvement, and a cheap one.

Weather and energy permitting, I hope to test out the new transponder on Friday, plus make sure it's talking correctly to the tailBeacon.

Oh, and I almost forgot - while the transponders weighed about the same, the shop estimates that pulling the ADF and LORAN will probably get me seven lbs of weight back - and that doesn't include future weight savings when I have the ADF antenna removed.