First Pull

The Mighty Continental 85!

Greetings Brethren!

As you can imagine, a sixty-five year old airplane requires a lot of TLC to keep it in top form.  It also requires a substantial support network, especially when the manufacturer ceased operations decades ago---as is the case with the Baker family's 1947 Luscombe 8A.  Since "support" is an ongoing process, generally, there are no real surprises during annual inspections.  Points of emphasis this year:  A 500 hour magneto inspection, and a carb heat muff that needs to be repaired (hopefully) or replaced. 

Expert Mechanic, Tim Graf, inspects the magnetos.  I thought the hammer was a nice touch!

Both magnetos passed inspection with flying colors.  Repairing the carb heat muff is proving to be more difficult.  Apparently, welding aluminum is not an easy task.  The first guy Brother Baker offered the job to decided it was above his skill level.  The next guy said he could do it, but then backed out---said he was having trouble getting his shop set up.  Currently, the muff is on it's way to a shop in  Ronkonkoma, New York.  That's on Long Island folks, and is where Brother Baker originally planned to send it---before he learned of "options" closer to home.  Hopefully, it will return in a week or so.  And what happens if it can't be repaired?  Well; the good news is a new muff is available.  The bad news is it costs five hundred and thirty-one bucks!  Keep your fingers crossed. . .

Yesterday, the mighty Continental 85 fired on the first pull of the prop!  I found that inspiring---after seeing magneto parts spread out on the workbench!  Except for the wayward carb heat muff, 43 Bravo's annual inspection is complete.  The folks at Jellystone Air Park are hoping the carb heat muff returns from it's Long Island vacation in time to attend the next Pond Branch Airfield* flour bombing contest, scheduled for April 21, 2012.

Started on the first pull!

Check out that new baffle support arm!

*Pond Branch Airfield:  Mile marker 43, I-20, west of Columbia, South Carolina.