Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Best Hundred Dollar Hamburger in Texas

We flew into Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke, Texas last week and had the best hamburger we've ever tasted! My son and I chowed down on their monster burger while my wife enjoyed one of their many fine salads.



The name of the restaurant is the Blue Hangar Cafe. This is truly a unique experience for any aviating enthusiast. Everything you need in one location. There is cheap fuel and a pilots shop within walking distance. The restaurant is on the north end of the runway. You can enjoy your meal and watch all the airport activity right out the window, not to mention making new friends and sharing tall tales with other aviators.

The owners, Gene and Christi really take great care of you and are friendly folks, eager to fulfill your every culinary delight. They're open for lunch everyday and offer breakfast on Saturdays. Be sure and give them a buzz at 817-490-0058.

Have a goodun!

Smitty
FunPlacesToFly.com

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Monday, December 29, 2008

Flying an Airplane with a Dog as your Passenger

On a beautiful Saturday morning, I drove to my hangar and pulled out my old Cessna. I had to clean her up from the last adventure before a young lady I had met the day before arrived. I had asked her out to lunch, via my airplane. I didn't want her to think I was a complete pig. I cleaned the windows and vacuumed my Cessna out. Ready to go!

Not long after, she arrived, but not alone. She had her small dog, Buffy the Shih Tzu, tagging along.

"Oh" I said. "You brought your dog".

"Oops, I'm sorry, Is that OK?" she asked.

"I dunno. I've never flown with a dog before. I guess it will be OK." I said, not really wanting to have a dog in my airplane.

So after the pre-flight, we boarded my bird and taxied out to the run-up area. The dog seemed to be pretty calm, it just sat quietly in her lap. I did my run-up, all the time keeping one eye on the dog. Still, all seemed to be well.

Time for take-off. I pulled the airplane out on the run-way, while announcing my departure. I pushed in the throttle and started down the runway. Meanwhile the dog was starting to get agitated, but I didn't notice, since I was concentrating on my take-off.

The next thing I know, the dog had leaped from her lap and started running around the interior of the airplane, just like Roger Rabbit in the movie. Around and around it went, yipping all the way. Since I was already airborne, I really couldn't do anything about it. Not only was the dog going wild, but it was pooping and peeing at the same time.

I knew I had to get the plane on the ground as soon as possible. I was worried that that damn dog was going to do something stupid like lodging herself under the rudder peddles.

I made the pattern and landed safely. We got out of the airplane and put the dog on a leash, tied to one of the struts. Both of us were covered with pee and poop, not to mention the interior of my airplane!

She was mortified and apologized profusely. I said "Don't worry, it's OK".

We pulled the airplane into the hangar and she gracious helped my clean it up. After everything was back to normal I turned to her and said:

"I do have one suggestion though."

"What's that?" She asked.

"I think you should change the dogs name to Sue". I answered.

"Why Sue?" She asked.

"Well, then we can refer to her as Shit-Sue!"

We both laughed and went out to lunch, in a CAR.

FunPlacesToFly.com

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Homemade in-the-ear ANR Aviation Headset

I made my own ANR in-the-ear Headset!

I went out to the hangar yesterday and found a 10 year old stereo headset that was replaced by a newer model long ago. I felt like a kid again riping it apart. I salvaged the rubber grommets and the volume control and drew out a schematic of the original wiring before taking the electrical harness apart. I went to Fry's electronics and bought some long heat shrink rubber tubing and nothing else, mainly because they didn't have any of the other stuff I was looking for! Unbelieveable!

Next stop, Radio Shack. They have it all. I bought a project box:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062279&cp=&sr=1&origkw=project+box&kw=project+box&parentPage=search

A 1/8" Stereo Panel Mount Jack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103451&cp=&sr=1&origkw=panel+mount+jack&kw=panel+mount+jack&parentPage=search

A bag of assorted Grommets:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103392&cp=&sr=1&origkw=grommets&kw=grommets&parentPage=search

And a 6 foot stereo cable with two plastic coated wires and a shield for the mike.
Got my smarts from Wikepedia: (since I don't know Jack about Jacks)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_plug

I went to Target and got these battery powered noise cancellation earphones. I have a friend who rides Harleys and swears by them:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/602-3936001-1205452?ie=UTF8&asin=B000G36GOU

Then I remove the factory rubber plugs and replaced them with these earplugs from Walgreens. I took a soldering iron and burned a hole down the middle of the ear plug to allow the sound to reach my ear drums.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100217&navAction=jump&navCount=0&skuid=sku304842&id=prod4842

Here's what it looks like, minus the mike being attached to a "around the neck and over the ears" wire headset. The volume control is a real necessity for this headset! The all you have to do is plug the earphones into the phone jack plug.



Heres the headset, made out of an old coat hangar.



Results? I luv em'! I went on a long cross country in my Cessna 172 and was amazed at the difference.

Here's the website where I got the idea:
http://www.cozy1200.com/geeklog/article.php?story=20070427102533266

Have a goodun!
Smitty
http://www.FunPlacesToFly.com/