CAVOK over Europe the whole week. Called the charter company on Tuesday, yes, D-EGDG would be available Saturday morning. Good, please reserve. I invited two coworkers if they would like to come. Both confirmed immediately.
Arrived early at EDFE to get the weather an prep the Tiger. I had to have the beast rolled out from the hanger, since EDFE pack the planes real tight in their barns. No time to prep before the boys arrive and it turns out better this way. I give them a briefing on what to do and how to act before we proceed to the a/c.
After the mandatory potty breaks we walk out on to the sunny, albeit cold, apron. My coworkers take photos and generally gawk at the collection of different aircraft. We arrive at D-EGDG and proceed to pre-flight. Halfway through they lose interest and I finish on my own. They needed a smoke break...
This is when the fun starts. After strapping in and turning the starter until the battery is empty, our moods are somewhat destitute. We disembark and head back to the terminal. I go to give the loaned headset backs when the desk guy tells me that we can get a jump from their starter wagon. Best news all day! We head back to the Tiger and await the man with the juice. They show up a short time later and ask me 12 or 24 Volt. Duuuhhh... doesn‘t it say on the port? I ask knowingly. Yeah, but it‘s hard to read... Oh. yeah, 12V. We get some fresh electrons, but D-DG still does not want to go. After priming and priming and priming while cranking, and cranking and this that and the other thing, my thumb is starting to get really sore pushing the starter button. Finally, a cough, then a second and third, then out; I am really getting frustrated. Pilots have to think positive...
Right about now a concerned gentleman comes over to us. He informs me that he has his PPL-A exam at 12:00 local. He is giving me a look that if I break something, he might break me. No problem, I say, we are just going for a little flight and I am sure that the examiner will appreciate a warm cockpit when the time comes. He goes away not sure what to make of all of this. 2 other pilots come by to give us their condolences and some not-so-helpful tips. One of them is from the DFS who‘s P-28 refuses to start as well and is waiting for the battery trailer.
After about the tenth time promising that if it doesn‘t start, we are getting out, the coughing fit starts again, but this time, I notice on the CHT gauge, that there is a fire in there. Hmmmm, go baby go!! Finally, with much ado, DG is running!!!
Needless to say, the time is running short. The whole episode took 90 minutes, it‘s 11:00 local, we need to be back by 12:00 and the charter company asked me to tank it to the tabs for the exam.
A quick taxi to 09, and away we go. This is the first time the coworkers have flown in a small plane, so I show them some simple maneuvers with a small stall that they didn‘t really like, but I thought was cool.
Back on the ground, a quick taxi to the pumps, tank her up and back to Hanger 6. I head over to the FBO at 12:15 to excuse my tardiness, but the examiner is not there yet. I tell the guy that my examiner was late for my exam, so no problem.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen