May 18, 2007

Fun with the Decathlon

Another week of maintenance under the belt. The main concern for us this week was again the Decathlon, trying our best to have it ready before summer break. I spent my week working on the landing gear, prop, wing struts, a little bit of coax cable fabrication/installation for the radios, and the alternator. We pulled the gear legs out to strip them of the paint and inspect them carefully, using a Magnaflux machine... basically, this machine clamps onto the two ends of the part and magnetizes it, while you spray on a liquid over the part that is made up of microscopic bits of magnetic, fluorescent material that is drawn into the cracks (if any) and shows up under black light *takes big breath* If this sounds like 1950's technology... don't worry... it is.

I spent awhile cleaning, blasting, inspecting, and painting the wheels... they were in surprisingly excellent condition (the exterior was pretty heavily pitted/corroded, but the interior surfaces were nearly spotless, and they're the ones that matter), so it looks like they'll be ok to use for awhile.
























No... it's not a retractable, but it does look kinda cool without gear legs on it.
























After a major headache (see next picture), we finally got the prop on this week. The working space is a little tight, especially for the safety wiring job required afterwards.























Safety wire on the prop attach bolts (the orange is "torque putty", meaning it was inspected by one of our instructors and approved). Safety wire, quite simply, prevents the bolts from being able to loosen... if it starts to, it has to tighten the other bolt it is attached to, thereby stopping its rotation.























In other news, it looks like I'll be part of student council this next year. I decided I wanted to be involved with helping this school progress, in whatever way I can. Unfortunately, some students have been slipping through the cracks, as it were, educationally and spiritually, so I wanted to be in a position where I could help to a greater extent. Be praying I'd make good use of my time as I get involved.

Home in a month :)

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The musings of Steven and Dawn as we go through life together. Steven is working for Moody Aviation on the maintenance staff through the ministry of Proclaim Aviation (www.proclaimaviation.org), as we continue our preparation for the mission field.