7/2/12-Annual Condition Inspection

It's been a year since this beautiful machine first took flight-so now it gets torn apart for its yearly inspection and to fix a couple of issues. First, my second communication radio was not picking up broadcasts more than 10 miles from the airport-it should be more like 30 miles. So I installed a new antenna in the fuselage and I hope that takes care of my problem. Second when I fly down to Louisville to visit my son the controllers are always complaining that I have two transponders operating. I don't. But I do have one transponder and one ADS-B transceiver that could be confusing these folks. Up until now I never had a way to shut down the ADS-B transceiver because it was wired with the transponder, so I rewired the power to it and added its own circuit breaker-problem solved.

Eric and I made this wood platform so that I can lay on my back and work under the avionics panel without too many contortions!

The interior had to come out of the plane for the inspection and so that I could run the new wiring for the com antenna.

The interior of the plane sitting against the back wall of the hanger.

Jim Timosczyk, an Ann Arbor based IA, is helping me go over the engine area. Things like magneto timing and cylinder compression checks require specialized tools that I don't have.

Glad I only had to rewire some of this!

Some of Jim's equipment.

Flight w/Steve on beautiful March afternoon

Got out of school and took advantage of great March afternoon weather-a bit windy but it was blowing straight down the runway so lets go!

Preflight underway-hey is this important?

Fill 'er up-at only $5.80/gallon it makes flying almost economically viable-NOT!

She's a Looker!

Airport in sight.

Everything looking kosher!

Steve and Ed.