Month: December 2020

Merry Christmas 2020

Wishing you the peace and joy of the holiday season!

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and hope you stay safe and healthy. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May your days be merry and bright.
If it is on your heart to give, there are so many missions that serve those in need. If you don’t have a local group, please consider one of our aviation mission friends. Here’s are a few that would be grateful for your contribution:
Wishing you and yours good health and blessings this Christmas season!
Our offices will be closed on Christmas Day and New year’s Day. In case of emergency, leave a voicemail or send an email. Messages will be checked occasionally over the holiday.
Thank you, God bless, stay well and enjoy the spirit of the season!

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Zook Aviation!

✈ Happy Wright Brothers Day! ✈

✈ Happy Wright Brothers Day! ✈
 
On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers took flight with their first powered aircraft in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
 
The brothers took their manned gliding experiments to Kitty Hawk because the mid-Atlantic coast had stable breezes and soft sandy surfaces, perfect for landing those initial tests.
 
The Wrights determined the best location for their initial test flights by writing to the Weather Bureau, now known as the National Weather Service.
 
Joseph J Dosher, who worked at the Weather Bureau, promptly replied with the following response:
 
“Mr Wilbur Wright Dayton Ohio
 
Dear Sir,
 
In reply to yours of the 3rd, I will say the beach here is about one mile wide clear of trees or high hills, and islands for nearly sixty miles south. Conditions: the wind blows mostly from the North and Northeast September and October which is nearly down this piece of land. Giving you many miles of a steady wind with a free sweep. I am sorry to say that you could not rent a house here. So you will have to bring tents. You could obtain frame.
 
The only way to reach Kitty Hawk is from Manteo Roanoke Island N.C. in a small sail boat. From your letter I believe you would find it here like you wish. Will be pleased at any time to give you any information. Yours very respectfully JJ. Dosher”
 
The brothers’ first flight lasted 12 seconds and flew 120 feet. That day, they flew the glider three more times. Wilbur flew for the longest time that day, lasting 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet.
 
Wilbur Wright testing a glider in Kitty Hawk, Oct. 10, 1902. Courtesy: National Weather Service
 
Once the flights were completed, Orville walked to the Kitty Hawk Weather Office to send a telegraph to his father, telling him about the day’s successes.
 
The telegraph sent by Orville Wright from the Weather Bureau Office in Kitty Hawk. The message informs their father about the successful flights of Dec. 17, 1903. Courtesy: National Weather Service
text
 
Listen to today’s episode of “This Day In Weather History” to hear more about the lead up the first aviation weather forecast, which occurred on Dec. 1, 1918.
 
The relationship between the National Weather Service and the aviation industry continues to be strong, providing daily weather forecasts for 537 airports.
 

How to Add an Experimental or Large to an Aircraft Profile

Need to Add an Experimental or Large Aircraft?

Currently, our service only lists Small Aircraft (weighing 12,500 lbs and under) that have ADs issued to them.  We do not list Experimentals, Sport, or Large aircraft weighing more than 12,500 lbs.

But what if you service something that is not in our system?  There is one work around for that.  You will start with adding a new Profile for an Experimental (EXP), and make changes to it after the Profile is established.  Here’s how:

To add an Experimental or Large aircraft, to Aircraft Profiles:
1. Login to the Member’s Dashboard:  1) click Aircraft Profiles, then 2) click Create New Aircraft Profile:

2.Click Search by Model:

3. Type Exp into the model field, and click Search.

3. Click the dot on the right side, then click the Select an Airframe and Click Here button:

 

 

Nothing will exist in the record, so be sure to add all the information you can, such as N# (Tail) and Serial Number, and the Name of the Aircraft:

 

 

 

 

 

 

IS THE PROFILE COMPLETE?

Once you’ve set up the Aircraft Profile, you can do a number of other things, like:

      1. Add a Photo.
      2. Add a Customer (strongly recommended)
      3. Create a new, or link to an existing: AD Report, Logbook Entry, Weight Form, 337, ICA Work Order, or Invoice.

*Note:  Since there are no ADs with an EXP profile, you can add them manually.  Just start a New AD Report, and Add a Single AD, one at a time, until all the ADs you want to list are added.

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Have more questions? Need help? Contact Us

Monday thru Thursday: Open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday, Saturday, Sunday & IA Seminars:  The office is Closed. Calls, voicemails and emails will be responded to within a reasonable amount of time.

Do your exhaust ports look like this? by Dean Showalter

Sharing another great article with you here, from our friend, Dean Showalter:

Hi Friends!

I’m a firm believer in using pressure testing to check for exhaust leaks.

But I wasn’t always.

Years ago, we rarely did more than visual inspections on exhaust systems.

Since that time, I’ve changed my ways… and I’m glad I did.

Check out this exhaust port on a cylinder:​

​

Before removing the exhaust pipe that was attached here, it didn’t look that bad.

But by doing a simple pressure test with a clean shop vac and some soapy water, it became obvious it was leaking.

If these types of exhaust leaks are not fixed, the cylinder flange area can erode, making cylinder replacement necessary.

For this cylinder, the exhaust port cleaned up nicely, 2 new studs were installed, and the exhaust pipe flange was resurfaced and reinstalled with a new gasket.

The result: No more leakage!

For more pictures of the exhaust repairs and other interesting squawks on my friend Tobin’s Piper Cherokee Six, check out the notes for episode 161 of the Airplane Owner Maintenance podcast.

You can see all the pictures and notes here: AirplaneOwnerMaintenance.com/161​

Be sure to tune in early on Thanksgiving morning for a special episode…

I’m going to introduce my good friend, Jonathan Brush, who was a huge motivator in pushing me to start the podcast.

And… I’ll share a code for a special price on the “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” video course, that will be available for one week, starting on Thanksgiving Day.

Have a great week Friends!

Dean

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Have more questions? Need help? Contact Us

Monday thru Thursday: Open from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday, Saturday, Sunday & IA Seminars:  The office is Closed. Calls, voicemails and emails will be responded to within a reasonable amount of time.