How to spend my Christmas vacation?

[Tail_Gunner]

I just finished my finals today. That means I'm now 75% complete in my schooling to get my A&P certificate.

One of my instructors is involved with the local EAA chapter. The A&P mechanic at the airport is an EAA member also. The two got to talking and the mechanic extended an offer to have an aircraft maintenance student follow him (apprentice) while school is out for the holidays. It sounded like an offer to good to pass up! So I'm jumping on it faster than a bunch of frat house guys on a stack of free pizzas & beer.

It should be interesting. We're going to be doing an annual inspection on a Cessna just like one I did an inspection on about 2 weeks ago in school. I'll also get to put to practice for real, doing a differential compression test that we studied just last Monday. It'll be neat working on a flyable airplane for a change instead of something that last flew 20 years ago.

In case you're wondering, I won't touch a tool to the airplane without the guy being right there observing everything I do. It should be a good deal for him too. I do all the work, he doesn't have to pay me, and all he has to do is watch!!

 

[WD40]

Kent, have fun on your Christmas vacation? Nothing like playing with good tools.

Doug

 

[JLDickmon]

on real stuff

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Kent, have fun on your Christmas vacation? Nothing like playing with good tools.

Doug

In a heated hanger at that!!!!

 

[BIG JOE]

And maybe one day, yul be able to return & provide the exsperience & exsposure, to another student ?

Thats alwayz a Good thing.

 

[WD40]

And they may just call him back at a later date and pay him for his time there.
Good Luck with that one.

Doug

 

[Tail_Gunner]

I had a great day!!

Today I had the opportunity to assist with a real world annual inspection of a flyable aircraft.
View attachment 11348

(While under close supervision), I taxied the plane out to do performance tests of the engine. Later after getting it back into the heated hanger, I helped do the compression test, a mag timing check, clean & repacked the front wheel bearings, serviced the front nose gear strut and shimmey dampner. While inspecting things around the engine compartment, I discovered a cracked sheet metal cooling baffle and made a repair to the cracked baffle.
View attachment 11347

This real world experience is awesome!! Doing this stuff for real is so much more satisfying than pointless exercises in school.

 

[powerboatr]

I just finished my finals today. That means I'm now 75% complete in my schooling to get my A&P certificate.

One of my instructors is involved with the local EAA chapter. The A&P mechanic at the airport is an EAA member also. The two got to talking and the mechanic extended an offer to have an aircraft maintenance student follow him (apprentice) while school is out for the holidays. It sounded like an offer to good to pass up! So I'm jumping on it faster than a bunch of frat house guys on a stack of free pizzas & beer.

It should be interesting. We're going to be doing an annual inspection on a Cessna just like one I did an inspection on about 2 weeks ago in school. I'll also get to put to practice for real, doing a differential compression test that we studied just last Monday. It'll be neat working on a flyable airplane for a change instead of something that last flew 20 years ago.

In case you're wondering, I won't touch a tool to the airplane without the guy being right there observing everything I do. It should be a good deal for him too. I do all the work, he doesn't have to pay me, and all he has to do is watch!!

OUTSTANDING young man
i did the very same thing with the Jacksonville sherrifs office and their fleet of planes when i was working my certificate .
eyes and mind open youngin

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Well, today is my last day of Christmas vacation. Tomorrow it's back to school.

I had an excellent experience interning with the mechanic at Boreal Aviation at the Sawyer Int'l airport.

I got to help with the annual on 3 different aircraft, 2 Cessna 150's and a Cessna 421. The guy could have said "keep your hands in your pockets and watch". But instead I got pretty dirty. And after a short time, it became very evident he was confident in my work. For someone who is still technically a 'student', that meant a lot to me.

Here is the Cessna 421 I was helping out with.

On Friday there was a beautiful Cessna 414 that came in for the day. The owner asked to keep it warm, so they put it into the maintenance hanger where I was working. It was so immaculate and well maintained, it was something to see.

Transient Cessna 414

 

[BIG JOE]

Good On Ya TG.

Seems like you had an exellent opertunity for some "Hands On".. from a guy that was willing, and wanted to share his exsperience & knowledge with a A&P student... that showed an interest... and you took advantage of it.

It don't git No Better Than That !

That IS.. a Clean, well kept Cessna

Related ? When I worked at the NAS.. the Boeing Leer-Jet usta come in, on F-18 business occasionally... That Thing was so Pampered Clean.. my guyz were "Nervous In The Service" fueling the dang thing They had custom made protective pads.. to go around the fueling points.. so NO fuel could git on the 60K paint job. Carried a crewman, who's job was: Clean, Wax & Buff the thing, between legs of flight. (he, or she.. was also A&P qualed for the Leer though, too)

Must be Nice Huh ?