Hello Friends and greetings from Michigan. I am writing to update you on how things are going with maintenance training and work at the flight school. Over the last several weeks my class has been studying electricity. We have begun a group project of putting together a mock up board of an aircraft electrical system and troubleshooting it. It will take most of this next week to complete this project.
Additionally, we have been studying weight and balance of aircraft. This study has included the process of actually placing aircraft on scales to weigh. A pilot of an experimental aircraft was kind enough to fly his aircraft to Ionia to allow the other students and me to weight it. This pilot is a fellow Flight Instructor and as a courtesy he took me for a flight in his airplane. The aircraft is an experimental home built Glassair. It has a high thrust to weight ratio and jumped off the ground during takeoff. This aircraft if mostly made of fiber glass, and has many digital gauges. I will include photos of this type of aircraft below.
In class we have also been reviewing how to read and make technical drawings. We have also constructed our own tools to help secure fluid lines in aircraft.Work at the flight school has been productive.
November in Michigan is not the best time for flying. However, we have had the longest stretch of 70 degree weather on record here in the Grand Rapids area. Election Day saw a record high temperature along with record high turnout. However, after a full week of excellent weather, reality has set in as temperatures fell well below normal for this time of year. The drive to church this morning was completed in the snow thanks to a deep low pressure system and cold front that had moved through the area.
This past week I began teaching a Private Pilot Ground School course through the school. Though small in number, my students are attentive and serious about the material which makes my job easier. I look forward to Thanksgiving and a return home soon!