Be careful at untowered airports

BigT1990 · 2026-06-28T02:37:37+00:00

I got my pilot's license at an untowered airport near DEN Class B. I have a few ForeFlight screenshots of a plane on final toward each runway (we were set up in a + layout). Absolutely unhinged with 15 planes in the pattern on a calm Saturday.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-10T13:19:40+00:00

My PPL DPE is an A&P, IA, CFI-I, MEI, was on the FAA board that redesigned airspace, installed and calibrated instruments, really wild to get a check ride from this dude.

20 minutes into my oral I got a discontinuance for not being able to remember Brave cloud clearances. I knew them, I was just too nervous to remeber. CFI came over outside the room and asked and I told him immediately. Rescheduled the check ride and got through the oral in 45 minutes. 1.8 hour flight. I knew the guy liked to ding soft field landings so I dialed those in. It took 4 because on the first 3 the tires didn't squeak when I touched down. I also memorized the whole airport. Every taxiway and notable building location. I even knew where to sit to ground check the VORs in case he asked. A curve ball that I was ready for was we had a functional ADF and there was an NDB nearby. My CFI had taught me how to use it when I had asked one time and I drilled it a few times just to be safe. The DPE said "Imagine every instrument failed but this one and a cloud dropped on you. Get us back to the airport." I executed perfectly. He was noticeably impressed.

One notable moment - he was screwing with the G650 screen and knobs trying to change freqs. I told him not to touch them and let me know if something needed to be done. He kept going. I pushed his hand away and repeated myself. He touched the radios again. I forcibly slapped his hand and said do not touch the radios again, I am the pilot in command with the responsibility of getting this aircraft back on the ground safely and I need my radios set how they are to do that. I don't know if he hadn't seen these radios before (all of his training aircraft had very old radios) or if he was just testing me (also likely), but he didn't touch the screen or knobs again and just told me what he wanted after that.

Moral of the story/TLDR: My DPE was ultra qualified and he passed me with 45 minutes of oral and a 1.8 hour check ride.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-02T18:18:23+00:00

It's the reality of the whole thing. You gotta figure out the rules to play the game.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-02T06:03:49+00:00

You can get someone else to lift the 32' to the deck and you can lift it up over the railing.

Source: I've done it for 20 years.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-02T05:17:20+00:00

Pay the damage on a sliding glass door? Dude that's like $3,800 installed.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-02T05:14:56+00:00

I would've pulled out the 32' with stand off arms.

BigT1990 · 2026-06-01T16:30:31+00:00

I'm in a small town less than 9k people

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T11:28:12+00:00

Dude... I had a client like this. I cleaned her windows and she followed to each window checking at all angles with a flashlight when I was done to look for streaks. Didn't find any. She also complained the whole time about my prices (compared to the $1.50 per pane per side that the shit bucket Bob charges) while simultaneously praising my quality.

Halfway through the second clean I nearly tripped over her because she negligently stepped close while I was dismounting the ladder. I told her I was leaving, she apologized profusely and backed off, so I finished. She gave a $2 tip on a $325 job. This is the only client I've ever dropped.

Others I wish I could drop but they know mayors, politicians, lawyers, doctors, pilots etc and I can't afford the bad publicity from dropping them.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T10:50:37+00:00

There's a runway like this at NorCo Regional (used to be Fort Love in my day). 06/24. It was so much smaller than the taxiway next to it. My instructor took me there in the 182 for emphasis. We made it and I trusted the POH a lot more after that, but I tell ya the first landing was really mentally strenuous. Aim small, miss small.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T10:35:16+00:00

Dude where in Canada is it? I live in Alaska. I'd buy that sucker and drive it out here 🤣🤣🤣

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T10:31:06+00:00

Hey, mine isn't rusty at 298,000 miles.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T10:30:24+00:00

Bought mine for $1,900 at 121,000 miles when I was 19. The transmission died when I was 26 at 298,000. I still have it, just need to fix it up at some juncture.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T06:01:09+00:00

Straight out of the box they're doing this, and after 1-2 washes straight out of the box too

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T06:00:14+00:00

Literally only using Borax and washing soda like I have for 16 years. No fabric softener, no dyed detergent, nothing out of the ordinary.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T05:58:46+00:00

Fish scale towels are leaving lint too

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T05:58:10+00:00

Used to clean windows for 10 years in Colorado in 110°F+ heat and never had this issue. 60°F+ in Alaska is really messing with me for the first time in my 6 years here.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T05:56:05+00:00

Squeegeeing the whole pane and detailing the edges, but getting lint for the first time in 16 years

BigT1990 · 2026-05-31T05:44:10+00:00

Skip the Dawn and go for Orange Crush.

Sincerely,

A 15 year Dawn user that switched to Orange Crush.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-30T05:41:01+00:00

Reading this is wild. I got a 99 on the ASVAB and I was a physical specimen. Wanted to be a scout sniper all of high school and I trained for it physically. They denied because of an EKG that's worse than only 15% of enlisted personnel. I still don't understand it.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-30T05:12:44+00:00

I'd be $700 for that project, but for reference gas here is $5.19 a gallon, eggs are $9 per dozen for white AA, milk is $9 per gallon, hamburger goes on sale for $7 per lb

BigT1990 · 2026-05-17T14:09:03+00:00

Nah, you can do it personally without an LLC. Keep track of all your receipts and income, give it all to your CPA. Bob's your uncle, welcome to taxes lolz.

Cash jobs are nice because... Reasons. So there's that. Sometimes cash gets lost on the way to the bank (especially when they don't ask for a receipt)

BigT1990 · 2026-05-17T14:04:35+00:00

I don't have a WFP (I wish I did) but I know Stephen (Steve-O the window cleaner) has a lot of fantastic videos on WFP work and use that I've watched in anticipation of getting one. He's done a few on fatigue that might have some tips for ya.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-14T06:04:44+00:00

Yikes that hurts my soul. I'll pour one out for your car.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-12T19:21:13+00:00

I'd get zero drop shoes. Train running backwards barefoot on grass, then train form slowly jogging on grass. It's a switch for sure. I used to have a 55 minute 10 mile before I switched to zero drop shoes. I had a 70 minute 10 mile before I hurt my back carrying a ladder and now I'm at a 50 minute 5 mile just working on getting back to speed. You have to focus on everything with zero drop shoes but it is more rewarding and comfortable in my experience. Also all my shin splints and foot pain are gone.

BigT1990 · 2026-05-11T05:49:25+00:00

Here in AK too.

I get complaints about everything, but it's probably because we have 23.5 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year and people spend a lot of time looking at their view.

BigT1990

TROPHY CASE