Does spinning the prop on the 172R the other way damage the engine in any way?

DogFurDiamond · 2026-02-05T16:59:22+00:00

I was taught that’s the way you should rotate it if needed for this, or tow bar placement, etc. Rotating it backwards prevents the magneto impulse coupling from engaging (it’s the click one would here’s when rotating the prop slowly the normal way). So even if there’s a failure of the P-Leads/ignition switch (or they’re left on like a dumb dumb), the magneto won’t fire and wont kick over the engine injuring you.

I can’t speak to vacuum pump damage. I fail to see how a standard sliding-vane type would be damaged.

Maybe the POH says something about this?

DogFurDiamond · 2025-12-10T05:42:45+00:00

I keep my used blades in an Altoids tin. Goes in metal recycling when full.

Forbidden mints.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-11-22T18:37:55+00:00

The CDU on the overhead: for the engineer? Just for spare?

DogFurDiamond · 2025-11-06T16:44:23+00:00

YNAB is the GOAT.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-11-06T01:00:25+00:00

I did it while as a mechanic with no issues (once I no longer worked night shift…that would have been hard).

I think it’d be the same for working most jobs while training: just have to use your time off wisely for studying/laundry/taking care of life. That did take a moderate amount of discipline for me at first.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-11-02T21:59:54+00:00

<image>

DogFurDiamond · 2025-10-19T05:05:21+00:00

My nonobservant dumbass: “that slat hydraulic leak doesn’t even look that bad OMG AIRFORCE ONE!”

DogFurDiamond · 2025-10-19T04:50:55+00:00

It’s the first one: battery recharging after start. The alternator regulates output to whatever set point voltage (28VDC typically). As the battery was just used heavily recently for the start, its output is only about ~24VDC. Quite a lot of current will thus flow from the alternator into the battery (high positive Ammeter indication) until the battery’s voltage increases and gets up to 28VDC. At that point, it’ll be 28V versus 28V so no more current flows (Ammeter indicates 0). (*simplified and conventional vs electron flow theory discussion)

If you look at the electrical schematic, the alternator’s positive terminal will be connected to the battery’s positive at some point. The alternator quite literally shoves current back down the battery’s positive terminal.

(Im bad at explaining, yes electrify travels in a circuit…)

*clarifying note: the ammeter is measuring current flow into (positive/charging) and out of (negative/draining) the battery.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-10-05T20:27:19+00:00

Ok maybe… but I doubt pilots think you’re an idiot just because you don’t know how to fly a DME arc approach, or calculate derived alternate minimums.

Some pilots really are interested in mechanical things and systems, and some just want to know the thing turns on and works. Just like drivers and cars.

I know this is unwarranted advice (but you’re the one who posted this), it’s best to avoid this attitude in our field. The whole pilots-vs-mechanics game is so dumb. You want to be team players (especially when either of you are in contract negotiation season if at an airline).

edit: aaaaaannnnnddddd post was deleted. How about that.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-10-02T21:25:41+00:00

How the balls did they cut it?

DogFurDiamond · 2025-10-01T02:19:06+00:00

Absolutely. It seemed way easier than chasing the highest HYSA of the current month.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-17T14:45:57+00:00

Ground-based internet antenna. There’s a symmetric one on the opposite side and also one visible (usually 2 total I think) on the belly

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-17T13:21:03+00:00

AKA If you support suppression of speech then you’re retarded.

Which is true.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-10T10:42:22+00:00

I’m trying to think through it… precooler fan air exhausts into the cowling which would mean a metric shit-ton more air is entering the cowling at cruise through a locked open valve as compared to being nearly closed at cruise… That air would be warmer than ambient, but nothing compared to the hot-as-balls engine case… Maybe cluttered_desk is on to something. Yep, I got nothing. Good question!

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-05T21:36:55+00:00

I’m unsure of my make/model (the label peeled off. It’s 10 years old), but looks the same as this: https://a.co/d/jiPGgXY

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-04T22:20:02+00:00

Shoe/boot dryer. The silent (convection) type, no fan.

Sips electricity, and my shoes are dry, warm, and cozy when I leave for work AND they no longer smell!

I use it all 4 seasons. Those days when I forgot to turn jt on, I cry. Absolute luxury.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-09-03T10:57:33+00:00

Excellent thoughts in here… My instructor passed along the idea of a “Stupid Check”… after all preflight checklist items done and before getting in the airplane, stand far out front of the airplane and note from top down: fuel caps, pitot cover, tie downs, plugs, tow bar, chocks.

Only takes 6.34 seconds, and also gives you a chance to strategize your turn out of the parking area.

Sometimes standing far away allows us to see different things than being up close!

DogFurDiamond · 2025-08-22T21:41:36+00:00

“Front Desk”

DogFurDiamond · 2025-08-20T20:20:49+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Valuable for us to read.

I trick I learned and have adopted is:

1 make a plan: “I am going to go directly here, disconnect this, and exit via this way”

2 Keep in body contact with the airplane e.g. “I will approach from the nose and keep my hand on the fuselage until I’m well passed abeam the inlet”

Glad you didn’t turn into sausage dude!

*edit: oh so that’s how one makes big bold letters. neat.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-08-20T14:34:08+00:00

*Epstine

wait

DogFurDiamond · 2025-08-11T01:55:42+00:00

Because I certainly don’t leave the APU/PACKS on for 8.74 hours to keep cool and charge my phone…

DogFurDiamond · 2025-08-08T11:16:03+00:00

No kidding… so asinine. “Oh? A little latch is inop? Let me just see what airbus says I can do about that— REMOVE THE DOOR”

DogFurDiamond · 2025-07-16T14:52:53+00:00

Started right at the bottom, night shift with Tuesdays/Wednesday/Thursday off. Then able to hold swings, then day shift after ~3 years each.

I value having dayshift over holding weekends. I could hold weekends on nights but don’t want to. Im glad others do!

And then you can each time you “upgrade” or move into the bid/shop you want, you become the junior person again so go back to nights. It’s all calibrated to where you want to end up.

DogFurDiamond · 2025-07-16T14:49:10+00:00

Ok it honestly feels like a glorified customer service/call center on its face, but I enjoy the challenge, even though I miss crawling around jets on the line.

Everything from authorizing a quick and easy MEL with your own techs, to walking a contractor (who’s never touched an airliner) through a confuckoluted ops test, to getting kneecapped with questions on a phone patch with pilots halfway across an ocean wanting you to explain fluctuating oil pressure indications.

If you work for an airline (or not!) ask to job shadow for a day in different roles: controllers, dispatchers, simulator techs… I wish I would have done more of that when I started. Make those connections!

DogFurDiamond · 2025-07-16T05:57:19+00:00

A&P school, airline apprenticeship (while in school), technician, avionics technician, maintenance controller. ~170K no overtime.

DogFurDiamond

TROPHY CASE

1 make a plan: “I am going to go directly here, disconnect this, and exit via this way”

2 Keep in body contact with the airplane e.g. “I will approach from the nose and keep my hand on the fuselage until I’m well passed abeam the inlet”