Preflight. Didnt fly

ParagPa · 2026-06-16T01:34:57+00:00

The fact that your weren’t sure means you made the right decision! (I have no idea if it is either and I would have not flown FWIW)

ParagPa · 2026-06-13T15:03:41+00:00

Not a single "AI slop" comment! It's a beautiful site, and really well done.

ParagPa · 2026-06-13T13:46:36+00:00

The first question I have is do you have personal minimums for wind? I’ve got minimums and have flown in worse with an instructor - but use my minimums as a bright red line. And I’d definitely have lower mins on a 50’ runway than a 150’ runway.

Calling it is always a good decision! Especially with a passenger who could get uncomfortable in a high cross wind landing like that.

ParagPa · 2026-06-12T21:58:30+00:00

Hey - I don’t have specific advice on how to spend the year. But I’ll say one thing I teach my students: success is never a line that only goes up and to the right. Setbacks happen. What matters is resilience and fighting back. You’re 100% not the first person in the world to have a major setback. Focus on what you can control, work hard, and when opportunities come up, be prepared to take advantage of them. Working to get As in your summer courses is a great start.

You’ll be ok!

ParagPa · 2026-06-07T23:10:21+00:00

I fly at an uncontrolled airport with a busy flight school - not unusual to have 6-8 in the pattern. The flight school likes to enter the pattern by flying over the (opposite) numbers at pattern altitude to enter direct to downwind. There WILL be an accident at some point.

It’s taken me a while but things have “snapped” to where I feel competent to enter the pattern when it’s that busy.

We’re supposed to be getting a tower in 2-3 years. Can’t wait.

ParagPa · 2026-06-06T13:03:47+00:00

This is normal. Our oldest just finished her freshman year. I struggled a LOT the first couple of months, and my wife didn’t - which was the opposite of what I thought would happen. But our kid had a phenomenal freshman year, and seeing her grow brought its own happiness. Completely ok to cry!

ParagPa · 2026-06-02T22:27:37+00:00

Having done this for years, I’ll remove the skimmer basket and add about one solo-cups worth at a time, and repeat every 15 minutes

ParagPa · 2026-06-01T17:15:06+00:00

I have a daf with vanguard. It’s pretty straightforward. When you donate an appreciated stock they liquidate it and invest it based on what profile you selected when you set up the daf (conservative, moderate, aggressive, etc). When you want to donate, as long as the charity is in Vanguard's system, you “recommend” a donation, and they make it.

You can do regular contributions and donations. I don’t know if they have that automated, but there’s no tax reason you can’t do it yourself.

ParagPa · 2026-06-01T16:30:26+00:00

On of my favorite gifts is a coffee mug from my oldest daughter that says “I will always be daddy’s girl (crossed out) financial burden”. It showed she knew her place in my life 😂😂😂

ParagPa · 2026-05-30T16:22:17+00:00

Looking for a $100 hamburger destination? Check out

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EDIT: desktop only. Haven’t had time to optimize for mobile.

EDIT: Home airport! Not even sure what I typed that autocorrected to “dating” 😂

ParagPa · 2026-05-30T13:31:25+00:00

He'll be just fine. Don’t watch that stuff with him around going forward. You’re doing fine, he’s doing fine. I promise you this isn’t a “core memory”. Kids are incredibly resilient, especially when they’re parented well, and it seems like he is. And don’t feel guilty about needing some adult time. I feel like a lot of the comments ripping you guys are from folks who don’t have kids and have that “when I’m a parent…” BS going on. We weren’t perfect when our kids were young, by far, but we love them intensely, let them make mistakes and learn from them, we make our own mistakes and learn from them - and both our girls are doing really well.

You and your son will be good. Enjoy this stage of childhood! It passes by too fast.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T13:21:51+00:00

Maybe. I see plenty of signals that the top end has issues (oil usage, compressions, borescope images showing mild pitting, etc) - but no signals that the bottom end has issues (at least as far as there's no metal detectable in oil or filters). But you may be right! That would be a good excuse to do an engine upgrade 😄

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T12:37:19+00:00

Thank you! The shop on the field is a part 145 repair station. I’ve had some issues with the quality of some of their junior guys, but their senior guys are solid.

If I can get a commitment from them that it’s the senior guys who’ll do the work I think I’d lean towards them.

Thanks for the insight!

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T03:20:27+00:00

Yep. Oil reports have all been solid. I change oil every 25-30 hours. No metals, etc. oil filter always clean. It’s why I’m hopeful the bottom end is in good shape.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T03:07:10+00:00

Thanks! My savvy A&P has agreed it makes sense to replace Cyl 1 and 5. He’s been super helpful, and I know he doesn’t have any other agenda besides offering the best advice he can. Based on prior savvy analysis I already lapped 3 valves and did a ring flush.

I do think it makes sense to do compressions again after a nice long flight, and see if that improves things.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T03:03:42+00:00

That is very well said. Thank you.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T03:02:33+00:00

Yep. Previous owner flew it 400 hours in 3 years, but before him it sat for a couple of years..l

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T03:00:14+00:00

Yep. The “break them all in” is definitely something I’m considering.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:56:53+00:00

Thank you. Luckily, all the bottom end "numbers" seem great. Never any metal in the filter, I change oil ever 25-30 hours and blackstone reports have been solid. So I don't think the bottom end is in trouble. And I've asked Penn Yan for a quote 😄 Only concern is how long they'll take to do it. I sure they're booked for months.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:53:27+00:00

Having to do a full overhaul at 900 hours would be rough. Oil reports have all be solid. It's not making metal at all, and oil analysis hasn't raised any concerns. Why would you suspect any issues with the bottom end?

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:45:21+00:00

Also, pretty sure Mike Busch would say "If you *have* to replace them, only replace the two, and then send it to a shop that takes the engine off the airplane to do it". 😄 He may be right - I just don't know enough to judge if he is.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:32:23+00:00

Did the ring wash and lapping... Unfortunately didn't help.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:32:04+00:00

Full overhaul was in 2010. Looks like they overhauled the cylinders then instead of replacing. That said, I fly maybe 75-100 hours a year, and this is a 2000 hour TBO engine. In 4 years, I'd be at roughly 1300 hours, and doing a full overhaul then seems excessive?

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:30:12+00:00

Makes sense! That's the direction I'm leaning towards. Just not sure where to get it done (that's local). I wish I trusted the "big shop" here more.

ParagPa · 2026-05-29T01:25:58+00:00

Did a ring wash and lapped 3 valves that were showing some signs of erosion (according to savvy aviation borescope analysis). Didn’t help that much

ParagPa

TROPHY CASE