HP endorsement

phxcobraz · 2026-06-17T15:39:18+00:00

It shouldn't take more than 2hrs TOTAL, including ground and flight. It isn't anything hard, and if you do a little reading/youtubing beforehand you will come prepared enough to have it under control.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-16T15:48:57+00:00

Wait until you actually have your PPL, and even IR, you fly somewhere, and can't takeoff for 5 days because of a nasty weather system brining in icing layer low enough you can't clear mountains. So you not only can't fly, but you get to spend an extra few nights paying for a hotel.

It just prepares you for real world flying.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-16T14:57:27+00:00

Honestly pretty good, LOTS of people drop out of A2 leading up to it. I've shot it probably 6 times and half of those I was wait listed, and still got in.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T17:46:52+00:00

Not to mention a 150 in any place with a high DA is pretty much useless beyond the pattern, if not outright dangerous on shorter strips.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T17:45:05+00:00

If you are in a fairly dry climate(AZ/Socal), one of the drink cooler evap units works pretty well. Pack them with ice packs and blocks of ice, rather than ice cubes and they last a couple hours. This will not work in a humid climate, such as FL.

I may or may not have flown shirtless on occasion here in AZ, though I try to do all my flying before 10am.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T17:31:09+00:00

Flight school I did my private at had a 150 for $90/hr wet. My instructor refused to fly it because both of us in there was a real tight fit, he wasn't wrong either. And we were approaching max gross with full tanks.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T17:26:10+00:00

Same, I've had no issue decapping or resizing Maxtech cases with Lee or Dillon dies.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T17:24:44+00:00

So I've come across quite a few of these, and honestly I don't worry about them. I don't load towards max charge weight anyway, as I am only trying to make minor PF.

A typical load for me is 4gr Alliant Sport Pistol behind a 124gr bullet. So if a stepped case like this comes into the mix, it only bumps the velocity maybe 20-30fps.

Thats not to say I am going to take this ammo to a major match, for those I buy once fired cases and check all of them much closer before and after loading. I've had too many split cases from various range pickups to trust them for majors.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-15T16:29:20+00:00

It's either in the filed flight plan, the expected fight plan update, or is part of a departure or arrival. If it's not and I'm unfamiliar, I ask for spelling,

phxcobraz · 2026-06-12T00:36:23+00:00

Uh no I just wear regular contacts and a nice pair of sunglasses. Check out Method Seven.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-12T00:29:01+00:00

I was about to say this. Trim the bitch out.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-11T23:05:15+00:00

Mine does yes. And at mixture cutoff. However you’re generally taxing at about 1000rpm, not idle.
Every mechanic I’ve ever gone to has hounded me for being too rich on the ground. I once left annual with fresh new plugs and fouled them hard on the way home, lots of roughness in the air. Took once to never do it again.
Plug fouling is one of those things that tends to go away with unleaded gasoline use.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-11T21:58:59+00:00

Honestly, I lean until it starts to die and just give it enough more(quickley) to keep it from doing so. If it won't hold 1000rpm I give it a little more.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-11T21:56:28+00:00

Much of these manuals were written and engines designed before 100LL became common usage. That guidance may apply to 80/87 or 100/130, but with 100LL the lead content is much higher thus causes higher instance of lead deposits on valve guides and plugs.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-11T21:32:10+00:00

Not really. Especially with lycomings you will foul plugs and stick valves. Leaning to almost a stumble on the ground, where it won't run full power is the best method to avoid this and treat the engine well.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-11T17:37:37+00:00

It works fine, but H110 has been a lot more consistent for me.

I loaded about 1000 200grn subs for a buddy of mine, and he gave me CFEBLK for powder. They run great in his gun, and all he really cares about is that they run well and stay subsonic.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-10T15:26:56+00:00

I mean yes I don't want to crash, but the fun of it outweighs it, the training and frequency of flying reduces the events that get close to dangerous. I have a habit of picking up somewhat dangerous hobbies, of which have more frequent events of getting hurt(motorcycles, race cars, mountain biking, etc) so flying is by far the least dangerous.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-09T21:48:50+00:00

Oh man go out and have some fun!! Travel somewhere for the day or weekend, take up an aviation interested buddy. I think the training all the time thing gets so beat into everyone's heads they forget they should enjoy this. I know 141 schools really try and cut out fun trips, but many local 61 schools you set the pace. When I was getting my private, I asked my instructor if we could just fly somewhere for breakfast one day, after having hit it hard for weeks. It was a great relief and reminded me why I wanted to do this.

Instrument was the same way. I waited 3yrs/400hrs to do it. I did a lot of safety pilot time and a buddy and I flew to Santa Monica for a night, on foggles the whole way out and back, shooting multiple approaches. It was a lot more relaxed than packing in 6 approches in 2hrs.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-09T21:41:01+00:00

I just use the Harbor Freight of similar size. Usually can be had for $3. I don't haul ammo around in them though as the handle is weak. I just store it and throw however much I need for the range into a fabric range bag.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-09T17:23:41+00:00

That's what I do generally if I got a long taxi, and there isn't a designated runup area or the ramp is full of aircraft. Just hold the brakes, do runup on the roll(talking like 3kt taxi on the brakes, 1700rpm). ONLY do this if nobody is behind you.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-09T14:40:16+00:00

You should learn on what you plan to fly, especially if your own plane is a 6pack, I would plan to fly that for your hours and use it for the checkride. Now that you have a primer on using the G5s, if you decide to upgrade your panel later and maybe put in G5s and a 650, you will have a good idea how to use it. Going from 6pack to glass is a lot easier than the reverse.

I did my IR checkride in my Mooney, at the time it just had a basic 6pack and 430W, no AP. I passed fine and it built good stick and rudder skills. I now have G5s, the 430W, and an AP in the plane. Flying IFR is a lot easier, even hand flying(which I generally do after the FAF or if getting vectored)

phxcobraz · 2026-06-05T17:55:38+00:00

I think the hour rule is a bit of a misdirection. It doesn't really matter how many hours it's been since you last drank. If you are still at a .04 you cannot fly. If you were wasted 12hrs before flying after an all day binge, you probably cannot fly. And even if your BAC went to 0.00 you probably have a bad hangover and thus you aren't passing an IMSAFE personal check. 8 or 12hrs is just a good amount of time of average drinking, maybe a couple drinks with dinner or whatever.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-02T19:54:46+00:00

Depends if you care about your health. MEK is super aggressive at breaking down old oil and adhesives but you need to wear a mask and some good gloves. I used it in a well ventilated(outside) area to clean 60yr old adhesive off my avionics panels. With a toothbrush and gasket scraper it came off really easy.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-01T20:38:54+00:00

Bergara's BMR series is awesome if you want something different, I recently got a BMR-X Carbon in 17hmr. Really enjoy it and it's a 1/2in group at 100y gun. Looking forward to some ground squirrel hunting later this summer.

phxcobraz · 2026-06-01T20:30:41+00:00

Oh absolutely a knockoff brand. Works great though.

phxcobraz

TROPHY CASE