This time of the year brings with it a period of reflection. Looking back at the activities and challenges of 2020 certainly is different from most years. The current pandemic and associated economic hardships, lockdowns, politics and civil unrest just to name a few. Everyone must have their own version of “reflections on the year 2020.” My transition into retirement came at the right time and despite the challenges of 2020, for me life is good.
It has been a busy time here at Papa’s Playhouse. First, progress on my Airbike ultralight slowed over summer. The four wing spars are completed, ribs are finished and stacks of delicate wood parts are anxiously waiting to be assembled into the first wing. A quick sidenote … after spending most of my life working with metals, I am enjoying my newfound love of woodworking.
About the time I was ready for Airbike wing assembly, I became involved with what I’ll call the partial restoration of a friend’s 1941 Aeronca TAF Defender. After a good interior cleaning and inspection, new floorboards are in, the seats are ready to install one last time, and soon the controls, instrument panel and fuel system header tank will be back in place. The landing gear has been reinstalled with new bushings and of course all new bolts.
However, the hope of putting some air under the Aeronca wings this year is fading fast as we still must install the engine and prop and all the associated work that goes with an engine change. Nonetheless there is no real hurry so now we have our sights set on springtime flying.
The next project on my list is another engine change. For those who are not familiar, the Skyote is a small Experimental single seat open cockpit biplane. First came the discussion to overhaul or not overhaul the Lycoming engine. Part availability and cost was certainly front and center during these discussions. Once the decision was made to change to a Continental, the discussions turned to purchasing a runout engine and overhaul it, versus the purchase of an engine with low-time, mid-time, or zero Time Since Major Overhaul (TSMOH). Eventually, a zero-time O-200 was found and purchased. Now the discussions have change to planning, designing, sourcing and/or fabricating all the engine compartment components that go with basically a total firewall forward change.
Needless to say there has been little time for working on my growing collection of old balsa wood model airplanes — which has become one of my favorite activities. Papa’s Playhouse proudly displays finished and mostly unfinished airplane models throughout.
I truly hope all our AMT readers will have some fond memories of 2020 and your reflections will not be all center around health concerns, lockdowns, job loss, politics and civil unrest. Like the 40 young aviation professionals who will remember being selected by AMT this year as one of the 40 Under 40 winners. My personal congratulations go out to every one of the nominees and winners.
Keep ‘em flying safely, Ron
