By Wendy Haught
Saturday morning Herb, Nathaniel, Emma, and I paid our first visit to the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). We met a friendly group of airplane folks, signed up for a family membership, learned several new jokes, and got to see a completed RV-6A. The "A" designation indicates a tricycle gear. Herb's will be a tail dragger.
The RV-6A was down for a fuel tank leak, so Herb got to be involved in its repair. He recognized right away that it had been modified because he has spent a lot of time studying the fuel tank plans to see what he will need to do to the tanks to be able to fly upside down, something that is critical to his happiness. He got to see Pro-seal, a sealer with a wicked reputation for being messy, being applied.
Pro-seal comes in a tube like a caulk gun. Since Pro-seal can not be saved for later use once it's been catalyzed, Henry, the owner of the hangar, suggested cutting off the applicator nozzle when finished and saving it. After 24 hours, the nozzle contents can be checked to see if the sealer set up properly.
The RV-6A owner, Steve, said that it only takes him about seven minutes longer to get to the annual Oskhosh airshow in the RV than it did in his Cessna 210. His RV has a 150 horsepower engine. Herb will be installing a 180 horsepower engine, so he is expecting to fly even faster.
After a couple of hours I suggested to Herb that Emma and I take the car and go home. He could call me for a ride when he and Nathaniel got ready. At that point I feared it might be sundown. Reluctantly, he decided to go then, but he let me know that the next time Emma and I would have to stay home if we couldn't stay until he was done having fun. My solution: Emma and I will will ride our bicycles.
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