Thursday, June 25, 2009

KIJX to KRAC

So, today we had a first out_of_the_ordinary experience... We found out that the purpose of a propeller is to keep the pilot cool. If you don't believe it - stop yours and watch how fast you sweat.
Half-way between Jacksonville, IL and Racine, WI our engine started running rough and the airplane started buffeting. Airspeed dropped significantly. Cycling magnetos... runs ok on the right one... left one - out... back to both - very rough. Back to the right one.
The last 84.6 miles we ran on the right magneto, trying to fix the problem, constantly looking for fields, roads and airports to land on, switching frequencies to the closest airports, calling KRAC on the UNICOM and on cell phone, trying to arrange for a mechanic, while evaluating whether we shoud be landing immediately or continuing to KRAC.
The last 20 miles to KRAC were nerve wrecking - densely populated area, then lakes and woods.
We reached the field, made our required race fly-by, climbed to traffic pattern altitude and made a normal landing on Runway 4.



Update: People at the Batten airport were wonderful and tried to help us in every way they could. We got a private tour of The Southeastern Wisconsin Aviation Museum and Chapter 838 EAA building, which is the Taj Mahal of EAA buildings, while Tim Guntly, a local mechanic, and EAA guys called around trying to find a magneto for us. Of course, in the best traditions of the genre, nobody for miles around had it, and it was getting late…

Jessica's dad, Tim Miller, an A&P Mechanic, came to the rescue… he and Uncle Roger flew in a TriPacer from Hutchinson, MN to Racine, WI and delivered the part… Tim (Miller) and Tim (Guntly) made all the necessary repairs, we did the run-up… it sounded divine.

Ready for our last leg tomorrow. KRAC to KAIO.

Tim, Roger and Tim)), THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You saved the day.



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