Flying
my 1978 Grumman
Cheetah N365PS:
This
plane has excellent
owner history.My
thanks to
J.W. Bryant, Dan Youngerman
and Jeff Jacobs, Michael Grimm and Bill McLeary
for their care
and vision towards making this Cheetah so perfect. Upgrades include the 160hp STC, Powerflo Exhaust, Sennsinnich Climb Prop, new paint and interior (2002-2006), Rudder beacon, strobes, new glass.
The
Cheetah comes
home from Corpus
Christi Texas,
on January 13th,
2012. It starts
off as a sunny
and promising
Sunday morning,
and within 50
miles, the ceiling
is dropping, and
I'm scud running
at 1500' over
the hill country
of southwest Texas
looking out for
towers, hills
and deer. I refuel,
look at my options,
do a big 125 mile
end around and
find blue skies
plus 40-50mph
headwinds, and
make El Paso at
sunset, 10 hours
later. Not quite
the adventure
I was hoping for.
Leaving
El Paso at dawn,
the 50mph headwinds
prevailed. The
Cheetah reciprocated
with a brave climb
to 14,600', and
still climbing,
to get over weather
at the NM and
AZ border. I made
it to Casa Grande
and then Imperial,
in winds so strong
I could hardly
taxi. Made it
home to MYF in
actual IMC, doing
a localizer approach
with a sketchy
panel. Home at
sunset!
Almost
Narco radios removed, but kept the transponder for now. Installed a KX155 w glideslope, KMA24 panel, and King DME. Along with my the old Narco Nav 122, it is still a legacy setup,
but at least LEGAL for IFR.
Sewed
alot of sheep
together to get
just the right
fit and feel,
and new cushion
foam to get me
the right height.
Built the armrest
too...so now I'm
comfortable for
the long haul.
Happily
heading to Borrego
Springs for lunch
with Hogan
Finding
snow on top of
Cuyamaca Peak
at sunset on Feb
27th, 2012 with
Jeanine Bonvin
My
First Airplane
: Beech Skipper
N38062 June 2007-Nov
2011
2010
Flight to 10 states including new ones, Montana and Idaho and BC
2009
Flight to the
Western Cascades
2009
Flight to Baja,
all the way to
Cabo.
2008
Flight to BC and
the San Juan Islands
2007
soloflight from
San Diego to Montreal
2007
air to air shots
along the La Jolla
coastline
Email:
duffy@voicebyduffy.com
P:
858.673-9848
