Story Time – SkyGeek Style!
A tidal wave of jewelry commercials is usually a good sign that Valentines Day is approaching. Well, that wave was spotted, and it reminded me of a Valentines Day story I hadn’t thought of in a while. I asked the Chief Geek if I could share, so here goes.
I’ve never been a fan of Valentines Day, for all the classic Hallmark Holiday reasons. Accordingly, a few years ago I began to complain about it to my friend over some lunch. I stated my argument for why I loathed participation in the Day, and my friend agreed to some degree. However, his ultimate response was along the llines of “Either way, you have to get her some flowers or jewelry or something, or else you’re in biiiiig trouble with the girlfriend.”
To this, I responded with “Even if I agreed to partake, it wouldn’t be about buying red roses and candy, it would be about showing her I care. What you rely on roses for, I could accomplish with…I don’t know…batteries. I could give batteries and make it work”.
Well, the gauntlet was thrown down, and the bet was on. $50 that I wouldn’t give her batteries for Valentines Day. Luckily, I had a girlfriend with a sense of humor, so this would be my approach.
On Valentines Day, I arrived at my girlfriends house. She opened the door, and at first didn’t recognize me. I was dressed in plad pants jacked up to my stomach, a tucked in pink shirt, knee high socks, thick black glasses (with tape) and had my hair matted down on my forehead. The kicker – was the closepin on my nose.
I was a full blown nerd with a box in my hand. She immediately laughed and asked “what the heck are you doing?” I responded in a nasally voice – “I’m here to win your heart lass, and I have a gift for you”. I handed her a heart shaped candy box and she opened it while laughing. In the box, in place of all the candy I removed (and ate), was an array of different batteries. Accompanying those batteries, was a “battery identification” card telling her what each battery was for – like in a box of candy. For example, one set of batteries was identified as “Batteries for your discman, so you can listen to Tiny Dancer (favorite song) whenever you want” – and so on. Along with these personalize battery notes, was a message “I took out the marshmellow battery, cuz I know you don’t like those” (doesn’t like the marshmellow candies).
Well, not only did I accomplish the laughing aspect, she actually loved all the messages and couldn’t have been happier. When she asked why I did it, I told her about my conversation with Jay – and the bet. I was careful to reinforce the fact that it wasn’t about the $50, it was to prove we don’t need flowers and candy to enjoj Valentines Day…because what we have is special.
So it all worked out on that day. My friend Jay was shocked, she was happy - I had pulled it off and made a special day of it. About a year later, turns out the specialness didn’t last…but such is life.
Still leaves me wondering, dressing up like a Geek that day and having so much fun, did that have anything to do with me becoming a SkyGeek? Never know.
So that’s my Valentines Day Geek story – SkyGeek story now. If any of you out there in SkyGeek land think you have what it takes to pull off giving batteries on Valentines Day, here’ some links to pick up the batteries on the cheap. That, or if you just need batteries (cuz honestly, the stars have to allign just right to pull this type of thing off).
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Posted by skygeek on January 29, 2010 6:44 PM
Down to the Wire – SkyGeek Style
Because safety wire is utilized so often, we thought we’d run through some quick points and tips regarding what it’s used for, how to use it, and what the different variations are.
Safety wire has many uses, but the most common application is using it to secure the nuts and bolts of your aircraft. It can also help prevent other parts of the aircraft from vibrating loose – or even off. Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway) safety wire is incredibly important to have.
Safety Wire can be used for:
- Securing nuts and bolts (ie. Carb nuts and Prop bolts)
- As hose clamps around the fuel lines, fuel pump, carb, or primer bulb.
- Probe clamp replacements
- Exhaust springs
- The rotary valve tank clamps
- Securing your air filters to your carbs
- Spark plug caps
- Much More
Stainless steel is by far the highest quality material used for safety wire, and it comes in a variety of different thickness. Let’s go over a few of the most common thicknesses and the attributes and uses of each.
.020 is very thin and can bend around almost anything. It’s not as strong as other thicknesses, but it is ideal for safety wiring things where you need to bend the wire around a lot of corners such as light bolts or fittings.
.032 is probably the most common size. It’s easy to work with; it’s strong and should work on anything you might need to use safety wire on.
.041 is extremely strong due to its thickness but can be stiff and difficult to work with for intricate wiring. It won't tighten around a tight radius; you use it on wide radius turns where high strength requires the extra strength.
When working with safety wire, you’ll come to realize that having safety wire pliers or an entire safety wiring kit is pretty much essential. The pliers / winders make doing the job a heck of a lot easier, a heck of a lot faster and heck of a lot safer. Using safety wire pliers helps to ensure that the safety wire is applied with the right tightness and strength.
Here are a few guidelines to follow when applying safety wire.
- The first thing you’ll want to do is torque the nut or bolt to its proper torque. Then align the holes that are going to be used to safety wire the units in place. Be careful not to over torque or under torque, that can be dangerous.
- Always install safety wire so that the nut or bolt tightens itself. In other words, the safety wire should come around the top of the bolt or nut and back onto the securing unit so that the safety wire pull is in a tightening manner (direction).
- Be sure never to over stress the safety wire. This can weaken the wire and cause it to break under vibration or stress. To avoid this, do not over wind the safety wire. Also, always make sure the safety wire is not cut or kinked, this can also cause it to weaken and break.
Always leave 4 to 6 turns after the loop when cutting safety wire.
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Posted by skygeek on January 21, 2010 4:31 PM
Tom Bodett – SkyGeek Style
Tom Bodett has been faithfully leaving the light on for you at Motel 6 for over twenty years. Sure, at the beginning, leaving the light on in those rooms may not have been the best idea…some creatures are better left unseen when trying to sleep.
But let’s give them some credit, they’ve cleaned up there act and more power to them.
Well, SkyGeek wants to build on Tom’s model. We want to be your Tom Bodett when it comes to making sure your aviation lighting is all squared away.
So maybe we don’t have great voices like Tom. So maybe a few of us Geeks are more in line with the vocal capabilities of Spongebob Squarepants. That’s not going to stop us from being your go to source for staying in the light – it just means we won’t be tone-pleasant when we do it.
So Tom, you can continue to leave the light on…that job’s still yours. We’ll just be waiting in the wings to replace it once it’s been left on too long and it burns out.
Got lights that need replacing? Never had em’ in the first place? “We’ll leave the internet on for you…so you can get your lights.” (We’re still working on the tagline).
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Posted by skygeek on January 21, 2010 3:37 PM
Monster Idea from SkyGeek!
Let’s kick things off in 2010 with an idea that will make a “must do” pilot chore a lot easier for you.
As of 10 seconds ago, we like to call this idea “the three headed monster of joy, stress relief and other a-typical monster characteristics”.
This monster idea is to offer you the ability to have all of your aviation charts and maps automatically delivered to your door whenever an update is required.
No more stress about flying with expired charts
No more hassle figuring out / remembering when you need an update
No more time wasted buying and waiting to fly
If you plan on flying in 2010, you’re going to need up to date aviation charts throughout. Why not make things a whole lot easier on yourself and take care of it with 100% automation.
For all those who are going to be interested, there’s a couple ways to sign up.
Option 1: Call 1-888-SkyGeek
Option 2: Shop online using the instructions below.
- Head on over to the SkyGeek Chart Section and load up your shopping cart with the items you wish to place on subscription.
- Choose the edition you would like by using the drop-down menu and choosing either "Buy Subscription Starting Current" or "Buy Subscription Starting Next"
- If you also would like to purchase other items from our site, go ahead and do so on the same order otherwise head straight to the checkout procedure
- There is no charge for this service and no advanced payment is required. (However, you must use Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or Discover. Sorry NO PAYPAL)
- You pay only the price of the charts plus the flat rate shipping charges ( USPS 1st Class=FREE up to .78 Oz. weight, FedEx 3 Day=$4.95, FedEx 2 Day=$12.00, FedEx Overnight=$18.00) that correspond to the method you select at checkout. If you have other items in your cart during the initial checkout you will pay regular calculated freight rates. The flat rate freight charges apply to all ongoing subscription shipments
- Your credit card will be billed only when we send new charts. To Add, Delete or Cancel a FAA Chart Subscription send an e-mail to our “Chart Geek Wizard” at Service@SkyGeek.com. Your subscription will continue until you advise us otherwise.
It’s that easy!
If you need more information, you can visit our Chart Subscription page. Or, you can get started by calling us at the number above or by taking care of step 1 (above) at the SkyGeek Chart Section.
We hope you all like the monster idea; we’re confident everyone will really enjoy the stress free automation.
We also hope everyone had a great new years, and here’s to a great 2010! That’s it for this week, take care!
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Posted by skygeek on January 8, 2010 5:24 PM
Happy New Year from SkyGeek!
From all of us at SkyGeek, we’d like to wish everyone a happy, safe and prosperous new year!
We’d also like to thank everyone for all of their great feedback and support this year, all of which helps us bring you the best SkyGeek experience possible. We thank you again, and keep it coming in TWENTY TEN!
Yeah, 2009 was a blast, but on Friday, “that was soooo last year”. We’re all pumped up for 2010, and there’s a ton of new and exciting things to look forward to from SkyGeek….so keep an eye out (or two).
Well, that’s it for this year folks, take care and have a Happy New Year!
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Posted by skygeek on December 30, 2009 10:50 PM
A Christmas Poem from SkyGeek
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the hangar
Not a creature was stirring, not even that eugenicist Margaret Sanger
The airplanes were grounded, none in the air
St. Nick needs free airspace, he’s no time to spare.
The pilots were nestled, all snug in their beds
They slept with their headsets, glued to their heads
Mom went down early, 14 hour nap
Dad stayed up late, drinking from the tap.
When out on the lawn, arose such a clatter
Dad sprung from his bed, to first empty his bladder
When he was done, he checked on his cash
Santa the thief, made of with a dash
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
There ran Santa, but he’s fat and he’s slow
“Hey Santa you bum, get back over here!”
But off St. Nick went, riding his reindeer
“Why every year, do I lose cash to St. Nick”
Mom chimed in quickly, “it’s cuz you’re a prick”
Another weird Christmas, boy what a shame
The only solution, beat him at his own game
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
Ironically Dad had named all his knives
He laughed on the inside, as they flew through the sky
One had struck Santa, right through the shoe
He lost hold of the toy bag, and downward it flew
“I did it I did it, I got him in the foot”
Falling through the chimney, the bag hit the soot
A bundle of toys he had lost from his back
Thanks to the precision, of Dad’s knife attack
His face filled with anger, he wasn’t so merry
He sprung from his slay, like that Olympian named Kerry
“What’s up now Santa, you just ate crow!”
Santa looked pained, shoeless in the snow
He snarled and he grunted, he grinded his teeth
He pulled out a knife, and looked at a wreathe
He gave it a toss, it flew through the sky
It went through the wreathe, what a bulls-eye!
Santa explained that he through knives in Nam
He reached out his hand, and I grasped his palm
He said he respected the skills Dad had shown
The pitch in his voice took a friendlier tone
“Let bygone’s be bygone” said Santa to Dad
With those merry words, Dad stopped being mad
I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of sight
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night”
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Posted by skygeek on December 29, 2009 2:33 PM
Last Chance!
The clock is doing what it does best …ticking away. It’s also most likely remaining stationary, unless of course you’ve managed to bait and capture that little guy from the Beauty and the Beast movie. Well, remaining stationary is a luxury you don’t have if you’re looking to pick up a holiday gift for your aviation enthusiast.
So, if you’re still stumped on what to get your geeky friends and family members…here’s some helpful suggestions.
SkyGeek Gift Certificates – You know when you were in college and all you really wanted was cash so you could decide how to spend it (in other words, give me beer money). Well, SkyGeek gift cards are like beer money for aviation enthusiasts…simple….yet so appreciated.
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Posted by skygeek on December 29, 2009 2:29 PM
SkyGeek Has a New Look!
In case you haven’t seen it, we thought we’d let you know that SkyGeek.com has a new look! 
You can check out the new look here.
The site now allows you to easily find what you’re looking for by choosing what type of SkyGeek you are, and navigating accordingly.
There are now dedicated sections of the site for the following:
Aviation Enthusiasts - Shop using the Enthusiast Section
Aircraft Mechanics – Shop using the Mechanic Section
Aircraft Owners – Shop using the Owner Section
Pilots – Shop using the Pilot Section
Fake Trendy Vampire Wannabe’s – Shop using the Weirdo Section somewhere else
Of course, many of you SkyGeeks out there fall in line with multiple categories. Accordingly, we’ve made sure to keep all the familiar product categories readily available from the homepage, but dive into each new category page to see what’s there.
There’s a bunch of cool new sections and features, so take a look around the site and enjoy! Overall, we hope the new look makes it even faster and easier to find what you’re looking for.
That’s it for this week everyone, we hope you all enjoy the new look. Until next week, take care!
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Posted by skygeek on December 29, 2009 2:25 PM
Holiday Deals from SkyGeek!
Whether you’re shopping for yourself…
or shopping for a gift, take advantage of these limited time holiday deals from SkyGeek!
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Posted by skygeek on December 2, 2009 10:01 PM
Gift Help – From SkyGeek!
Not sure what to get your pilot friends and family members for the holidays? Well, SkyGeek is here to help.
I used to be a last minute holiday shopper, then I came to the realization that:
1. It was just way too stressful and it took away from some of the enjoyment derived from holiday relaxation time.
2. My last minute gifts sucked (pardon my English).
So, I turned over a new leaf and started shopping early…best thing I could have done. You have more time to think about a good gift that people will actually appreciate (the thought doesn’t always count for much), and you can get everything out of the way and enjoy the holidays as they’re meant to be enjoyed.
For those of you shopping early, we’re going to help out even further. We’ve laid out some great gift ideas, and in many cases, sorted them out by the type of pilot you’re shopping for. ..you check them out below.
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Posted by skygeek on December 2, 2009 9:57 PM
Staying Warm – SkyGeek Style
It’s starting to get colder out consistently, which means taking refuge in the comfort of your own home is bound to happen more and more. If you’re like me, this means that on occasion you’ll be gravitating toward the fireplace to unwind with a good book.
Assuming you enjoy aviation (as you’re currently reading the SkyGeek newsletter), what better way to unwind by the fire than with an aviation book? Oprah has her book collection, and we have ours.
SkyGeek has nothing against Oprah, but we think there’s one big difference between our books and her suggestions. Oprah’s books provide you with an excuse to weep over the lives of mostly fictional characters. The majority of our books provide you with practical knowledge to be used in real life situations.
Sure, some people may say “that book sounds boring; let me get you a character driven drama!” Being an aviation enthusiast, the only response required is “No thanks, I don’t expect you to understand.”
For those of you who enjoy reading and do understand, you can find our entire aviation book selection here.
If you’re looking for some recommendations, here’s a few of our most popular collections.Comments (0) | Permalink | TrackBack () | Send To A Friend
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Posted by skygeek on November 4, 2009 7:02 PM
It’s On Like Donkey Kong
If you’ve watched television within the last two months, you’ve probably had it hammered into your helpless skull that according to Southwest Airlines, “it’s on”! Exactly what “it” is…well you’ll have to ask them…because it’s about as vague as you can get. Is IT the Clown from the Stephen King movie on the plane with us!!! Tell me no….tell me no!!!! Probably not that, but apparently some sort of it is now on, leading me to reason that before Southwest Airlines must have been completely unplugged.
In actuality, I’m pretty sure it has something to do with your bags flying free when you go on a trip. If that’s the case, for us, “It’s been on” for years (note: we better watch out, new Cap-and-Trade legislation may tax us for being “on” so long).
That’s one of the perk’s of being a pilot / aviation enthusiast, not paying to bring your stuff with you when you go somewhere…if you can call that a perk. Whatever the case may be, I know that not paying to bring my bags somewhere is better than paying to do so. So Southwest is right in that respect, but then become grossly wrong when they begin to equate that thought with “it” being “on”. “That” is just “Off”.
Well, SkyGeek has a bag policy as well….but nothing is on. You know that quality bags are better than crappy bags. You also know that paying less for them is better than paying more. So, if you’re in need of a new bag to bring with you for free on your flight, here’s a few to choose from. Nothing is on, there’s no “it”…we’re just offering them to you if you need them at the low prices you’ve come to appreciate.
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Posted by skygeek on November 4, 2009 6:47 PM
Crisp Air?
The Fall transition has begun, and many parts of the country are beginning to get a dose of that oh so refreshing “crisp air.” Now that I think about it, I’m not sure whether or not I like the phrase “crisp air.” Can air really be “crisp”? Is it supposed to snap when I bite at it? It just doesn’t sit right with me…like the word “monies” and “foodstuffs.” While I’m not sure about the phrase, I am sure that the feeling it brings makes for one of the best feeling of the year.
With it comes great things like better tasting coffee and hot chocolate, the task of bundling up and staying warm (which on some primal…reptilian brain level seems to bring enjoyment to me), and of course football. It also brings that cold feeling in your chest when you breathe in really hard, or go for a jog….which to quote John Mellencamp….”hurts so good”. And let’s not forget the beautiful folliage (especially from the air!). The Fall is great for “leaf peeping”, which unlike “foodstuffs” is a bit of English vernacular I enjoy…mostly because it conjures up a mental image of someone secretly sneaking around the forest spying on leaves and trying not to be noticed by the trees.
All those things are certainly wonderful, but a little air can do a lot more than get you in the mood to sip on some hot chocolate. In addition to of allowing your plane to stay un-crashed when flying, a little air can also help you get up in it in the first place…a slogan might be something like “get air to get air” or “air begets air”. I’m talking about pneumatic tools, or air tools. You can find a pneumatic tool for just about anything, and boy do they make taking care of your aircraft a whole lot easier. So, now that Fall is rolling in, save your strength for raking leaves...let the air take car of the rest.
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Posted by skygeek on November 4, 2009 6:37 PM
Get Your Head on Straight
Usually when someone tells you to get your head on straight, it means that you’ve acted inappropriately, made an error in judgment, or your priorities weren’t thought through well enough. That, or the person telling you to do so is just flat out wrong, in which case a swift kick to ear is in order…followed by a tongue lashing along the lines of “why don’t you worry about your own head, your ear in particular, which is currently off.”
With all the negative connotations surrounding that phrase, it’s about time somebody put a good spin on it. And who better than SkyGeek? So from here on out, we will interpret getting your head on straight to mean “taking care of your head.” That’s a lot less hostile, and nobody has to lose an ear.
When I think of taking care of my squash, I think of three things. Wearing a helmet when necessary, getting my hair cut, and making sure I have a comfortable, convenient, functioning headset. I’m not a storm trooper, so I can’t help you any helmets. I’m not a barber, so unless you want your head shaved…I can’t help you there either. What I can help you with is making sure your aviation headset is comfortable, convenient and in full working order.
So, my fellow SkyGeeks, here’s some quality headset gear to help you get your head on straight!
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Posted by skygeek on September 28, 2009 12:13 PM
The End is (not) Near!
The Year 2010 is right around the corner, which means many things. It means that it will have been 11 years since “The Artist Formally Known as Prince” stopped partying. It means my 2009 New Years resolution to start learning how to play the piano will have officially failed miserably. It means that we’re only two years away from people freaking out about the world coming to an end because they’re misconstruing ancient calendar structures such as that of the Mayans (Note: some people say these calendars predict the end of the world, when they actually state the end of a long count time cycle based on precessions…but hey, the axis of the Earth will shift….so who knows).
The year 2010 also just looks and sounds more cool and futuristic than 2009 doesn’t it? Especially when you say twenty-ten instead of two thousand and ten…and use a deep science fiction movie voice. “In the year twenty-ten, aloof robots will cater to your every whim, cars will fly…finally, humans will stop having to relieve themselves…which in a twist of irony will be reliving to them, and breakfast will begrudgingly make itself.”
Yes, there’s a lot to look forward to, and a lot of fun to be had in 2010. And how better to keep track of it all than with a cool new aviation calendar! We just got some great 2010 aviation calendars in stock, you can check them out here.
It’s really never too early to pick up a new calendar, I mean, the dates aren’t going to change now are they. I might be a regular piano playing Mozart if I had some time in advance to plot out my resolution strategy on my 2009 calendar…..starting with ”January 4th – Buy a piano…no seriously…I know I’m just words on a calendar date that you put here, but listen to yourself and buy the freaking piano.”
Here’s a few of the new 2010 calendars to choose from:
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Posted by skygeek on September 28, 2009 11:59 AM
Mr. Miyagi Knows Best
Doubt Not His Knowledge 
Regardless of how old Mr. Miyagi was, he was wise beyond his years. Because he did not have time in the Karate Kid to explain the intricacies of space-time as related to the quantum dynamics of “String Theory”, he introduced us to the concept of “Wax On” and “Wax Off”.
If you remember, Mr. Miyagi taught “Daniel Son” defensive martial arts tactics by making him wax every car in his driveway (which to this day I’m trying to figure out how Miyagi could afford all of them). Some may say that Miyagi was just trying to get his cars shined up on the cheap. Others, including myself, say that Mr. Miyagi is a stoic genius who mastered the art of killing two birds with one stone…in addition to mastering the undemonstrated art of killing non-bird entities at will (you know he could have). Plus, the proof is in the pudding; you judge a tree by the fruits it produces etc. Under Mr. Miyagi’s tutelage, Daniel went from being a scrawny wuss to a young man who won a martial arts championship on one leg.
And it’s all thanks to waxing. In honor of Mr. Miyagi and his time tested life success techniques, this week we thought we’d spotlight some waxing products….good for making your aircraft look great...and for winning adolescent karate tournaments.
Here’s some items that would make the man proud:
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Posted by skygeek on September 1, 2009 4:43 PM
And The Winner Is…
BatteryMINDer!
On the SkyGeek hotline, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about which aviation battery charger we recommend. After talking with everyone about what exactly they’re looking for, overwhelmingly we find that our number 1 recommendation is BatteryMINDer for quality and price… on a consistent basis.
Since we’ve been getting a lot of inquiries, we thought we’d send out a little re-MIND-er email (that’s your cue to call me corny – and be correct in doing so) about the BatteryMINDer review done by Aviation Consumer.
Aviation Consumer gave two thumbs up to VDC BatteryMINDer battery chargers and you can actually read the full Aviation Consumer review here (it’s a PDF).
Before we started carrying BatteryMINDer, we did our due diligence to ensure that we were offering everyone a quality product. The Aviation Consumer seal of approval made us even more proud to bring them to you at such a low price.
So pop open a drink, pour one out for your homie Deltran, and drink the emergence of your aircraft battery’s new best friend. To pick up a VDC BatteryMINDer you can go to our BatteryMINDer Page. Or you can jump like “House of Pain” to a specific model by following the links below.
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Posted by skygeek on August 7, 2009 6:25 PM
How Awesome is This?
Answer: Really Awesome.
I was dancing around the internet looking for some cool aircraft photos and came across the following image. Obviously I had to click into the site to find out more. Turns out this aircraft is a fully functional to-scale model built by 4 guys for a U.K. television series. Here are all the juicy details and a few more photos: “The four builders are shown in the image above. Colin Straus, the owner, is at the nose of the aircraft. This 1/9th scale radio-controlled C-17 model was built in the United Kingdom . It was built as the centerpiece of a 15 program television series produced in the U.K. for the Home and Leisure satellite TV channel. Built with the aid of three friends, it took one year to build and is powered with 4 Jetcat P-120 turbines with a total thrust of 108 lbs. The model weighs over 250 lbs fueled, and carries 12.5 liters (3.3 US gallons) of 95% kerosene and 5% turbine oil fuel. Other details include 5 Futaba PCM receivers, 16 battery packs (93 cells ), 20 Futaba servos, on board air compressor, electro/pneumatic retracts, etc. Wingspan is 20 feet 8 inches, and the top of the fin is 74 inches (6 feet 2 inches) above! the ground. Takeoff weight is 264 lbs. The rear cargo doors open and they drop an r/c jeep on a pallet, as well as 2 free-fall r/c parachutists. The model also has smoke systems both of the inboard turbines, and uses a 2.4 GHz data link to provide real-time data to a laptop computer on the ground while in flight. This data includes airspeed, turbine RPM , EGT, fuel consumption, etc. Built mainly from balsa and ply, with many glass and carbon fiber moldings to reduce weight. It is covered in fiberglass and epoxy resin. This C-17 Globe Master III is one of the largest jet models in the world today! Complete with retractable landing gear and pneumatically operated flaps.”
Pretty sweet huh? I love to build one for myself, but I don’t think I have the engineering prowess to incorporate 4 Jetcat P-120 turbines into a fully-functional-flying work of art. I’ll stick to the full sized flying work of art that I have...and worry about keeping it fully functional. If you’re like me and you’re going to take on the task of building your own turbines, the only thing left to do is make sure you take care of them. If you run an aviation repair shop or just maintain your own private aircraft, you know that turbine care starts with quality turbine engine oil. To stock up, check out the [http://www.skygeek.com/tuaienoil.html? utm_source=cc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2009-07-31-Newsletter] Turbine Oil page for great deals on 24 quart cases. If you’ve already found your preferred brand / oil type you can go directly to it by clicking through the links below.
Air BP 2380 Oil Turbine Engine & Accessory Oil (24 Quart Case)
Mobil Jet Oil II Turbine Engine Oil (24 Quart Case), Mil-PRF-23699
AeroShell® Turbine Oil 500 (24 Quart Case)
AeroShell® Turbine Oil 555 (24 Quart Case)
AeroShell® Turbine Oil 560 (24 Quart Case)
AeroShell® Turbine Oil 750 (12 Ea.-1 Liter Cans)
That’s it for this week everyone, hope you enjoyed the “cool find pass-along”.
Take care!
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Posted by skygeek on August 3, 2009 7:41 PM
Soul Plane
In 2004, a movie came out entitled “Soul Plane.” Having a NetFlix account with unlimited rentals, I decided to go against both my sanity and better judgment and rent it. My love for aviation won out against my love for avoiding horrible movies, as it did previously with “Snakes on a Plane” (for dignity’s sake I must note that I’m a movie buff and my true taste should in no way be confused with the mention of these two movies…upon penalty of death.) The movie stars Tom Arnold and Snoop Dogg and basically fails miserably in its attempt to be anywhere close to funny. I want to say it follows a similar plot to that of the movie “Airplane”, but that would be blasphemy, so forget I mentioned it.
Rather than turn it off, I decided to keep an eye out for movie mistakes. That didn’t last too long because I fell asleep for half of it. To quench my own curiosity, I did however look up some mistakes and found that the center console of the plane had three thrust levers despite the fact that it was a Boeing 747 having 4 engines. There, I just eliminated any lingering reason you may have had for watching the movie.
Anyway, I could write up a “99 Thesis” on why this movie stinks and nail it to Snoop Dogg’s door, but let’s turn our focus toward the real Soul of a Plane…the engine.
Soul maintenance for your aircraft falls on you, but it is a mutually beneficial situation. You keep the aircraft running like a dream…it brings you enjoyment, freedom and a sense of overall satisfaction.
Below we’ve provided you with what you need to keep the soul ball rolling. You can view all of our Aircraft Engine Parts & Maintenance products here to find everything you need to maintain a happy engine. For a quick jump to some specific sections, link out from the categories below.
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Posted by skygeek on July 17, 2009 8:18 PM
Come on Baby Light My Fire
First, let me say I hope you all enjoyed the 4th of July weekend. Watching the explosions of light in the air (other wise known as “fireworks”) got me thinking, it’s about time we focus on aircraft lighting…another form of “light in the air.”
Hopefully this form of light in the air isn’t exploding, but If it is, well that just means it’s time for a replacement light. Just like fireworks, if your aviation lights are dim, they stink…which also signals that its time to replace them. Below you’ll find some options for doing just that. Even if your lights are going strong right now, we all know they don’t last forever. Having a back-up available is always a smart move, a blown light could cost you a flight if you’re not prepared.
Side note, If a Doors song is stuck in your head because of the title, good…my mission is accomplished.
But enough of the chit-chat, let’s light this fire…baby.
Here’s the SkyGeek selection of top quality aircraft lights. Click through based on your specific need, or you can scroll down and jump off by a specific brand.
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Posted by skygeek on July 9, 2009 1:20 AM