Gaston's White River Resort - November 09, 2013

We had 13 for lunch at Gaston's, a record turnout. Left to right in the picture above:
Cecil Soileau, Jay Bruce, Deanna Bruce, Dohnae Sikes, Ann Mitchell, Dean Sikes, Brad Mitchell, Sandy Nutt, Dan Rothe, Nina Rossini, Phyllis Nutt, Paul Rothe and Cloyd Van Hook. Represented were Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Louisiana.
 
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Cloyd and Cecil made it safely back to 1L0. Takeoff was a little hairy. Turf has really gotten full of bumps. Really bounced around before we got off the ground.
 
Glad to finally meet more of the club than Cloyd. I got there about 915 this morning. Was a very nice day for flying.
 
Yes, it was a great turnout for Gaston's. 14 total after Steve arrived this morning. Echoing Cloyd's comment, yes the turf has really gotten choppy. We bounced around more than halfway down the runway before getting enough speed to lift off. The "mousevator" maneuver gained some instant altitude when I pulled in the first notch of flaps. Yes, it is a Southeast banner in the photo, but that's the "second" Southeast banner that I had made years ago, not the original that has gone missing.
 
I thought I just still needed to let some air out of my tires, but I see it wasn't just me.

bmitchell said:
Yes, it was a great turnout for Gaston's. 14 total after Steve arrived this morning. Echoing Cloyd's comment, yes the turf has really gotten choppy. We bounced around more than halfway down the runway before getting enough speed to lift off. The "mousevator" maneuver gained some instant altitude when I pulled in the first notch of flaps. Yes, it is a Southeast banner in the photo, but that's the "second" Southeast banner that I had made years ago, not the original that has gone missing.
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When I got home, first thing I did was make sure my hubba hubba caps hadn't rattled off! That Lanceair took off a little bit before I did. I thought his wheelpants were going to fall off the way his gear was shaking. Hope Gaston's gets the roller out before next time!
 
bmitchell said:
When I got home, first thing I did was make sure my hubba hubba caps hadn't rattled off! That Lanceair took off a little bit before I did. I thought his wheelpants were going to fall off the way his gear was shaking. Hope Gaston's gets the roller out before next time!
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I'm not sure I want to go back if they don't improve the runway.
 
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Its only the second grass strip i have used and since it was a lot smoother the the first strip, i have nothing to compare it to yet. I watched most everyone take off, and everyone hit a bump about 5 hundred yards down that bounced the plane about a foot into the air before settling down for the rest of the takeoff roll. I took off about 400 lbs under gross and Minnie had no issues, the old 320 let me make a left turn over the ridge on climb out. Cloyd she used about 28 or 29 gallons of fuel for a 4.2 hour flight time. Running at 2400 rpm, 95 knots ind.
 
Steve59 said:
Its only the second grass strip i have used and since it was a lot smoother the the first strip, i have nothing to compare it to yet. I watched most everyone take off, and everyone hit a bump about 5 hundred yards down that bounced the plane about a foot into the air before settling down for the rest of the takeoff roll. I took off about 400 lbs under gross and Minnie had no issues, the old 320 let me make a left turn over the ridge on climb out. Cloyd she used about 28 or 29 gallons of fuel for a 4.2 hour flight time. Running at 2400 rpm, 95 knots ind.
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Steve, that calculates to less than 7 gph. I guess Minnie wasn't very thirsty Sunday. Good seeing you and Minnie again.
 
my aim was to try and match the p.o.h for performance. flew down at 6500 and back at 7500. leaned out as far as i could, to get best economy. it is hard not to push the throttle in to speed things up. I dont like running wot but that is on my list for a couple of hour flight also. To see what she will run at best speed at various altitudes. that way if any mods fall my way i can have a base line to compare. I would really like to have the data ahead of time if i put on a new exhaust or some chance the faa frees up the wheel pants mod. that one looks like a winner.
 
Steve59 said:
my aim was to try and match the p.o.h for performance. flew down at 6500 and back at 7500. leaned out as far as i could, to get best economy. it is hard not to push the throttle in to speed things up. I dont like running wot but that is on my list for a couple of hour flight also. To see what she will run at best speed at various altitudes. that way if any mods fall my way i can have a base line to compare. I would really like to have the data ahead of time if i put on a new exhaust or some chance the faa frees up the wheel pants mod. that one looks like a winner.
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Uh oh, another DATA MONGER like Marty.
 
I think Marty has good ideas, and he is not afraid to try things. My aim is to lower cost of the flying hour. POH says i should have been using about 6.4 gph. I figure i was right at 7. I have lowered the fuel consumption by over 1 gph most likely about 1 and a half. At todays prices that adds up. I have faired in all the major fwd facing miss matches. The wind screen had a miss match of .200 on the sides and .250 on the top. I put in new fairings around the nose gear and added a tail weight. There is a composite prop that should bolt right on the hub i am wondering what kind of paper work would be needed to change it out. Has anyone got a 337 thru for a composite prop on a 63 mouse?
 
Steve, you should start a new thread on mods (improvements) you're doing on the '63 Mouse or other fixed gear so other members can find the info easier. I think there would be interest in that topic.
 
Brad, I found another good group photo from a previous year. 2008.
 

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