Hmm, not to pee on your barbeque, but doesn't pipeline-patrol involve a lot of low-altitude flying where the air is bumpiest?
Kirk, around here, you can slap my momma but if you pee on my barbeque, the fight'll be on my brother...
I thought about that very thing. I know what low level turbulence can feel like. Short of pulling the wing attach bolts during the prebuy, there's really no way to NDT the wing attach fittings. Remember, pipers are cantilever construction. It's my humble, non-engineer opinion that by strutting the wing, the majority of the forces are spread out more evenly over all attach points. I'll be able to get at both sides of the upper and lower strut attach points easily and will be able to tell some from there. Besides, those points are not (I believe) designed to be the first point of failure. Rivets will tip, heads will shear, skin will buckle. I know that may be from one single overload, and the cycling of up and down loads may fatigue certain other structures, but I think a good detailed examination of the spar and auxillary spar would tell a lot.
As for the STC paperwork, you can bet that I'll be checking that out very closely. There's bound to be a ton of AFM supplements to go along with the conversions.
This guy says he might be ready to sell in a couple of months, so there's no rush to get it now or forever lose the deal. Besides, I really want to keep my price under 20 grand. I know that will be tough, but nice planes are out there, as Wayne says. I'm looking, still. Something might crop up that begs me to take it home. Then I'll name her and give her nose art, sleep under the wing, and ooooohhhh got carried away.
I'll be changing the oil on 150DP and giving her back to her owner, Jim Lewis. It'll be sad to see her back at Hicks, though I'm sure Jim will be happy to have her back. She is for sale, but I have it in my hard head that I either want a 152 or a 150-150.
As I find prospective candidates, I bring them here for approval. I like all of the varied and educated opinions so freely given. I'll make a note to myself not to ask for whom I should vote.
As I learn more of the details of this particular plane, I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Sincerely,
