Got my jet back from rehab- The Wave

[Pete Fleischmann]

The OPL jets made the cover of Av Week back in 2012

[Phartycr0c]

I so need to come out there and get you to show me around Pete. One day maybe, one day. 

[Pete Fleischmann]

13 minutes ago, Phartycr0c said:

I so need to come out there and get you to show me around Pete. One day maybe, one day. 

Anytime!

[Pete Fleischmann]

 

…not me-

but you get the idea of the kind of fun we have at the OPL 

 

cheers

P

Edited May 24, 2022 by Pete Fleischmann

[Timmy!]

Hope Herky is a flightless bird…cause, man, those poops!

Edited May 24, 2022 by Timmy!

[Pete Fleischmann]

11 hours ago, Timmy! said:

Hope Herky is a flightless bird…cause, man, those poops!

I dunno- I’ve seen him fly down the basketball court, hit a trampoline, do an airborne flip, and slam dunk on the hoop.

 

Also saw those big ass shoes parked in a mensroom stall at the stadium , and man- that was some funky smell!

[Pete Fleischmann]

 

A few sights from the Lab today-

 

P

[Pete Fleischmann]

 

Smartest L-29 on the planet-

[John1]

Personally, I'd much rather see this guy in the cockpit:

 

 

Granted, the creepy factor is a bit higher but who doesn't love Pat Patriot?   

[Pete Fleischmann]

My good friend G. Owns two L-39’s. This one just got re-engined with a Garrett 731 engine..looking forward to flying this one soon-

 

also got a new Garmin suite of avionics-

 

The very talented folks at Code1 have been doing the work. This jet is going to be something very special when completed-

 

cheers

P

[John1]

Didn't know there was a reengining option for these jets.   Is the Garrett a "drop fit" or does it require a substantial amount of structural work to install it?   I'm sure it is more economical to run but how's it stack up performance-wise compared the original motor?   On a related note, with relations with Russia being just a bit strained these days, are there any issues getting parts for the original Ivchenckos?

 

As a child of the cold war, it still surprises me at times to see so many "bad guy" jets flying here in the US. 

[Pete Fleischmann]

3 hours ago, John1 said:

Didn't know there was a reengining option for these jets.   Is the Garrett a "drop fit" or does it require a substantial amount of structural work to install it?   I'm sure it is more economical to run but how's it stack up performance-wise compared the original motor?   On a related note, with relations with Russia being just a bit strained these days, are there any issues getting parts for the original Ivchenckos?

 

As a child of the cold war, it still surprises me at times to see so many "bad guy" jets flying here in the US. 

there’s a slight thrust increase with the Garrett; but a significant weight reduction that helps the performance. The fuel consumption is much better as well. It’s not a drop fit; the intake duct gets a redesign for example-

most Ivechenko parts come from other than Russia, so no issue so far getting parts or engines.

 

cheers

P

[Daywalker]

LOVE that panel, so clean!  Still has the stickers over the glass in some of those shots.  

[Juggernut]

I used to love the TFE 731’s on my (as in crewchief) Lear 35.  Didn’t care for the Aeronca thrust reversers though but they weren’t that bad.  Very easy engine to maintain and the oil SOAP lets you know far in advance if something’s not behaving well within the engine.  That way, the pilot(s) doesn’t/don’t get an unpleasant  surprise.  I think Garrett got acquired by Honeywell a bunch of years ago but nothing else changed from what I remember.  
 

The TPE 331’s on the other hand were a pain because every time the crew shut them down, we’d have to go out and spin the props to cool the engine down to prevent the rotating group shaft from warping.

[Pete Fleischmann]

Flew a 2 ship L-29 test sortie today-

 

Me and Tarzan- A-10 war hero and all around good shiit

Edited July 9, 2022 by Pete Fleischmann