You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

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Steven
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Steven »

Paul wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:29 pm You have used that cool trick with the wire insulation to replace a flap indicator bulb.
That's one I don't know.
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Steven
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

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You've discovered the pile of your old stall warning plugs that got blown over to the airport fence ...
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Steven
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

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You've found that the lineman couldn't figure out how to refuel your DA20 because you left the canopy cover on ...
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Paul
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Paul »

Steven wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:05 am
Paul wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:29 pm You have used that cool trick with the wire insulation to replace a flap indicator bulb.
That's one I don't know.
There are tiny little bulbs behind the little green plastic lens covers that indicate flap position. When one of those bulbs burns out, it is really easy to take off the plastic lens. There is almost no room on the side of the bulb to get any sort of grip to pull it out. It's maddeningly frustrating. I forgot the gauge of wire but if you strip some wire and slip the insulation over the bulb and pull, it comes right out. The bulb itself is a very inexpensive part.
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Rich
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Rich »

Paul wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:37 am
Steven wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:05 am
Paul wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:29 pm You have used that cool trick with the wire insulation to replace a flap indicator bulb.
That's one I don't know.
There are tiny little bulbs behind the little green plastic lens covers that indicate flap position. When one of those bulbs burns out, it is really easy to take off the plastic lens. There is almost no room on the side of the bulb to get any sort of grip to pull it out. It's maddeningly frustrating. I forgot the gauge of wire but if you strip some wire and slip the insulation over the bulb and pull, it comes right out. The bulb itself is a very inexpensive part.
By some unknown series of random occurrences I actually had (and have safely squirreled away) a pair of tweezers that work for this task.
flap indicator lamp.jpg
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Steve
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Steve »

But, what is your wife using to pluck her eyebrows? ;)
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Rich
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

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Steve wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:46 am But, what is your wife using to pluck her eyebrows? ;)
She doesn't - but she keeps threatening to pluck mine. Hence the hiding of the tweezers in the hangar :)
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
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Rick
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Rick »

Paul wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:37 am
Steven wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:05 am
Paul wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:29 pmYou have used that cool trick with the wire insulation to replace a flap indicator bulb.
That's one I don't know.
... I forgot the gauge of wire but if you strip some wire and slip the insulation over the bulb and pull, it comes right out. The bulb itself is a very inexpensive part.
You strip a couple of inches of a single piece of 12g solid copper wire, keeping the insulation you stripped off. You stick this into the hole with the bulb in it, and it fits perfectly over the bulb with just enough force to pull it back out. Just like magic!
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
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Rich
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Rich »

You have a duplicate set of US and metric wrenches in your hangar and your garage.
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Re: You Know You're a Diamond Pilot When ...

Post by Pascal »

You know you don't need a parachute to perform a safe off field landing thanks to the low stall speed. And you know you are flying one of the safest machines in general aviation.
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