Ballooning this weekend.. nada!
it was a down weekend to get stuff done around the homestead.
I got a lot done! I have a lot left to do.
The highpoint was replacing my cage on my inflation flan. pictures below.
Beside that was pond cleaning, muck moving, week relocation, and box processing.
To do one project you first have to do another project to do another project to get to the initial thing you wanted to be done. A very good person with works calls it "knock back". I call it Stacking.
For me, it was.. Move stuff out of the house to declutter, To do that there had to be space in the garage for that stuff so I had to clear space in the shed for that stuff from the garage I wanted to keep.
See...
It was a trap!
I did end up clearing the shed which enabled me to clear part of the garage which allowed me to move unneeded things from the house. Partially.
I had to stop the process in the garage and shed because it was too hot and I didn't want to spend the night in the hospital.
So I have some stuff to finish but it was a very good start and I feel happy for the little ticks I can scratch off on my list.
it's a long list.
Here are the shots of the fan process....
This isn't exciting stuff even for balloonists.. but it's a good way to be sure of your equipment... and fans are the most dangerous part of our gear.
Fan blade itself is in good shape. some chew marks along the edge but that's normal. Composite blade.
That cage though.. whew eeee.... Old welds that broke.
Missing stringers is not good.
Then we have those that break as soon as you touch them. This won't do! If a fan blade shatters this cage may not capture all those shards. Off it goes!
Four main bolts removed. Checked for damage or stripping threads. Clean! Now to get that main Allen wrench nut behind the blade.
It was tight but not too tight and off it came. Hub and plate look good. Some discoloration but solid.
Cage is held to the frame by six nuts and bolts and metal strips. Lining it up is going to be fun!
Off and cleaned up a bit. That's a smoke smudge on the right. It will be back that way the next time I run it so I didn't even clean it off.
Back cage on and aligned top and bottom and sides.
Only had to adjust it twice. See that it's not straight up and down. that's due to the six retaining nuts and metal strips.
I had planned to attach the front cage with pipe clamps but this cage clipped together easy as pie so I didn't need them. I did add one at the top just in case. Never can have too many levels of safety. Ready to go the next flight.
I also looked at how my envelope bags were set and they were always in the way across the trailer. If I moved my AERCO built tarp bag to the corner and then have Patturns Highperactive in her dry bag after and then Patturns In Czech after... the basket will fit right behind her and you can get to everything. There shouldn't be a fuel spill as the fan is locked down with an oversized strap to the floor but the dry bags that the envelopes are in will protect them in case of that.
See. nice and roomy and space for my Lindstrand basket on the left. The black bed liner makes it easier to slide off the trailer. I can get my basket out of my trailer by myself if I ever had to. I even have a padded rail down low for the wicker to rest against when she is strapped in. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you!
Now to get the basket back in the trailer! We have a plan to do that easy but not today.. too hot don't you know.
While I was working on the above ground pond I spotted a big orange dragonfly. He landed on a piece of bamboo and I grabbed the phone camera to get some pictures. They were crap. There was too much of a breeze to keep it in focus so I got the Sony out and I got some very close up shots.
His head was a might bit farther away than the center of his body so it's slightly out of focus. The wings are amazing!
Backing off a bit.
So many little fish in the in-ground pond. I have to have someone come in and capture them all and move them to the above ground pond. Lots of snails too.
A productive but very tiring weekend.
Hope you enjoyed yours as much as I enjoyed mine.
This 4th of July my Son is flying and the following Saturday I plan on getting In Czech out to check her repairs and get some air above the Earth again!. Pictures maybe.
Videos I have been too busy to sit down and do yet.
