Reno - Note to CatDriver

[Pirate Pilot]

www.thunderoverreno.com

I noticed on another thread that Cat likes Grumman TigerCats.
The plot of the above movie revolves around a rookie entering the Reno Air Races and taking on the #1 winning aircraft which happens to be a TigerCat.
While the acting is quite a bit short of academy awards stuff the flying footage is quite good. I was at the air races 2 years ago and there were 2 tigercats there. One was in the static display area but the other one was racing (the one in the movie) After the heat is over the planes land and form up in order to taxi past the stands for the crowd. The Tigercat folds his wings up for the taxi. Very cool!
In reality I don't think the Tigercat could win against the modified P-51's, Bearcats, etc. but it did enter the Gold Unlimited class and placed 6th or 7th if I remember correctly. Sure is a neat sound when it comes by front and centre over the finish line.
I think you can order the movie off the website or you could do what I did and just go to Reno and buy one at the races!

[Cat Driver]

Thanks Pirate Pilot.

Only got to go to Reno once in 1977 should go again but there is always something else to do...but if they hava a Tiger Cat I'm goin!

An interesting thing happened at the last air show I flew in Europe when they parked us in the morning there two rows ahead of us was a Tiger Cat the first one I ever saw in a European air show.

The interesting part was the guy flying it wanted to fly the Cat as bad as I wanted to fly the Tiger Cat.

[. ._]

Maybe someone might not know what a Tiger Cat is. Here's a video of one.
(and if the sound doesn't give you goosebumps, you are not a pilot)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBzifBaG ... re=related

-istp

[mashowski]

Hey Cat Driver,
If you go down to Reno this year I will give you a free pit pass and make you an honourary member of my crew.
Larry

[Cat Driver]

Hey Cat Driver,
If you go down to Reno this year I will give you a free pit pass and make you an honourary member of my crew.
Larry

Seriously??

That would make it well worth heading down there, is there parking for motor homes available in the area?

Hell I even have a satellite dish for the internet so your crew can watch porn.

[Cougar]

Hey! I will carry the bags, keep the beer on ice, and yes, tune up the porn for ya. It would be worth it! Haa!!!

[mashowski]

Of course I am serious, Cat Driver!
The have a campground behind the F1/Biplane hangar for your motorhome. I think there is a nominal fee for parking there for the week.
Larry

[Pirate Pilot]

As a proud member of the Section #3 viewing stand (I have the hat AND the t-shirt) I might suggest you take a break from the pit area and wander over in the afternoon. The action seems to "climax" around 4 p.m. everyday. Section #3 participants are the biggest fans at the races. We made the front page of the "Reno Rag" in 2008.
It is said of Las Vegas but it certainly applies to Reno.....
"What happens in Reno (air races) stays in Reno!

[Cat Driver]

I told my work bench about your offer Larry and she was ecstatic so you can count on us being there as long as I am not really tied up with some other work I have going on...but with this much lead time I will probably be able to plan on being there.



Will PM you later this weekend.....right now I have to go get a couple of new 5/16" drill bits as I burnt mine out drilling through 3/8" plates in my wing spars.

I never can get them sharpened correct for good cutting so I bite the bullet and buy new ones.

[. ._]

As a machinist, I feel your pain.

It took me 15 years before someone could show me the proper way to sharpen a twist drill. Every dude under the sun thinks he can sharpen a drill, but in my experience with working with hundreds of machinists, I've only met ONE that could do it properly. I asked him to teach me how. Now I know.

Cutter grinding is a lost art. You're making the right choice. Just buy some new ones.

If I was working with you, I'd demand another buck an hour for my skill.

-istp

[Cat Driver]

If I was working with you, I'd demand another buck an hour for my skill.

-istp

A buck an hour would mean you would be making a buck an hour more than me.

I bought a ten dollar cobalt bit and a small can of Relton aluminum cutting fluid, works like a charm but make sure you don't have any on your fingers if you go for a piss.

The secret to drilling thick pieces of aluminum is proper drill RPM and just take your time and use cutting fluid.

This building a homebuilt airplane is truly time consuming but it is a very good way to pass the hours and days and weeks and months.

[. ._]

The secret to drilling thick pieces of aluminum is proper drill RPM and just take your time and use cutting fluid.

+1

That's the key to drilling any metal.

And also remember, like with flying, safety is COOL! Don't forget the eye protection.

Have fun, Cat. And let's see some pictures some day- just to prove you aren't spending all this time down at the strip bar.

-istp

[Driving Rain]

I attended Reno once in the early 90's and I would love to go back again. Best Airshow on Earth IMHO. Lots of fun. Get the pit pass the F1 guys are lots of fun and don't mind pulling there cowls off to give you a peek at their workmanship (which is second to none) or secret speed mods.

One F1 guy had a picture of another F1 racers wife in the nude painted mural style on the side of his aircraft for that ever so important psyphological advatange.

The Drive down from the Canada through Idaho was nothing short of fantastic. The trip through the Snake River Canyon is worth the trip alone.

[Cat Driver]

Have fun, Cat. And let's see some pictures some day- just to prove you aren't spending all this time down at the strip bar.

-istp

istp, strip bars are for immature wankers right up there with doing blow up dolls.

Here are some pictures of my project from last summer.

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... g&newest=1

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... g&newest=1

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e353/ ... g&newest=1

[Cat Driver]

You need three things.

(1) Money.

(2) Time.

(3) Money.

Research the project you would most like to build then take their estimate of hours to build and multiply by at least three times.

Have friends who are previous builders that can support you and advise you.

If you are married or have a live in work bench make sure she understands she will be secondary to your project as that will take a lot of stress off the project.

I have been toying around with this Cub project for about five years and finally made up my mind to finish it so I now work a set schedule on it just as if I have a job.

My best guess is it will have cost me $50,000.00 by the time it is finished.

P.S ::

Now that I am committed to finishing it I have spent just under $30,000.00 in the last two months on parts and material to complete it....so I have no choice now but to finish it if I want to salvage my marriage.

[Nark]

It's looking good Cat.

After you make the trip south, you'll have to make another north.

Coffee's on me.