Rebuilding the Turbi ll

[Boet]

After 25 years of tremendous flying enjoyment, I had to kill my aeroplane yesterday. She is long overdue for some TLC. I am constantly busy doing something else, and just never got around to do something about my own aeroplane. AND when I had the time, I did not have the money, and visa versa. Time gathered a moerse lot of dust inside. The fabric (Ceconite) is still perfect, as is the paint, but I started to get a bit concerned about the inniards of the aeroplane. Therefore the drastic action. I had to FORCE myself into doing this. So now it is standing in my workshop, and I will HAVE to fix her up. I decided not to change anything on this aircraft, just to fix it, as it fly`s perfect just the way it is.

[spikes]

Joh joh not used to seeing her looking like this

[Jean Crous]

Haai shame Boet , daai Turbi het daai nuwe jassie nodig..........jy weet net soos n jong dogter moet sy ook in die fashion bly

[Gompou]

Hi Boet
Daai was die eerste, en enigste klein vastevlerk vliegtuig wat ek nog in gevlieg het. Toe het jy nog Toyota's verkoop.Dink net nie ons twee gaan vandag nog pas in hom nie.
Groete

[Boet]

Is jy ook nou n paar k@kke agter? Ek pas darem nog in my errie in, klim net stadiger! Dink ek gaan die seat bietjie verander!! BTW, kom jou trike darem nog van die grond af??

[Boet]

And today, after I was up first sparrows and did some flying in the Explorer, I continiued stripping the Turbi. So far no rust, or cracks in the tubing. As the pieces of fabric falls away, memories floods back. I HAVE been flying with this aeroplane for many years, And met a lot of interesting people along the way. Took countless young kids up for their first flight, and took people flying that never even touched an aeroplane before. Through weather, good and bad, thru screaming danger sometimes, she carried me safe, and never let me down. It saw both our kids grow up, and for the hell of it, I taught the elder one to fly this aeroplane. She flies the aeroplane like it is on rails. The younger one does not seem to like flying much. We even made it on TV! I will have to buy some Lotto tickets. Maybe, just maybe..........

[Thatchman]

Absolute stunner Boet. I see nothing wrong.

The plane is also nice

[Boet]

Some more destruction this morning. Strange to see the two bare patches that MY heels wore right thru 3 layers of plywood on the LH side of the floor! And to look at amazement at the two little power handles, shiny with use, and MY hand wore nearly all the paint off. Yup, we have been around the block somewhat. In all the years I only stood on the ground and watch the plane being flown by someone else twice!! I do not want to change a lot on the aeroplane, exept shave some weight off where I can. IE, thin aly panels in place of some of the rather heavy ply trim panels in the cockpit, and making the luggage compartment a lot lighter. The seats will also get some new treatment. So far the project is not costing me money, so I will carry on as far as I can, taking it a day at a time. Just getting the airframe cleaned out, will already make it a lot lighter. A lot of dust have acumilated in 34 years!!

[PeterH]

Dit moet n ou airy wees ek sien daar was nog nie eens clamps op die mark nie coat hanger het beter gewerk op daai wit pyp agter die dash.
Ek het nog van Brian se ou VW clamps.

Groete
Pieter
Bloem

[Boet]

Jaaaa, maar dit was aircraft grade coat hanger, want dit het gewerk, vir 34 jaar!

[Boet]

And so the destruction continiues, so far I found nothing life threatening wrong in the structure. Hopefully in the months ahead I will find both the time, and some money to restore her to her former glory.

[zs1os]

Dit moes baie moed gekos het om die eerste sny te maak Boet.Ek weet hoe jy die een opgepas het.Hou moed as jy klaar is gaan jy baaaaeeeie bly wees.Sterkte met die rebuild.

[Boet]

Dankie Okkie, ja, was maar moeilik. Nou net weer die opbou........Maar dit sal lekker wees om weer klaar te wees. Hoop ek leef lank genoeg!

[Boet]

Ek wou gister die Turbi se raam degrease. Koop toe nou 5 liter "degreaser"vir R80.00 by plaaslike Kaap-Agri. Die bleddie goed wil NIKS degrease nie. Kom toe agter dis maar goedkoop lampolie wat een skelm moer blou gedye het. Ek hoop al die vlooie van n duisend Kalahri Donkies kruip in sy gat in, en sy arms is te kort om te krap.......

[Jean Crous]

Hey Boet, kry jy darem so af en toe tyd vir die Turbi