Jean checking the wiring

Jean, Director of The Airplane Factory

It is essential to keep a regular watch under the hood and ensure the Rotax engine remains in peak condition

Back in the air routing from Light Flight to Virginia where the airport was declared IMC and closed to VFR traffic due to a nasty haze that had settled over this part of the world. Luckily after requesting Special VFR I was allowed to return to land after being initially diverted to Pietermaritzburg

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The problem being near the coast is that the salty air is relentless and attacks every part of the plane. Jean, a Director of The Airplane Factory and chief assembly and technical guru, was in Durban this Wednesday and gave ZDL a good annual anti-corrosion spray as well as checking the wiring after our recent electrical fault. Thanks Jean for the factory's continued commitment to good service.

ZDL make-over

 We visited The Airplane Factory to check progress on the anti-corrosion treatment to our plane.. in fact we were supposed to take re-delivery today... but as you can see from the pics, the plane was not yet ready... in fact we're wingless. Anyhow, the job is looking good and the Airplane guys are working flat out on the number of planes they are churning out to keep everyone happy. We also took the oppotunity of writing our names on the metalwork under the seats. Other modifications include improvements to the seats to bring them more into line with the new spec seats,  a new firewall to prevent hot-air leakage into the cabin, sealing of the canopy and a new paint-job.

We also had a look at several other Slings in the making, including ZU-SAA of our friends Lee and Marc who are hoping to take delivery of Sling # 93 at the end of October.

Co-incidentally our visit now on the 15th September 2012 is the date to the day on which we took first delivery of ZDL one year ago!

 

Engine off..

Now how am I supposed to fly without an engine!!! This looks like we are going back to the beginning.

On a lighter note, passed my Night Rating exam, so when ZDL is back home will be great not to be racing the sun to get home.. and those awesome city lights of Durban and the coast!!

In Pieces..

The photos coming in from The Airplane Factory show our plane in pieces as they give the innards anti-corrosion treatment. Andrew says they are on track to treat, respray the plane and re-assemble, so the red rocket will be white.. with rainbow stripes... watch this space. Thankfully the problem was not as bad as was anticipated, so our plane will soon be like new again. Thanks guys.