So the 340A is fixed….

It wasn’t an oil pressure problem, it wasn’t a gauge problem either though. (I didn’t think it was an oil pressure issue, as there was no other indications, like increased oil temp or stuff like that, but one never knows). But now we know for sure:

It was a clogged line.

See, the oil pressure is not indicated through an electrical sending unit to an electrical gauge, but real oil pressure delivered to a real pressure gauge via a small diameter pipe. Old school.

It goes from a manifold of a few oil lines, across the engine bay, into the wing structure, to the fuselage, up through the pressure bulkhead into the pressure vessel, then towards the front of the fuselage, up behind the instrument panel, over to the right side, then into the pressure gauge.

When the A&P mechanic pulled the cowling, he found the connection where it went into the wing, and disconnected that. We then turned the engine over and no oil came out, even after we pulled the top spark plugs so that the engine could turn faster. Not the way it should be….

Following the line back we found where it goes into the manifold, and disconnected it there. Lots of oil when we turned the engine over. So the issue was isolated to somewhere in that 14 inches or so of oil line.

We attempted to blow it out with low pressure air.

No dice.

So that portion of the oil line got pulled and inspected. There was some discoloration at a bend where it passes in front of the exhaust side of the turbocharger.

A bit of solvent and some higher pressure air and the clog blew out. Lots of solid stuff. I expect that it has been building up like a clogged artery just before a heart attack, until finally there was no indication at all in the cockpit.  There is normally no flow of oil, just pressure, so that bend where it was near the turbocharger just got hotter and hotter and more and more clogged.

Put it all back, and turned the engine over again and we had indicated oil pressure.

That was Tuesday. Wed it was fog, freezing fog and low IFR, not exactly the weather I wanted to take a plane with an unknown (maybe fixed, maybe not)  engine into.

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving. Friday I  fired it up and spent a long time doing some higher power runs on the ground before taxiing and then I took it up and everything was good, although at some point we are gonna have to bleed the air out of the line from thee engine bay to the gauge…I flew for about 45 minutes at different power settings varying RPM’s and airspeeds….All was good and normal. Did two practice approaches during the test flight.

But it is fixed without any issues. I did did make a heat shield for it, and will be making sure at the annual inspection that the other line on the other side has not got the same issue. I think that it was just turned a tiny bit when the engine was installed, leaving it just too close to the turbo (Which runs at or near 1550 degrees F in cruise).

Of course, now that that is done, it is time for the annual, as it is due after 11/30 (end of the 12th calendar month) But at least I know it isn’t a mechanical issue with the engine. And I didn’t shell out a fairly new TSIO520 Ram VII engine.

It’s true.

The media chooses who to tell us about, who to sensationalize, and how they present the story:

Chicago train attack victim Bethany MaGee would be as well-known as George Floyd if she were black and man who burned her was white, conservative commentator says

Look at how they presented that little black turd that killed his football rival by stabbing him to death.

And remember how he spent the MILLIONS of dollars that was raised for him in his GoFundMe.

Poor Bethany can’t even get a half million even after all this time….and she was a real victim.

But she was young and white and somewhat pretty, not a thug with black skin.

If you wanna help her, her GoFundMe is here.

In a just world, she’d have the big fundraiser, not these other turds.

Arrested  in the UK (by UK police) for handling firearms in the USA and posting about it on LinkedIn….

Because “It Made Others feel uneasy” and then “suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and another allegation of stalking related to a photograph of a house that appeared on his social media”

I wonder who he pissed of to earn such treatment?

So far that can’t happen here is the US,,,,,,so far.

A pretty cool quick walk around tour of the jet in the hangar:

Lots of stuff I didn’t know: 4 very informative minutes

He talks about the Chemtrail ejector at about 2:34, for those who are interested in that sort of thing…..

So Northwestern University folds, decides that they need the Federal Government funding more than they need to stand on principles..

In April, the federal government froze $790 million in research grants and contracts for Northwestern, claiming among other things that it had allowed the existence of a hostile educational environment directed toward Jewish students.

As part of the agreement, Northwestern University will pay $75 million to the United States Treasury by 2028, and it will agree “to adhere to federal anti-discrimination laws, ensuring that the university does not preference individuals based on race, color, or national origin in admissions, scholarships, hiring, or promotion.”

The agreement requires Northwestern to “maintain clear policies and procedures relating to demonstrations, protests, displays, and other expressive activities, as well as implement mandatory antisemitism training for all students, faculty, and staff.”

Funny, innit: They wanted to maintain discriminatory policies, but only against whites and jewish students and applicants.

Discrimination is still discrimination no matter the victim.

You can’t right past perceived wrongs by perpetrating new wrongs

Without that federal funding, the University would fold.

“Sure, I’d love to go shopping this weekend!”

Said No Man Ever the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Seems that an Afghan National here under our asylum laws went nuts and decided to shoot at two National Guardsmen in Washington DC. He was taken down by other guardsmen immediately after he started shooting, but not before hitting two guardsmen.

Apparently one has died from her injuries

In the recent past, we called actions like this “Sudden Jihadi Syndrome” and it appears that it is once again rearing it’s ugly head.

I really don’t know what to do about this. It appears that a significant portion of the Muslim population cannot be trusted to remain peaceful, and tha they may suddenly become a danger to those around the,.

So I keep seeing signs like this at businesses:

Now, I didn’t believe it, so I went to my local bank branch as asked…and yes, they are having issues sourcing pennies.

I went to a different bank… Not just a branch, a different bank entirely, and asked: Same-same.

Third bank I visited had no issues getting pennies but had been warned that “shortages are on the way”

Now a few weeks ago, there were no shortages. Pennies and other change could be gotten for the asking (and the equivalent currency). The last penny was minted (not yet released for circulation) on Nov 12th.

Now, suddenly  there are “Shortages”…..Strange.

Best estimates put nearly 250 BILLION pennies in current circulation (thanks MC for verifying that number independently)…Yet suddenly, in only a week or so,  just after the US government Mint stopped producing pennies, there are severe shortages. Strangely, those last pennies are scheduled to be placed in circulation mid-2026….so the supply of pennies is still entering the market.

Funny, back during the Covid days, when the major car manufacturers essentially stopped producing cars, we were not suddenly walking….there were still cars on the road. Same same here. There is no reason for sudden shortages. Still BILLIONS of pennies in the stream of commerce.

Yet somehow, just a week or two after the last penny was minted, the United States is suddenly running out of pennies and other coins and the businesses are pushing hard for Credit card, Debit card, or “Contactless payment” because they can no longer provide change.

One of the excuses for no longer needing pennies was that “fewer coins are needed because of credit and debit payments”….

Someone is lying to us, there are not suddenly a billion or so fewer pennies in circulation. They were there a week ago……

I think it is an excuse to push for a cashless economy.

If you are in the Unites States, Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day when we give thanks and gather with friends and family to enjoy a meal….generally based upon Turkey.

Supposedly, the tradition began with the English settlers in the first decades of the 1600’s.. XOme say it was the day that they arrived, others say it was a harvest festival where they gave thankls for the bountiful havest at the end of the season.

Either way. I have a great deal to give thanks for, My friends, my family, The knowledge that I can call upon them in a time of need, should that arise.  So far I am fairly prosperous. I live in a fairly secure place, in a country with a Constitution and laws that (mostly) allows me to be free from (major) government interference with my life and that allows for a stable system of laws and governance. While everyone could wish for better, my life is pretty good right now.

I hope that you too have  much to be thankful for, that you can take the time to appreciate what you have, and that you can be happy. I hope you have friends and/or family with which to celebrate today.

Take a moment to remember those folks who defend the country, and who are far from home doing duty today.  Remember those also who are here, but are working to provide that same security her at home.: the police, and firemen, and others.

Also, please don’t go shopping today: It encourages the stores to open, and force their employees to work on Thanksgiving. There’s plenty of time for that tomorrow.