Why The Bad Weather

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:18 am

Midland has recently had lots of bad weather; snow, cold, wind and maybe more headed that way. What could cause that? I can't be sure, but Gary recently, in this public WIX forum, was deriding the Mighty Magic Merlin. This likely offended God, Allah, Budda, Cedric Benson or whoever is held dear in Midland. Even his enviable skills with the B-24 may not offset the previous foul deed. Fair warning to the rest of you, and note that we have beautiful blue skies here.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:36 pm

No, I think it all stems from the last time I worked on a Merlin. I tried ever so hard not to drop any tools down in the bottomless pit between the two banks and prayed that more coolant didn't start leaking from the various wonderful hose fittings that are all over that engine, while at the same time, trying to replace worn out cams and retorque the heads (after all, it had been 50 hours since the last time it was done). So I asked God to help me with this. He's been mad at me ever since......hence the bad weather here. But thanks for thinking of me, Bill. ;-)

Those Merlins suurrrre do sound good......leaving. :lol:

Gary

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:54 pm

A friend of mine has on the side of his tool chest (bear in mind he's an engineer for a DC-3/DC-4/C-46 operation and a pretty devout round-engine man) a decal with a radial engined P-51 on it that reads "You can fly a radial farther than you can ship a Merlin".

I'M NOT PICKING SIDES!

(It just makes me laugh!)

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:21 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Fair warning to the rest of you, and note that we have beautiful blue skies here.

Gary,

I would think twice before believeing Bill on this...I think it may have started before you made that nasty hot water motor comment...

Evidence...from December...I think this is Bill and his Merlin machine...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/312336897_b85002d081.jpg?v=0

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:45 pm

Looks to me like Bill is losing ground on his "God hates Gary" theory, huh? :lol:

ww2John · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:29 pm

I actually want to thank Gary and all our friends in the sovereign state of Texas for sucking down all that snow before it got to my neck of the woods, delaying the start of winter here until this week.

My back thanks you, my oil tank thanks you, etc....
:rolleyes:

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:04 pm

cattle flatulence!!! :lol:

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:52 pm

I don't see the tractor pull guys using 1830's.... They love the Merlin right up until it blows up....

That being said, the O-435 of the L-5 is NOT a tank engine....

Randy Wilson · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:25 pm

Airboss typically only gives the wind direction and velocity to "hot water 12s" sitting running on the ground - not needed for most round engines. I've also never seen a round engine have to have a bag of ice slung in its cooling scoop before startup! Just something to think about and no offense Bill. Of course, when the new guy doesn't remove the ice from the plastic bag before throwing it in the scoop, it does get interesting, doesn't it!. Fly safe.

FYI, today in Midland was mostly rain with the temps just above freezing, so no major problems - tomorrow morning's trip out to the hangar and HQ may be more interesting. More later.

Randy

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:37 pm

Randy, you didn't really believe Connie when he said that bag if ice he was carrying was only to cool the rads did you?

MX304 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:30 am

Bill Greenwood wrote:

This likely offended God, Allah, Budda, Cedric Benson or whoever is held dear in Midland.

I always said it'd be a cold day in hell before Cedric Benson had a shot at a superbowl.....well, here it is.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:14 am

Forgotten Field wrote:

I don't see the tractor pull guys using 1830's....

Yeah, you're right. The don't use 1830's :wink:

..........

http://www.chez.com/pullinghue/rdphotos.html

Gary

pbeegle1 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:45 am

Ok, now I have seen it all! :shock:

Randy Wilson · **Posted:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:53 am

The good news is that the temps in Midland are hovering right at or just above freezing this morning and while it is raining, it isn't icy, at least not in town where I am. It may be a different story on the road out to the airport in a bit but hopefully we have dodged the worst.

We'll check on Gary after an early morning meeting and let you know how he is holding up. Keep warm everyone.

Randy

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:27 am

MX304, you could divide guys up several ways: Nosewheel pilots vs real airplane pilots, Diesel engine pilots vs. real airplane pilots, and those who don't even know who Cedric Benson is, vs ones who do. Randy and Gary, all joking aside, you guys drive carefully out there. Here, I use studed tires in the winter. I had a great day skiing in good snow and sunny blue skies yesterday. Today is mostly cloudy and 20*. They are having world class races for all sorts of handicapped skiers here, many of which are combat vets.

Warbird Information Exchange

Why The Bad Weather

Who is online