It's been a while and we have MUCHOS news!!

Ok so here's an update for the last month:

Liz and I were able to be home for spring break the week of March 22-26.  We didn't do a whole lot because we all had previous commitments and the boys had school, but we did manage to do a few important things:

1.  On that Tuesday we went up to Arlington to see Jim and have him look over the books for GG to make sure things were in order.  We found out two things: one, the pilots were idiots and two, the mechanics knew what they were doing (thank god).  The tach time, total time, and many other important events were off by 10 to 100 hours, but in the end, Liz typed up all major happenings in GG's history so we know where we are now.  We also got the keys back from Greg, but then they were given to me and are now residing in my purse, on the floor of my dorm room, in McMinnville, OR, 250 miles away from GG.  Real good planning, people.

2.  We took the wheels off and for a while GG looked pretty sad up on sawhorses.  All four of us took turns sandblasting the wheel hubs, repainting them, greasing the bairings, and putting it all back together again under Boppa's watchful eye.  It took us the whole week because we couldn't mesh our schedules all that much, but at least we know we got something done.

3.  In addition, a reporter from the SnoValley Star came out to interview us and take pictures of GG (in her sad state on sawhorses) and we appeared in the April 8th edition, which can be viewed at this address: http://snovalleystar.com/2010/04/08/learning-to-fly-on-broken-wings.  We were all really excited.

After the end of that week we closed her up and haven't been able to do much since then.  Liz and I are planning on being home the end of May and hopefully we can do some more work during the month of June while the boys are still in school.  Then it's summer time and work from sunrise to sunset! :)

Recent Developments:


We were also approved for the formation of Redneck Airlines, LLC, which was VERY exciting. At right is just after the auspicious occasion of Liz and I signing the Redneck Airlines LLC Operating Agreement!  It's official!  Now we can't be sued for all we're worth if we run into someone's barn!

Today, Mom got a call from a reporter from KOMO TV and they want to do a multi-segment piece on GG and her journey from start to finish!  We're all still in shock, but are really excited that we're moving to the big time.  Maybe we'll be on CNN next, and then Hollywood!  You never know.  We all have high aspirations for our little GG. :)

That's all for now (and probably for a month or so), but we'll be sure to keep you updated a little more often and apprised of the developing news story!

Redneck Airlines, LLC.

And the fairy dust wears off...

So today, we all got emails that detailed the various problems that need to be done to the General, things to be fixed, modified, tweaked, added, etc.  Just little things, like removing the radio that is illegal, fixing the heading indicator because it spins, and many other itty bitty little things. :)  Oh well, at least we have an airplane.

We also got our first bill today, which isn't a lot, but just goes to show, airplanes are money pits.  Enjoyable, but money pits.  In looking back however, we can be pretty thankful that it only cost around $100 to get the General up here from Boise.  Pretty cheap, considering the cost it took to get the Trinidad there and back (which will remain unnamed, for the sake of all those reading this).

In happier business, we're all trying to decide how to paint her.  I say pink with rainbows and unicorns, but for some reason Brian, Liz and Kevin didn't go for it.  I wonder why...  Mom and Boppa like the idea of painting it in Grumman colors so it'll make her easier to sell in the future, to which Brian, Kevin and I (and Liz from a distance) all gave them astonished looks and shrieked, "since when are we going to sell her?!"  The nerve of some people.  The only thing we can all agree on is the we're going to repaint the teeth back on, probably in the same sort of way that Spitfires have teeth on the cowling.  Otherwise, we're stuck.  Maybe we should just have each member paint their respective parts, Kevin the left wing, Brian the fuselage, Liz the cowling and me the right wing.  At least that way we'll get it done, and it'll definitely be a unique airplane! :)  Hopefully we'll have a decision made by spring break (March 22-26) so we can paint it during that week.  *fingers crossed*

More news as it comes,

Redneck Airlines

HERE'S GG!!

The General made it!!  Arrived this afternoon at 5:38 PM Pacific time.  Beautiful landing, great weather, lots of people, good food. :)

At right is the General in Boppa and Gramma's driveway, surrounded by people and soon-to-be pilots.  From left to right is Maddie, two friends, Morgan (Maddie's sister, in green), Laura, Kevin, Brian, Fernando in the back, Zach, and Ian.

From the beginning: they made it to Boise, lived up to their stereotypes of stupid boys, found the keys, and got off the ground.  They then made fuel stops in Baker City and The Dalles (Oregon) before making the final leg to Fall City.

Brian was texting with Mom frequently throughout the trip, and at one point noted that the General was ahead of them (Bruce, Kevin and Brian in the Trinidad) and that they needed to catch up.  So they did.  Mom asked if they took a picture as they were going by.  Brian said no, they were going too fast. :)  Poor GG... not the fastest plane in the sky, but definitely the most loved!

Well now that she's home (whew, big sigh of relief), we're now noticing how much work she needs.  The radio doesn't work (in fact it's out of date and illegal), half the instruments don't work, the paint is peeling and faded (New Mexico heat), and the interior leaves something to be desired.  Short of winning the lottery or robbing a bank (or two), we've got our work cut out for us!  Ah well, she'll be worth it in the end.

With smiles and sighs of relief,

Redneck Airlines

On it's way!!

This morning, Dad drove Brian and Kevin up to Arlington and the 4 boys took off in the Trinidad around 8am.  They arrived just before 11 this morning to find GG still tied down in Boise.  After several texts back and forth between Mom and Brian, with several, "those idiots!" from Mom, they finally got everything figured out (aka they found the keys; idiots indeed).

They left the ground with clear skies and a very good forecast for the rest of the day around 12:49pm.  We just got a call, and they're apparently an hour outside of Baker City, OR following I84 towards home.

Smiles and good wishes from Fall City,

Redneck Airlines

Maybe for real this time!

So, we may finally have all of the factors we need coming together this weekend... the insurance, the pilot, the weather, the schedule.  Saturday could be the day people!!  But of course, take this with a grain of salt... I'm mean after all how many times before have we said, "this is the time," and then nothing happens.

But this time could be the time! :)  So do your sun dances/good luck dances/other kinds of dances,

Redneck Airlines

Nope

Gosh, sometimes I want to take a REALLY big airplane, like an A380 or the Russian AN225, fly over Boise, and take out all of the weather systems between here and there.  By this time I'm sure you all are used to this by now: the airplane is not going to be here this week.  The opening we were looking for closed up yesterday afternoon and now the new arrival time is set for sometime next week (ha, we'll believe it when it happens).

As for the insurance problems we were having, Build A Plane has cleared all that up for us.  Once again, we are indebted to them.  Thank you!

Now, on a personal note, I'm quite enraged because I have to go back to Linfield next Sunday, so I won't be able to see GG before I leave.  Oh well... spring break in 6 weeks will have to be soon enough. :(

More to come?  We'll see...

Redneck Airlines

Hope on the horizon?

So the weather looks like it could clear up Wednesday through Friday so that's our window of opportunity!  Our airplane may finally be coming home!

There is this other small matter that could keep us from getting GG here: insurance.  Stupid insurance.  Ah well, it could be worse.

More to come (hopefully),
Redneck Airlines