The weather turned out to be really nice this past weekend so we combed the internet for a place to fly. Unfortunately, nothing was close except for a fly-in breakfast in Chanute, KS, a mere 25min flight. The call went out to the KCRV group to let everyone know our intentions in case someone wanted to hook up. At 7:30am on the dot we were sitting at the end of 35 waiting for the oil to warm up a bit when we heard two RV-6's calling in. Glen was about 7 mins ahead of Bill. Glen circled the pattern once and we timed the liftoff to come up right behind him. We slowed it down a bit to give Bill time to catch up and then sorta gaggled down to Chanute. Breakfast was pretty medicore at best but we had some great conversation. Glen had brought Mike along with him...Mike is close to finishing up his RV-7. Paul, Chuck and Greg arrived about 3 mins later with a 3-ship flyover. After eating, we wandered around the tarmac awhile checking out planes and then the three of us departed. Bill wanted some in-flight shots, so we obliged and then headed north towards home.
On the way down, the engine monitor squawked about low voltage two quick times. Upon startup to leave, the alternator wasn't putting out anything, voltage was showing a stead 12.5 bolts when it should have been 14.3 or so. I chose (with Sandi's protests dully noted) to head on home. Battery would easily last long enough to get home, and I got to use the ebus! Turned off everyting but the radio and Garmin 496. Of course, I promptly tore apart things when I got back to the hangar and found nothing amiss. I pulled the plane out far enough to start up and voltage was fine. Loose wire? Gremlin? Certainly will be keeping a close eye on it the next couple of flights.
Now that Spring has arrived, our travel plans are picking up. We really haven't done too much flying yet this year. This weekend the plan is to go to Pella, IA for the Tulip Festival. There is a flyin in SW Missouri on the 12th and then the TEX RV Flyin the end of the month.
