Just got back from the Lakeland Airshow. I filmed interviews with the manufactures, watch why they think their plane is the best with videos of their their planes. From ultralights, seaplanes, trikes, and two seats. It is so awesome I'm including it in the original video. It will be edited in with any order shipped after April 8 2006. It is a great addition to the video. I've included pics of a couple interviews.
I have also added some of the best air to air video to date.

March 11, 2006

I haven't posted anything for several weeks. My web design program went defunked. I did go flying last weekend with Michelle Andrea. She was a "World Champion Body Builder" and is too Cool. I couldn't get her out of the plane. And she wore this short black mini skirt and halter top, and it was windy that day. WOW!!! I'm surprised to have any sanity left. We flew for breakfast and she was the star of the show. In fact she loves flying and making videos so much, she is now my associate producer. Not to bad. I've included some pictures of her in the nineties when she was on top of the world.

Flying with
Michelle Andrea Pics
Click Picture

Flying Report for Jan 28-29, 2006

I worked on my plane most of the day Saturday to fix the bogging problem. I adjusted the float bowls to get the gas level about half way up the straight part in the bowl. I ran it for awhile and checked the bowls again. They were perfect. I checked the wind sock and it was flying straight out. Well I couldn't be sure that the problem was fixed until I took it up once. So needing my adrenalin pumped anyway I taxied out to the runway.
After testing the throttle a couple times I pushed it all the way forward and took off in about 20 feet. I've flown in some windy conditions, but this time after hitting about 150 feet, a gust hit the right wing. I had the stick as far right as it could go, and the plane was still at a 45-60% angle. I used a little more rudder and the plane finally straightened out. Ya…. I got my adrenalin rush. As I reached my base leg I chopped the power. After turning final I gave it some power but again there was nothing. Now I was sort of planning on not having any power so I kept a little more air between me and the ground. After landing I barely had enough RPM to make back. I adjusted the float bowls again and checked the mags. The right one was dead. I'm beginning to wonder what the #&%% is going on. I checked all my wires and found that the heat shrink around one of the mag wires connections had got worn and slipped. It caused an intermittent short.
I taped the connection and adjusted the bowls and then my battery went dead. I hooked it up to my friend's charger for 15 minutes and was ready to test the plane again. It took off fine at full power but coming around for final the engine bogged again. I check the bowls again and one was completely empty.
After several attempts I finally got it right and the engine purred. That made my happy because I would be able to fly to Okeechobee for breakfast in the morning.
Love my Challenger, Wes

Flying Report for Jan 22-23, 2006

Had to go flying last weekend, I mean I really had to go flying. I have been working on the computer for too many hours and I really needed an adrenalin rush. I woke up early Sunday morning with temperatures in the 60's. The wind was light with small patches of fog covering the ground. I lined up on the small grass strip and did a final instrument check and goosed the throttle. I lifted off the grass runway in less then 50 feet. I shot up to 400 feet in what seemed like a few seconds. I leveled off at 500 feet and headed the plane for Okeechobee Airport.
Okeechobee has a great little restaurant and some of the cheapest aviation gas in South Florida. This can cause the airport to get pretty busy in the morning. That morning the planes were coming in from every direction, north, south, east and west. The active runway was 14, and to try to make my way in line would be a futile effort, I would really muck things up. So I approached the airport from the west at 500 feet, trying not to get in the pattern and snuck in on runway 5. There was a slight crosswind, nothing the Challenger can‘t handle, but no traffic.
I was pretty hungry at this point, so I ordered 2 eggs, bacon crisp, hash browns, toast and coffee. With a couple tables outside, I can watch the planes landing and taking off. Can't get enough.
That evening just before sunset, I had to get up in the air again. So I enlisted a friend of mine Raecine to go flying with me. We checked out the pastures and did a stall while spiraling to earth. Raecine has been flying with me a long time and loves the thrills as much as I do.
Woke up early the next morning and we decided to fly for breakfast. The airplane seemed to lose a little power on the way there, bogging a little at mid range. Wasn't too worried about it but I kept a little more altitude just in case.
While eating the winds started to pick up. The wind sock was almost straight out. At least we would have a good tail wind for the trip home. We took off in about 50 feet and climbed like a rocket. The engine seemed to bog just a little more at mid range and on the way back I had to adjust the throttle here and there.
No matter what weather conditions existed, there is a pocket of turbulence that incases the small grass strip for about two miles in diameter. It would make for some exciting landings once in a while. About ½ mile from the runway I gave it a little gas to counter for the wind, the engine bogged out at both mid and high range. I had enough altitude to make the runway, but there was no room for error. Getting closer to the trees the turbulence started to buffet the plane. I was working the ailerons and rudders to keep the plane level. I kept the airspeed at 65-70mph and flew right through the dirty air until the plane was about 10 feet above the ground. Once below the tree line the air smoothed out some. Made a nice landing and Raecine said, “I'm impressed.” I smiled and continued taxing to the hanger.
I turned off the runway and gave it some gas to make it up the small incline when the engine completely bogged out. That was it, no power; the engine would run only at an idle. I had to pull the plane the rest of the way to the hanger.
After checking out the engine, I found that the carburetor float was overfilling and flooding the engine. It started at mid range and then affecting the high range. I was glad it wasn't anything serious and that we didn't have to spend most of the day sitting in a cow pasture somewhere.
Too much fun can't wait for next weekend.
Wes