Flight Training - October 2013 - 24

FLYING CARPET

By Greg Brown

PLUS View the slideshow.

TYLER AND HIS FRIEND Dylan celebrate
graduation.

was so old I couldn’t remember replacing
it. With Rory’s help I started the engine
and confirmed that both alternator and
battery were working. Clearly it was safe
to fly—at issue was whether the battery
would crank the engine tomorrow at a
place so remote you must bring your own
tiedowns. Fortunately, today’s problem and last year’s magneto failure had
occurred at Flagstaff, rather than one flight
later at the isolated Navajo Nation capital.
“A 30-knot headwind!” Jean observed
after takeoff for Prescott. I reminded her
that it would shift to a mighty tailwind on
the much longer flight to Window Rock.
hat time is Tyler’s graduation?” asked Jean, as we boarded John’s mechanic met us when we landed
the Flying Carpet.
with a battery and logbook endorsement;
“Four o’clock,” I said. “After landing we’ll have two
by the time I introduced Jean around, the
hours to check in at the motel, change, and relax before
installation was complete. Prescott’s usual
swarm of Embry-Riddle University traffic
was dormant between semesters, so within
his aunt, Terri, picks us up.” I buckled in,
“We need to start driving!” Jean said.
donned my headset, and flipped the masHowever, it was now two-and-one-half
minutes we were aloft.
ter switch. After confirming round-trip
hours to graduation, and the drive would
“We might just make it,” Jean said,
fuel for Flagstaff to Window Rock, I ran
take more than three. I wondered aloud
noting our 167-knot groundspeed. Sure
the checklist and turned the key.
whether a battery might
enough, we landed at
“What’s that ticking noise?” asked Jean. be had in Prescott.
3:30. As Terri whisked
My unprintable answer could be transAt 30 minutes to
us to the stadium, we
lated as: Are you kidding? Nothing’s gone
Prescott and 90 from
changed into “Congratuwrong for a whole year since my last mustthere to Window Rock, a
lations Tyler!” T-shirts
go mission to see Tyler, and now something
quick battery swap might
made by his mother, Val.
breaks again! (See “Flying Carpet: Sage
enable us to make it. If
Printed on the backs
Advice,” September 2013 Flight Training.)
not, we were already out
were his dream aircraft
No way should the battery be low—
of luck. I phoned John
and the words, “Airplane
I’d flown the airplane twice that week.
Atterholt at Prescott’s
Pilot,” among other
Although the engine could be safely
Arizona Air-Craftsman.
accomplishments.
started, we dared not risk a dead battery
“We have that battery,
Window Rock High
at unattended Window Rock Airport,
Greg,” he said, “but I need
School’s commencement
especially on a holiday weekend. After
to prep it immediately if
felt both familiar and
checking components and connections,
you’re coming. When did
exotic. The exuberant
Wiseman Aviation mechanic Rory Goforth you last change it?” I told
grads were like those
diagnosed the likely culprit as a weak bathim to expect us in 35
A YOUNG RELATIVE models Tyler’s anywhere, except many
graduation T-shirt.
tery. But they stocked no replacement.
minutes; the battery
sported traditional

DINÉ GRADUATION

THIS TIME WE MADE IT!

24 /

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Flight Training - October 2013

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