EAA Sport Aviation - February 2012

the snow came, my instructor traveled a lot, the plane broke down for three months, spring storms came, then my work travels increased just as good summer weather arrived. I squeezed in flights whenever possible, but it was far from the three flights a week I had imagined in an obstacle-free world.

The sense of accomplish-
ment and satisfaction
is directly proportional
to the challenge.

Eventually I was ready for my checkride
in late July, which if you work at EAA is like
most retailers’ Black Friday. I took my
checkride only hours before the Oshkosh
NOTAM went into effect for AirVenture.
Despite the additional stress and distrac-
tions, I passed. Whew.

Most people would’ve thrown in the towel at that point, but these aviators were determined to reach the finish line, no matter the obstacles—even if it meant booking another trip to Wisconsin the following week.

Fast-forward a couple months and I was with Jeff again as he worked on yet another rating, this time a second-in-command type rating in a DC- 7. Because of schedules, maintenance needs, and a three-hour fuel stop at sunset (it takes that long to load 2,000 gallons of 100LL onto a vintage airliner), Jeff didn’t start his checkride until 11 p.m. Watching the full Florida moon make laps over us and seeing the Everglades underneath, I knew Jeff had to be exhausted as he took the plane through a series of steep turns and stalls. He didn’t fly like it, though. He pushed through, finished strong, and earned another rating sometime in the wee hours of the next morning.

AIRCRAFT TOOL SUPPLY COMPANY

Thanks to wonder of digital miniaturization, we now have pinhead-sized video cameras with resolutions equal to, or better than the best fiberscopes of a few years ago.

DIGITAL
RECORDING
VIDEOSCOPE

Features & Specifications:

•Record and play back still images and video clips on SD cards • 3. 5 “ high resolution full color LCD display (320x240)

•Wide camera angle for images with 640x480 resolution • 8.5mm (0.33”) diameter probe fits spark plug holes • 1 meter ( 39. 4”) semi-rigid, “obedient” flexible watertight shaft •View objects as close as 1” •White LED to illuminate the inspection area, with intensity control •Built-in rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 hours of continuous use •Oil and scratch resistant tempered glass lens •Includes 90° tip mirror for valve inspections •Includes magnetic, and hook tips to retrieve objects The MV201 incorporates this technology to produce a videoscope of superior quality. It’s 640x480 camera is only 1mm across, but delivers resolution equivalent to a fiberscope with over 300,000 fibers. The real power of this videoscope is its built-in digital recorder that writes real-time video or still pictures directly to the SD card included in the kit. You can record your inspections in the field and review them at your leisure. Simply record and review, and you’ll never miss spotting a corrosion point or a fracture line again.