Frank,
If it's any consolation: when I flew to Gillespie with Jon Thornburgh
in the brand new Zodiac he had 2 yrs. ago, the intercom cut out after
about an hour in the air...both on the flight there and on the flight
back...just about as we were setting up to approach and land. It made
him take over the landing at Gillespie because he couldn't hear me
when I read back ATC's instructions. But that didn't stop him from
endorsing the trip as my BFR. I agree with those who think that
calmly switching to your hand-held will impress the examiner. In
fact, if you'd like to borrow a 2nd one as "insurance", feel free to
phone me; I have an ICOM handheld. Works adequately in the pattern,
but it's marginal far out unless it's hooked up to the back-up
antenna system that I have.
There also seems to be a radio-static-devil's-zone, just north of LGB
airport along the 91. That one bit me more than once.
One caution on borrowing or buying a used tray-mounted-type (if you
have the tray): some of those out there don't have the correct # of
channels to be legal with current requirements. But Wayne Woollard
kindly loaned me one of those ~18 months ago, just to test whether
old radio's problems were in fact coming from the old radio, or from
somewhere else like antenna. Wayne didn't want it back afterward,
and I gave it to a local electronics geek who likely still has it in
storage. Though it won't be usable for the checkride, if you need to
use it for testing to narrow down the source of the problem, allow me
to pass along to you Wayne's favor to me; and call me if you want me
to track it down for you.
All the best on your check ride!
Linda
N3437H ("SkySprite")
L.A.
2a. Radio Failure
Posted by: "fnelson913" [EMAIL PROTECTED] fnelson913
Date: Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:53 pm ((PDT))
Just in case there is a simple explanation for my problem, I thought
I would query this august group. Twice now I have had a radio failure
about 1 hour into my flight. The first time I was on my downwind leg
and all I heard was static. The second time it happened, I was in
bound to join the pattern. The radio had a great deal of static that
increase to the point that I couldn't communicate. The radio work
well at the beginning of both flights.
Luckily, I had a backup, handheld radio to switch to. But it always
adds a little excitement to the flight.
Do I need to get ahold of a radio man or is there something simple
that I can consider?
Oh by the way, I am scheduled to take my checkride on Sunday
(previously scheduled for the 11th but my logbook needed updated
endorsements). The world seems to conspire to keep me from getting my
certificate.
Frank Nelson
N51DV - 415C
TOA
