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William Waters III

Pilot Stuff

This page has a few pictures and information about my flying interest.

 

Back in 1999 I finished the required training and gained the skills to pass the written, verbal, and practical test requirements to receive my pilot’s license.  Since then I have flown almost 600 hours, a lot of which was flying up and down the California central valley, but also some cross country flights into Oregon, Nevada and Arizona.

In December 2001 a flying friend and I purchased a 1965 Piper PA28-180. A few years later I purchased his ½ of the plane so now, it’s 100% mine!  It spends its non flying hours resting in a small ‘T’ hanger at the Lincoln Regional Airport.  Aircraft ownership is expensive, so I do all of the maintaince authorized by the FAA for owner operators to do, but I also pay the big dollars for professional maintaince.  Safety is my number one priority when flying. 

 

Some details about the plane:

  • Tail Number: N8301W
  • 1965 Piper Cherokee PA28-180
  • 180 HP engine, 920 Hours SMOH, burns about 10 GPH at cruse
  • Cruse speed, 121 Knots (about 140 MPH)
  • 48 Gallons of usable fuel in 2 wing tanks
  • Can carry 4 people including the pilot and up to 200 lbs bagage
  • Max takeoff weight of 2300 lbs
  • IFR certified (can fly in the clouds)
  • Dual Nav/Comms, ADF, IFR Approach Certified GPS
  • Single Axes Autopilot coupled to the NAV radios, GPS and heading bug.
  • CHT/EGT on all Cyls, Fuel flow computer

The PA28-180 Cherokee is an easy and safe plane to fly with no bad habits in flight.  You have to try to get into trouble when flying this plane.  If you are ever in the area, look me up and we will go flying.

8301W In the Hanger
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Picture of 01W in the Hanger
This picture was taken shortly after I moved into my new hanger (28 year old hanger but new to me).  I have added storage and a work bench at the back of the hanger.  I have added my own design solar sytem to power the lights and power tools as the hanger has no city utilities.
Instruments In Flight
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In Flight
Can you figure out how high and what direction I am flying?  Notice the DELL PDA mounted on the pilots yoke.  During cross country flight I like to fly with a secondary GPS system, and I was testing new software on the DELL, very impressive navigational software .
Over Sothern California
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In Flight Views
This is a flight over the North Eastern area of Southern California heading North West.  We are climbing out of the LA basin at about 8000 feet heading home after a visit with my wifes family.  For a valley flyer, this is very busy airspace.
Outside the Hanger
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Outside the Hanger
N8301W sitting outside the hanger after a 1 hour local flight.  Todays flight was just practice to keep the skills sharp.  Worked on a few emergency procedures and then did 3 touch&go's and a full stop landing.  It was a nice morning to go flying.
 
 
 
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Annual inspection time is in January.  Here the plane is on wing jacks and the wheels are removed along with the inspection covers and cowlings.

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(C) 2007 - 2010  William Waters   Last Updated July 22, 2010