Goodyear Airport Facts

Goodyear Airport
(See at Google Maps)
(Details at Airnav.com)
Identifier: KGYR

Location:
Phoenix, Arizona 85338

Lat/Long:
33-25-25.4100N / 112-22-28.0400W
33.4237250 / -112.3744556

Elevation: 968 ft. / 295 m (estimated)

Time zone: UTC -7 (year round; does not observe DST)

Sectional chart: PHOENIX

FSS: PRESCOTT FLIGHT SERVICE STATION [928-778-7810]

Runway Information:
Runway 3/21Dimensions: 8500 x 150 ft. / 2591 x 46 m

Traffic pattern:
Runway 3 - left pattern
Runway 21 - right pattern

Pattern altitude:
1968 ft MSL (1000 AGL) LIGHT ACFT & NON-TURBO JETS
2468 ft MSL (1500 AGL) HEAVY ACFT & TURBO JETS
1468 ft MSL (500 AGL) HELICOPTERS

Hangar Waiting List

I applied for a T-hangar at the Goodyear airport today, in Goodyear, Arizona. The waiting list is approximately 2 years for a small T-hangar and a bit longer for a larger T-hangar. GYR is about 45 minutes' drive from where I currently live but I am considering moving farther out into the west part of the valley. This would bring be me closer to my hangar but I feel that an hour's commute to the airplane is not excessive.

To think that one day I will be able to open the doors of my very own hangar space is really nice. If all goes according to the very loose "plan" that I have, I will be nearing the end of my assembly near the time I get to the top of the waiting list. Test flying at Goodyear will be a lot easier as well because there is not quite as much air traffic out there as in other parts of the valley. The 8000 foot runway is a benefit too!

New Work Table

I spent a weekend putting a work table together. I need to be able to align parts accurately so I decided an 8 foot table would do it. That was the idea. Then I thought, why not make the table expandable? I have very little space right now so I did just that. I made the table's top open outward to a full 12 feet! There is also an attachment so I can have a bending brake along one side of the table. This should allow me to work a bit more on the project. It's getting warmer every day and I won't want to be doing anything in the garage, that's for sure.

Flanging Hole Die

Are we sick of talking about flanged lightening holes yet? Yup. But I saw a cool idea on Bruce King's photo gallery, I think for the Hummelbird not the BK Flier. He had a picture of a croquet ball and it seems so simple! Use the croquet ball for nearly any size hole smaller than the ball, and voila! A flanged hole! Me so dumb.

Build-log Software

I have spent some time working on some custom software to document my build process. Much of my building thoughts and experiences have gone into a physical build diary. It is a small book that I am cramming everything into. I am also using a spreadsheet, in the "Calculator" program that is part of the the free "Open Office" suite. If you want a free (yes it REALLY IS FREE) office suite just go and download it from www.openoffice.org . Yes, it is free, and does everything that Microsoft Office does and also allows you to create Adobe .pdf files. Free!

But I am tinkering with some software I drafted up for myself written in VB.NET. It is, or will be shortly, a much easier way of logging everything. And it too is free, minus my sweat equity.

Happy New Year

I back date everything I stick in this blog. I am too lazy or too involved with other things to be keeping this blog up to date. So there are many more photos and lots more I have written in my build diary than appear here. But in the New Year I will try to be more diligent with my posts. I have made it my goal to only include pictures of the actual build process rather than my musings, but at some point I will no doubt cave in and post some musings. I have been thinking of paint schemes and maybe I will post some sketches. Talk about putting the cart before the horse! Paint for a plane that does not exist!

Made the switch to Google

This is just a test. No need to jump and pull the rip cord! Google wants all the old Blogger.com users to switch and I was given a soft error message when I tried. I think it said:

"We need more time."

OK, well Google, let's take it slow then. This is a world of technology and on-demand is the key phrase of our lives. So, just take your time and we will get to know each other better.

Just don't screw up my POSTS!

;)