1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Well done Thomas. 
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
malibulvr
Well-known member
Kudos!!
MacTexas
Well-known member
I'm curious, you use the checklists each and every time. Do the checklist ever change?
I haven't read all the pages, but this is one of the best threads on this board. Thanks so much for posting everything in such detail, along with all the pictures. You've obviously invested time in putting this thread together, and it's much appreciated.
Chris and Thomas, congratulations on your retirement! Here's hoping you enjoy the next chapter of your lives to the fullest, although I'm sure you will.
I'll look forward to even more updates, now that you'll have LOTS of spare time.........Just joking, as I'm semi-retired, and sometimes find that I'm no more productive than when I was fully engaged with my career. Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem for the two of you, even with the upcoming new home build! Looking forward to following your progress.
Again, congratulations!
GGB
I'll look forward to even more updates, now that you'll have LOTS of spare time.........Just joking, as I'm semi-retired, and sometimes find that I'm no more productive than when I was fully engaged with my career. Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem for the two of you, even with the upcoming new home build! Looking forward to following your progress.
Again, congratulations!
GGB
Wingnut65
Well-known member
Congrats on the Retirement, Thomas. You deserve a little relaxation before Chris puts you to work.
Nice and informative narrative of your former occupation. Some things are similar, but many are different from those of us with single engine licenses.
Nice and informative narrative of your former occupation. Some things are similar, but many are different from those of us with single engine licenses.
...and this is the approach to 8L at Honolulu. Besides approach instrumentation on board, many runways will have outside visual aids such as the lights circled on the left. This is what's known as a PAPI- Precision Approach Path Indicator. When the left set of lights are white and the right set are red the aircraft is on the proper approach path. Get too low and they all start to turn red and when too high, they will all turn white. Simple but highly effective.
Congrats on the retirement! I am certain you will not run out of things to do! And I think I'm safe saying that we all are looking forward to hearing about them!!!
Funny you posted the PAPI. When I was a kid I had a neighbor who would take me up in his 2 seater Grumman airplane. He would trade me flights for washing his car or mowing his lawn. It was awesome! During each flight he would teach me a little about the airplane and its controls. One time while we were up we were doing some touch and go's and he pointed out the PAPI to me. The one they had installed at that particular airport had the lamps in a straight line, parallel with the runway as opposed to the perpendicular arrangement shown in your photo. The phrase he used stuck with me "red over white, you're alright. Red over red, you're dead." To this day every time I am in an airplane on final approach, that saying pops into my head.
I've loved the last several posts about your day/night job. Always neat to see the inner workings of things and understand whats going on.
Jeff
If this isn't THE best thread on the entire internet, I don't know what is.
Congratulations on your retirement!
And thank you for the behind the scenes look at your job. When I get on a plane, I stare into the cockpit with fascination, I really appreciated you sharing those photos.
Congratulations on your retirement!
And thank you for the behind the scenes look at your job. When I get on a plane, I stare into the cockpit with fascination, I really appreciated you sharing those photos.
gordyy
Well-known member
Maybe its that cute navigator in the right side of the vette rubbing off! Thomas you have a very nice simple delivery of things, What a shop teacher you would have made. Love everything about this thread from start to finish the shop the cars the tools and the flying insight is well insightful
enjoy that retirement and Chris my wife says its ok to just get up in the morning someday s and say don't you have some work to do in the shop. Our little clue for (your bugging me get out of here)
enjoy that retirement and Chris my wife says its ok to just get up in the morning someday s and say don't you have some work to do in the shop. Our little clue for (your bugging me get out of here)
markviii
Well-known member
Yep, it's nice having him retired, though he was only gone to work 12 days a month for the past 10 or 12 years (and he didn't bring his work home with him). But remember, I've been retired for 41/2 years myself. Busier than ever. I don't stay home too much, though, so this will be an adjustment for both of us.
Chris
Chris
e-tek
Well-known member
I've heard how much international pilots make - guess that explains the two pretty ladies with the old guy in that last pic!! 
LOL!!
I'd say "Enjoy your retirement", but the way you're set up, how can you do anything but??
So I'll just say Congratulations- again.
LOL!!I'd say "Enjoy your retirement", but the way you're set up, how can you do anything but??
So I'll just say Congratulations- again.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, everyone, really WOW. I truly appreciate all the support and good wishes. You are all so very kind. Maybe I should retire more often? It's a tremendous good vibe we have going here on this thread isn't it? Also amazing what great friends Chris and I have here, even if we haven't met most of you...........yet! The welcome mat is always out.
I'm good for another 20 pages now so stand by and watch this space for further developments.
Greatly appreciative and humble Thomas
It's a tremendous good vibe we have going here on this thread isn't it? Also amazing what great friends Chris and I have here, even if we haven't met most of you...........yet! The welcome mat is always out.I'm good for another 20 pages now so stand by and watch this space for further developments.
Greatly appreciative and humble Thomas
MacTexas one of the leading factors with our great success of late in airline safety has been check list discipline. It's been proven time and again that it works and everybody now buys into that theory. They do change on occasion. Over the last year in fact, with our merger, we've seen several changes in check lists and procedural operations as we slowly harmonize the way we operate as a single workforce- Continental/United.
That's a great observation Jeff. The approach lights you're referring to- parallel with the runway and in a straight line, are called VASI - Visual Approach Slope Indicator. Those are typically found at airports without much large jet aircraft use. You are quite correct about the mnemonic we all use with a VASI. That's exactly how I learned it 42 years ago when I first started my formal flight training.
As its name implies, Precision Approach Path Indicator - PAPI will give a more precise indication to pilots which is especially helpful to jet pilots due to the faster approach speeds we typically fly. 150 knot (173 mph or 278 kph) approach speeds are not uncommon on a 767-400 for example. If we're trending high or low on the approach it's very helpful to get that information in a timely manner so corrections can be made. Again, great observation.
Thomas
Oh shoot toofart, with all the pay I've been getting for doing this thread all these years I can afford to retire early and.... huh...... excuse me a sec ............are you sure about that Chris? Really, not even one thin dime, nothing, nadda, zero, zilch. That's inconceivable. And here all this time I thought Ryan was.................well dang!
Doubting Thomas
BTW, thank you so much for the kind words. Enjoy reading the rest of the thread.
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That's a great observation Jeff. The approach lights you're referring to- parallel with the runway and in a straight line, are called VASI - Visual Approach Slope Indicator. Those are typically found at airports without much large jet aircraft use. You are quite correct about the mnemonic we all use with a VASI. That's exactly how I learned it 42 years ago when I first started my formal flight training.
As its name implies, Precision Approach Path Indicator - PAPI will give a more precise indication to pilots which is especially helpful to jet pilots due to the faster approach speeds we typically fly. 150 knot (173 mph or 278 kph) approach speeds are not uncommon on a 767-400 for example. If we're trending high or low on the approach it's very helpful to get that information in a timely manner so corrections can be made. Again, great observation.
Thomas
Awesome! Thanks for the explanation. Makes perfect sense seeing that we were at a small airport. Nothing very big flying in/out of there.
Jeff
markviii
Well-known member
gordyy - Tom was a shop teacher, but didn't take to well to jr/sr high public school teaching. Community college teaching turned out to be good for a number of years before he was able to finally achieve his flying dream.
charliefi - Sounds like you're trying to make work for me, again... If I have to look up something on google to find out what it is and how to cook it, that's a bit too much work for me. I'm not really into the cooking thing anyway. There are too many other interesting things to take up my time.
And life's one big party anyway now that we're both retired, right? In 2014, Tom now has 4 extra months of time to fill (that's 12 days per month plus required training) - a daunting task for anyone! I don't know if we can handle it. Stay tuned to see how that's working out.
(I do not have a long list of things waiting for him to do. He has enough of his own stuff to deal with without me adding to it.)
Chris
charliefi - Sounds like you're trying to make work for me, again... If I have to look up something on google to find out what it is and how to cook it, that's a bit too much work for me. I'm not really into the cooking thing anyway. There are too many other interesting things to take up my time.
And life's one big party anyway now that we're both retired, right? In 2014, Tom now has 4 extra months of time to fill (that's 12 days per month plus required training) - a daunting task for anyone! I don't know if we can handle it. Stay tuned to see how that's working out.
(I do not have a long list of things waiting for him to do. He has enough of his own stuff to deal with without me adding to it.)
Chris
I'd be more than happy to share some recipes with you Chris. When I was much younger I worked in several private (expensive) clubs and made friends with the chefs.
I learned a lot about cooking and don't mind sharing with others. I've even been fortunate enough to work an Escoffier dinner in the late 80's. Klaus was the chief and we were literally fishing buddies. I've got several friends that can tell you how to cook anything from pig knuckles to prime rib for the current idiot in office.
hobbitss
Well-known member
It's time for you and Ms Chris to have some fun together Thomas.
Red Leader
Well-known member
Congrats on the retirement! More time in the shop!!!
ZRX61
Well-known member
Yanno.... that alfalfa(?) field looks about perfect for a Piper Cub...
ZRX61
Well-known member
... or a Huey...
Highlux
Well-known member
Beautiful shop. You saved a treasure. Was all that stuff in it when you bought it? I could have rooted through that stuff fro months. What a treasure pile.
I'd be very proud of that.
I'd be very proud of that.
markviii
Well-known member
Highlux - to address your comments/questions:
Yes, it was a "treasure pile" and most of the "stuff" you see throughout this thread was there, but much was "recycled", refurbished and then some was added. Your average person could not see the diamond in the rough when we bought it. Many thought we were a bit insane!
A more detailed/thorough (and leisurely) study of the thread will answer all your questions and help prepare you for the eventual test. After all, there are "dues" to be "paid" for knowledge, but the payoff is worth it in the end.
Welcome to The Center of the Universe.
Chris
Yes, it was a "treasure pile" and most of the "stuff" you see throughout this thread was there, but much was "recycled", refurbished and then some was added. Your average person could not see the diamond in the rough when we bought it. Many thought we were a bit insane!
A more detailed/thorough (and leisurely) study of the thread will answer all your questions and help prepare you for the eventual test. After all, there are "dues" to be "paid" for knowledge, but the payoff is worth it in the end.
Welcome to The Center of the Universe.
Chris
FRONK 1969
Member
Thomas, Congrats on the retirement. I was curious on your last flight did they shower your plane with the water cannons ? or do they do that anymore ? I remember seeing that at Detroit metro years ago and they were explaining it to us on the plane we were on.
I think i did more reading on this page of yours than i did for my college degree.
Enjoy
Steve
I think i did more reading on this page of yours than i did for my college degree.
Enjoy
Steve
Hello Steve and a welcome to you sir. I was only half kidding when I mentioned reading this thread from the beginning to the latest temporary pause is the equivalent to a college degree!
The traditional crash rescue water cannon salute to retiring airline pilots as they taxi in for the last time is unfortunately rapidly becoming a lost tradition. It's still done at times but some airports because of drought conditions have stopped doing it to conserve water, now airlines, as a cost saving measure, have stopped it. Because crash rescue needs to be within a 2 minute ready window at all times, there are concerns that if two trucks emptied their water tanks with a salute and were needed before they could refill them there would perhaps, be a liability issue etc, etc. I guess it's a sign of our ever changing world. Honolulu still does them I hear but my last flight was arriving into Newark Liberty International and it's hit or miss to receive them there. We hear lots of rumors on why they aren't done very much anymore but who knows the real reason. I didn't expect it and I wasn't disappointed.
I can't remember when I didn't want to fly for the airlines. It was an honor for me to have the public trust as an airline pilot and I mean that very sincerely. I've been blessed with the career of my dreams, who could ask for more?
Thomas
FRONK 1969
Member
My dad had a private pilots license when i was a kid late 70s so I have always liked flying. we would hit mackinaw island and destinations like that. The alfalfa field looks like a nice place for a Waco Biplane ...?
Here's an update on what's going on...
As I think back, someone asked what aircraft I'll be flying in retirement. I've been asked to do some flying in a Piper Comanche 260C as well as a Piper Pacer and an Aeronca Champ. For now those will work just fine for me.
The new house is moving along. I picked up the full sized house plans yesterday...
This is the version we'll start the various subcontractor bids with. After it comes in priced at 7 figures well, then we'll go to plan "B".
Here's where it'll be sited near the barn, back left. The green circles are the drip lines of all the major trees seen...
...in this aerial photograph. The new house site is the red circle with the yellow circle at the bottom, the old family home and the oval in the center, is the old 2 car garage, tool shed and lean to, all of which will be removed and the area re-landscaped. Joe, it looks like I'm going to have to finally get those buildings cleaned out.
They're still packed with "stuff", oh sorry, treasure- and I have no place to put it all. Don't forget the 2 car garage is also home to...
...the 1950 Studebaker 2 door post coupe, at least I think it's a '50...
...I don't have a title for it. For sure it needs a new home.....and soon.
Besides all that I'm helping a friend finish a car project and I've also got a shop project underway that'll be posted. No rest for the weary or retired airline pilots for that matter!
Thomas
As I think back, someone asked what aircraft I'll be flying in retirement. I've been asked to do some flying in a Piper Comanche 260C as well as a Piper Pacer and an Aeronca Champ. For now those will work just fine for me.
The new house is moving along. I picked up the full sized house plans yesterday...
This is the version we'll start the various subcontractor bids with. After it comes in priced at 7 figures
well, then we'll go to plan "B". 
Here's where it'll be sited near the barn, back left. The green circles are the drip lines of all the major trees seen...
...in this aerial photograph. The new house site is the red circle with the yellow circle at the bottom, the old family home and the oval in the center, is the old 2 car garage, tool shed and lean to, all of which will be removed and the area re-landscaped. Joe, it looks like I'm going to have to finally get those buildings cleaned out.
They're still packed with "stuff", oh sorry, treasure- and I have no place to put it all. Don't forget the 2 car garage is also home to...
...the 1950 Studebaker 2 door post coupe, at least I think it's a '50...
...I don't have a title for it. For sure it needs a new home.....and soon.
Besides all that I'm helping a friend finish a car project and I've also got a shop project underway that'll be posted. No rest for the weary or retired airline pilots for that matter!
Thomas
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ZRX61
Well-known member
Speedfreak5150
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2011
- Messages
- 37
Hi just wondering if you could post floorplans of your new house? Tried going back through your log and could nt find any, also tried viewing all and it came up with fatal error
hobbitss
Well-known member
Did some say "Tool Shed"?
The Secret Helipad is located in a clearing between the trees east of the existing house, just far enough to minimize noise and backwash...
The Secret Helipad is located in a clearing between the trees east of the existing house, just far enough to minimize noise and backwash...
Thomas
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Brian R
Well-known member
To faithful followers of this thread: I've finished Beltsville Shell. Please send a PM (with your name and address) so I can pass it along.
To Chris & Thomas: congrats on your retirement and good luck with your plans.
Regards,
Brian
To Chris & Thomas: congrats on your retirement and good luck with your plans.
Regards,
Brian
Brian R
Well-known member
Beltsville Shell is going out to Ohio. Stay tuned for your turn (worth the wait).
Regards,
Brian
Regards,
Brian
56vette461
Well-known member
Thomas and Chris,
Thank you so much for this great thread and the walk down memory lane. As a high school kid in the 1960's I worked in several service stations including one of the old Standard Oil of California Company training stations with the white pants, shirts and caps, the works. I have read all 374 pages over the past couple of weeks, and have "lurked" around the threads links to shop builds, tool finds, restorations and funny stories.
The single post hoist, wall or pedestal mounted air station, spark plug pressure cleaner, Sun Tune up stations, bulk oil tanks and bottles to fill at end of every shift, and the ever present Walker car and truck floor jacks, were just a part of those memories. The old bumper clamp tow bar was one of my favorites. My dad had one in his 56 F-100 pickup, and used it more times than I can remember to pull me and my 56 Victoria home when I dropped the clutch or ????. Said event always resulting in several hours of uninterrupted quality time for us in the shop.
My bride of 43 years and I have been retired for about 13 years. One thing I have found is that retirement is not what they all say it is. .... IT"S BETTER!!! Best wishes to you and Chris on your retirement.
Now, I'm looking forward to the dreaded test, and like hobitts, the next tool unveiling from the "shed".
Thank you so much for this great thread and the walk down memory lane. As a high school kid in the 1960's I worked in several service stations including one of the old Standard Oil of California Company training stations with the white pants, shirts and caps, the works. I have read all 374 pages over the past couple of weeks, and have "lurked" around the threads links to shop builds, tool finds, restorations and funny stories.
The single post hoist, wall or pedestal mounted air station, spark plug pressure cleaner, Sun Tune up stations, bulk oil tanks and bottles to fill at end of every shift, and the ever present Walker car and truck floor jacks, were just a part of those memories. The old bumper clamp tow bar was one of my favorites. My dad had one in his 56 F-100 pickup, and used it more times than I can remember to pull me and my 56 Victoria home when I dropped the clutch or ????. Said event always resulting in several hours of uninterrupted quality time for us in the shop.
My bride of 43 years and I have been retired for about 13 years. One thing I have found is that retirement is not what they all say it is. .... IT"S BETTER!!! Best wishes to you and Chris on your retirement.
Now, I'm looking forward to the dreaded test, and like hobitts, the next tool unveiling from the "shed".
Sure I can, it's 1 1/2 stories and here's the proposed first floor.
It's a sneak peek that I'm sure will have changes as time goes on. There are some unusual features that might not make any sense right now like the air lock man door and machinery lift to the basement that are found in the garage. Over time I'll be a little more specific. At the bottom center is the porte cochére, that's a faint car outline under it. We designed the house to fit our present and future needs as I grow old and feeble (Chris never will, she's perpetually youthful
). It has wide halls and doorways for my future wheelchair...
...and will also fit into the clearing behind the old family home without removing any mature trees. At present I'm trying to figure out how to create a repeatable 135º angle on one corner of the stone fireplace. Any stone masons out there that would like to PM me with a solution?
I'll get more involved with this project as we near breaking ground for it next year. I've got a couple of other features that I'll throw out here for some group solutions. For now I'm involved with a couple of shop projects that are progressing....slowly it seems. Thanks everyone.
Thomas
Brian might you tell us the Garage Journal ID of the member that is getting the book next? We don't necsassarliy need his(her) name just their GJ handle as it were, thanks.
Thomas
Great we have another new friend here Chris. Welcome 56vette461 especially if you indeed have a '56 Vette.
This thread does invoke memories for many of us of the ah.... older persuasion (thanks for sharing some of yours) but we've found several younger folks who have enjoyed my escapades as well and apparently it's opened their eyes to the possibilities of saving older buildings, equipment, tools and the like. I find it all very gratifying.Thomas
56vette461
Well-known member
Brian might you tell us the Garage Journal ID of the member that is getting the book next? We don't necsassarliy need his(her) name just their GJ handle as it were, thanks.
Thomas
Great we have another new friend here Chris. Welcome 56vette461 especially if you indeed have a '56 Vette.
Thomas
Thomas,
Thanks for the reply. There really is a 56 corvette that is going through resto-mod as we speak. It is currently in the body shop being fitted with new rear fenders to cover the widened stance created when you use a C-4 corvette suspension on the old "x" frame. (I know that if there ain't photos it ain't so, ) I will do photo attachments when we get the body back together and on the frame. My son and grandson are part of the restoration team, so keeping the younger generations interest is part of the goal for me.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thomas and Chris,
I really like the plans for your retirement dream home. My wife and I started looking for our retirement home in 1994 (my first retirement at 50). All I wanted was a 3-car garage and all my wife wanted was a great room, large kitchen, large master suite with a jacuzzi tub and a laundry room inside the house (our house at the time had the laundry in the garage). We had seen only one house like that years before so I was very discouraged. She was adamant that the living and dining rooms were only used a half dozen days a year but had to be cleaned as often as the rooms we used every day.
We found our dream home for half what we planned to spend and everyone who visits comments that the great room design is perfect. When the wives see the laundry room off the master suite, they usually slap their husbands. On the down side we do have to carry sheets and towels from the guest room side of the house to the master suite a couple of times a year.
I really like the plans for your retirement dream home. My wife and I started looking for our retirement home in 1994 (my first retirement at 50). All I wanted was a 3-car garage and all my wife wanted was a great room, large kitchen, large master suite with a jacuzzi tub and a laundry room inside the house (our house at the time had the laundry in the garage). We had seen only one house like that years before so I was very discouraged. She was adamant that the living and dining rooms were only used a half dozen days a year but had to be cleaned as often as the rooms we used every day.
We found our dream home for half what we planned to spend and everyone who visits comments that the great room design is perfect. When the wives see the laundry room off the master suite, they usually slap their husbands. On the down side we do have to carry sheets and towels from the guest room side of the house to the master suite a couple of times a year.