Tours and Visits, and Miscellaneous Items
Updated 27 June 2004
Tours and visits: The aircraft is in its final position, but the landing gear are resting on temporary platforms. Be careful around the left main gear platform, which is the least stable. The wings, although not yet welded, are securely attached to the fuselage and are reasonably safe. For the time being, there are railroad tie towers below (but not touching) the left wing, and they should be avoided or negotiated with caution. The interior is a bit hazardous in some areas due to a few missing floor panels, so watch your step at all times. You're welcome to stop by for a tour so long as you read, understand and agree to the safety information and disclaimer as follows. Unless we're already well acquainted, be sure to contact me to arrange a time before paying a visit. Bring a pair of scrupulously clean slippers, or be prepared to walk in your socks - the aircraft is clean inside, and must be kept that way. Otherwise casual or destitute rural class clothing is best. Directions to my home are provided here.
Safety Information and Disclaimer: The railroad tie towers under the left wing are generally stable, but could become unstable under certain circumstances. It's best to stay generally clear of them. Don't apply any force to any part of them, as falling railroad ties, which are very heavy, could kill. The hard metal stairs leading to the interior of the aircraft are a bit steep and can be somewhat slippery at times. All stairs can be dangerous - falls on stairs can cause serious injury or death. The interior is not yet equipped with a full set of final floor panels, so considerable care must be exercised while negotiating those areas with loose or missing floor panels in order to avoid a fall. My property, including the area around the aircraft, is sometimes slippery in some areas, and there are certain construction hazards and numerous hard metal objects with sharp edges on the site - a slip on wet grass that results in a fall to a sharp edged metal object could be very serious or even deadly. The wings have no safety railings. If you elect to walk on them, stay clear of the edges, significantly slanted areas, and the movable ailerons (which could rotate down, resulting in a loss of footing) to avoid a fall.
You are responsible for exercising careful judgment in choosing whether to attempt to negotiate the stairs, interior areas, wings, or to expose yourself to other hazards in and around the aircraft. You must recognize that there are hazards in and around the aircraft that are not typical of normal domestic environments, including many rural environments. You must be aware of the hazards described here, and any that may be described orally, and you must accept personal responsibility and liability for any accidents which may occur on my property before electing to visit the aircraft or my property in general, or participate in any activities on my property. Please do not attempt to visit the area, board the aircraft, or participate in support activities if you are not physically fit and mentally focused enough to very safely do so.
Smoking is never allowed anywhere on my property. Hunting in any form is extremely offensive to me personally and is never allowed anywhere on my property.
Contributions: If you'd like to help with whatever work is in progress as a matter of personal edification, recreation, fulfillment, or whatever personal benefit you derive, and you're a detail minded and quality conscious person, you'll probably be welcome to pitch in - contributions of personal time and energy, while never obliged, are usually most welcome. A few folks have donated money to the project, and I'm very grateful for the constructive minded gesture and their heartfelt generosity, and I've applied all the funds directly to the nuts and bolts of the project. But I'd prefer that everyone refrain from offering financial contributions - I don't want anyone to feel the slightest obligation to donate any funds to the project, so I feel more comfortable when folks don't offer. Your interest is more than sufficient reward for my time, and visitors are welcome without the slightest scintilla of any obligation to make any contribution to the project.
Letters and email: Thanks bunches for your messages. I occasionally receive more letters and email than I can individually respond to, so, my apologies, but I'm overextended and just can't allocate enough time to reply to everyone. I read all of your messages with genuine attention and affection, and I carefully consider the occasional suggestions offered. And I'm motivated - everyone's interest goes a long way toward keeping my energy and spirits high, and I do appreciate it. If you're ever in the neighborhood please pay me a visit if you can. This web site will exist for as long as there's interest and I'm able to maintain it, so it should be easy to find me. If you have a special agenda that I should try to attend to, please remind me, if you can, at an appropriate time. For now I need to try to maintain a tight focus on the remaining physical work. Once I've completed the basic infrastructure and moved in, allocation of my time may be slightly more flexible. Again, thanks tons for your interest - I'm amazed, humbled, and gratified!
Lost and found: A single ear ring with a gem stone was found in the aircraft on 1 March 1999. I don't know whether it was lost here in Oregon recently or years ago in while the aircraft was in active service. Describe it, preferably including the "Made in..." imprint, or stop by and show me its twin, and it's yours. A circular red device associated with traffic safety was found in the aircraft very roughly three months ago. Describe it and it's yours.
If anyone has a tape of the aircraft being towed through the S 1st Avenue and SE Baseline Street intersection a copy would be highly appreciated (at my expense). I'd like to pass a copy along to a small documentary film maker who's interested too.
If anyone has a tape of the aircraft's low pass flyby I'd sure like to hear from you - I'd love to have a copy. Though I have one copy of the landing graciously provided by a gentleman at Aero Air, if any others exist I'd like to acquire a copy of them too. Thanks tons!
Theft at the Fair Complex staging site was a substantial problem for a time. Many tools and a Jeep style gas container were lost. The crook or crooks should be profoundly ashamed of themselves. Beyond the financial losses, the thefts significantly interrupted work crews due to lack of availability of tools and fuel, and those were expensive delays.
If the guilty party should happen to read this, consider this: Your life will ultimately be much more fulfilling if you simply return these items. As the years unfold, personal regrets take a very heavy toll. If you want a brighter future, find the courage to do the right thing, and please do it now. The opportunity to make amends is fleeting. Regrets, however, often never fade and can substantially reduce the quality of life. The question you must ask yourself is: Am I going to be outperformed by most other people - those who manage to live and work with others in an honest and productive manner? Or am I going to just give up and take a cowardly and sad route through life.
Do yourself and me a favor and do the right thing: Return all the items to my driveway or some other drop location and call me anonymously to advise so I can secure them promptly. It'll benefit you personally in subtle but profound ways, potentially setting you on a new life path, and could prove to be one of the smartest things you've ever done. If you don't, you're simply choosing to be a loser.
If you know of any material on this site that you find sensitive, and that you feel should be removed, please advise me.