JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

Stereo Music

Ipod, MP3 and satellite radio stereo music in the cockpit is finished and working!! I’ve been wanting a stereo music input in my RV-3 for awhile now. I had satellite XM/Sirius radio in my previous aircraft and love listening to my MP3 collection while flying. A few months ago I did the research and selected a… [Read More]

Leaking Hot Tub

My hot tub starting leaking recently. I tried to pretend that it didn’t exist. It still leaked. I tried to ignore it. It still leaked. I tried letting it leak until the water level was low enough that it wouldn’t leak anymore. It still leaked. So, at long last, I decided that I had to… [Read More]

Paint

I mentioned here that I painted my kitchen. It still looks great but we’re making big progress now.  My Mom has come to visit and we are working like dogs on the rest of my place. Ok, SHE is working like a dog!  🙂 After a trip to Lowes for paint, Raks for tape, Home Depot… [Read More]

Hot Magneto

I performed some general maintenance on the RV-3 this weekend.  Yes, I know – this engine is not pretty (Lycoming O-320). However; it runs great! 🙂  One of these weekends some parts are going to get pulled, thrown into the bead-blaster, and then into the paint booth. I’ve been into quite a few dirt strips lately… [Read More]

Canopy Cover

Canopy covers are generally a really good thing for aircraft.  Here in the southwest, the goal is keeping the sun (and heat) out of the cockpit. In some places, keeping the water out is the goal. Accomplishing both is very doable.  One thing to be careful with is wind and dust/sand.  A good wind storm… [Read More]

Wheel Chocks

I frequent quite a few small airports with my Vans RV-3B.  Many of these do not have much in the way of tie down equipment. So, carrying my own set of chocks is important to me. This means that they must be light. The controlling factor on the RV-3 chocks is the height of the… [Read More]

Aileron Gust Lock

Some form of gust lock is necessary on most aircraft when being stored outside. The problem that occurs is that strong winds will push the ailerons, rudder, and elevators back and forth to their stops – sometimes in a very hard and violent way and with significant force.  This can damage the controls and that… [Read More]

Kitchen Paint

Back in this post, I talked about making my home “mine” and paint colors in this post.  This past weekend I made some progress by painting.  Not a lot – but at least some.  I painted the kitchen.  It looks FABULOUS, if I must say so myself! I used satin Valspar latex paint in the “La… [Read More]

Grout Cleaning

It looks SOOO much better! That’s the good news.  The bad news is that it is not particularly distinguished work nor how I would prefer to spend my weekend (no, it didn’t take the WHOLE weekend). My home has tile on the floor throughout most everywhere except the bedrooms. I guess it is a travertine “look” and… [Read More]

Mine

Wow!  A whole week has shot by since my last post.  It has been a very busy week – I must be having fun. Actually, there is a lot of positive happening and I am VERY thankful.  I have been on a downer for so long – the upswing feels REALLY good. I don’t want to… [Read More]