JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

Spectacular RV-4 Views!

My RV-4 friend and I had a wonderful flight recently that resulted in the video below. There are some spectacular RV-4 views in the footage. I sure wish video could capture the beauty, ruggedness, and glory of the terrain over which we flew. However; it cannot so I attempt to etch these memories in my… [Read More]

LED Bike Light

I don’t ride my bicycle in dark very often but when I do, I like to see where I am going. So, I always ride with a front and read LED bike light. I purchased a Blackburn Voyager 2.0  and Mars Click combo light set about six months ago from ChainReactionCycles.com.  My experience with them… [Read More]

Survival Vest for Aviators

One of my flying mates is a formal Navy fighter pilot and experienced back country guy. In preparation for some of our backcountry aviation adventures this past year, he advised that I prepare for the worst.  This included a survival vest. I have learned that in many accidents, all that an aviator is able to… [Read More]

Grapevine Arizona Backcountry Camping Trip

A friend and I decided that we needed a dose of camping after our long and cold winter.  I know… it really wasn’t long nor cold. For us desert dwellers, it seemed like it was.  The best weekend opportunity seemed to be offered by the Arizona Pilots Association and the Grapevine backcountry airstrip located at… [Read More]

Winter Weight Loss Victory!

I’ve been avoiding the scales for the last couple of months.  My cycling dropped to near zero in December and a good part of January, November was not much better.  My eating habits have been pretty good but I was still worried about my weight loss, or lack of, so I used the ‘bury my… [Read More]

Canopy Support Strut using a Gas Spring for the RV-3

The Vans RV-3 plans are pretty light when it comes to the open canopy retention “system”. The suggestion is to use a string/cord to hold it in the open position – mine used a white string that stands out like a sore thumb.  Aesthetically, it was horrible; functionally it was effective. It was about as… [Read More]

Emerging from hibernation

I REALLY admire those of you that continue cycling even when there is snow on the ground and the air is cold. I have been a wimp this winter season.  Yes, a wimp. I’ve tried to continue riding but the cold has beaten me and I’ve hid inside my home, warm and cozy. The shorter… [Read More]

Sewing DIY Top Tube Frame Bag

I made another bag for my bicycle.  I am calling it a Top Tube Frame Bag since I can’t find a reference to a more appropriate title. I’m really enjoying all the sewing that I’ve been doing! It mounts to the top of the top tube and the front of the seat post.  I’ve seen them mostly… [Read More]

CFI Refresher

All FAA Certified Flight Instructors are required to complete a CFI refresher clinic every two years. This is generally called a Certified Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic (CFIRC or FIRC). Once again, it was my time to complete this course. I’ve tried a couple of different options in the past. One is an all weekend class…. [Read More]

Downhill Skiing and Aircraft

I previously discussed my desire to mix aircraft and downhill skiing (Ski Truck) and reported setting up my aircraft to carry my downhill snow skis (Ski Truck Epilogue), last week I got the chance to give the setup a whirl! I got the call from my RV-4 friend late in the afternoon that the following… [Read More]