8 Sep

It has been a lot easier having eight aircraft again. We have so much more flexibility and we are able to keep aircraft off the schedule to fix minor problems before they get big. Out biggest challenge the last couple of days has been power dynes (a machine that is used to apply large amounts of torque to bolts). We only had two of the big ones we use for rotor heads and three days after we had to send one off for calibration the other one died. We were able to borrow one for a day from Balad to get two aircraft up, then within hours of sending it back we had two more aircraft that needed rotor heads taken off. In the rear we go for weeks without taking a head off but here it is an almost daily occurrence. We got one shipped to us this morning but now we are dealing with dust (can’t do the test flights). The last two days have been pretty bad with visibility down to less than a mile. It clears up some at night when the wind dies but within hours of the sun rising it is thick again. I just need a couple more days with J.R. to get him signed off but right now the phase aircraft (the one he has to fly to do the maneuvers) is at work stoppage waiting for a bushing to be made in Balad. I have been getting more sleep lately but right about the time the dust rolled in I developed a nice little head cold (coincidence probably). A head cold in the summer is no fun – it just doesn’t feel right. One thing about the dust – it keeps the temperature down.

Dust H 104 L 81