Made a start

Yesterday I pulled the Savannah out of the barn where it has been standing for many months and gave it an initial wash to remove all the dust and bird poop that were covering its horizontal surfaces. But before I could do anything I had to cut a passage through the long grass that had sprung up in front of the barn through which to pull the Savannah out, using my electric strimmer that I’d taken with me. It looked all the better for it but afterwards there were still signs that it had been standing for a long time and it’ll need a lot more work to bring it up to scratch again.

Although I’ve not flown either it or the X-air for some time I’ve occasionally started both of their engines and after I’d removed the Savannah’s engine cover and checked it over it started easily and ran very smoothly. Before I take to the air in it, though, I’m going to give the engine a full service – new plugs, oil and oil filter – and I won’t be tempted to take off until I’ve done so. I’ll also need to deal with some patches of light surface corrosion here and there but I can do that while I’m flying it.

Unfortunately, while I was washing the aircraft down I noticed some straw sticking out of a side cavity in its horizontal stabiliser. When I pulled it out it turned out to be a nest of tiny baby birds. The barn is home to lots of tiny finches, which is where all the bird poop comes from, and I’d noticed what must have been the mother flitting around earlier.

I couldn’t leave the nest where it was so found a hole in a breeze block and placed it in there. I don’t know if the mother saw me do it but even if she did I hate to say it, but I doubt she’ll return to her nest and her babies will survive 🙁