That's a huge freaking black widow. It's not a good photo because I didn't want to get too close, but it was gnarly. I ended up kicking the wall as hard as I could with my foot to squash it and almost brought the hangar down I kicked so hard. Then I thought for a sec I had missed it and perhaps it got onto my leg and so I danced around like a total spaz kicking my legs furiously. It turns out I actually got the sucker, left a huge squish mark on the hangar wall. I'm making damn sure I shut the storm window and doors on the airplane from now on. If this sucker showed up in the cockpit after airborn that would be ugly...
I've also been thinking about some minor panel upgrades. I really want an engine analyzer, the engines are running great and strong now, but I figure if I'm going to take them over TBO I need to know what's happening in there. I'm currently debating an AuRACLE 2120 but it's expensive so I might just go for a JPI 760 and take the old style instrument. The AuRACLE would be awesome but it has a few things going against it... firstly, it's a 60-70 hour install that requires some major panel work. It would be great to have all digital though. The JPI is an easier install and I could drop it into the slot where my current EGT gauge is... I've got a quote for 30 hours to install. Total cost for the JPI would be 7-8k or so and total cost for the AuRACLE would be near 20. Hmmm... while I'm at it I would pull out the old Hoskins fuel computer since it would be redundant and my left digits seem to have gone out anyway. I'll probably pull out my ancient Collins radio and replace with an SL-30. Here is my current stack:
I'll probably keep the radar, it seems to work okay though I haven't needed it and don't see myself really needing it. Out here on the west coast T-Storms are uncommon and when the do popup over the mountains they tend to be either very visible in summer, or else part of nasty, gusty winter storms. The nexrad on the g600 is probably good for most of my flying, but I could see how the radar could come in handy on a trip east and/or could be a desirable item should I ever want to sell the place, to step up of course :)
Too funny. I found one in my hangar the other day, but she scurried under the base of the hangar wall before I could squash her. She then got a dose of Corrosion-X. We'll see how that turns out. :)
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