On a cold night in early spring, I took off from Lunken Airport in 72B, my beloved (I think) Cessna 180. I came back to climb power at 500 feet agl and the engine began running rough, missing and losing power — which sort of caught my attention. So, I pulled on the carburetor heat and, since the engine was making power, turned back toward the airport. But then it smoothed out, which was odd because I’d checked the heat just before takeoff; the air was very dry, and this airplane rarely gets carb ice, even in “juicy” conditions. But from then on, it happened on every flight, regardless of temperature and weather, always “fixable” by applying carb heat. The EGT in the number 2 cylinder was running a lot higher than the others, and I was pretty sure it was a manifold leak and the mixture was running too lean.
Unusual Attitudes: Nicknames, Deserved or Not!
Key Takeaways:
- The article opens with the author's frustrating and costly experience trying to diagnose a persistent engine problem in his Cessna 180, highlighting common aircraft maintenance challenges.
- This personal saga leads into an extensive exploration of the humorous, descriptive, and often critical nicknames pilots assign to various aircraft types.
- The piece provides numerous examples, ranging from general aviation planes like "Doctor Killers" and "Flying Sperm," to military "BUFFs," and commercial airliners such as the "Whale" and "Tupper-jet," showcasing the informal naming culture within aviation.
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