I took a TriPacer from Joplin, MO to Sturgis, MI last week (it was supposed to get to Ray, MI) and got to have a fun power loss only 120nm out from the final destination. It had already made it to Joplin from LA the week before as well but dropped off from normal to full throttle being 2000rpm, 25kts slower than cruise, and a 200fpm descent at what would be a minimum sink speed. Ended up getting lucky and diverting to an excellent airport (KIRS - Sturgis, MI) with a mechanic only 10 minutes away, UNICOM operator that answered my call within seconds, a crew car I could take overnight, and a free ride to AZO (about an hour away) when I needed to catch an airline flight out and leave the plane for a top overhaul! Good times....
Over Missouri in my friend's PA28 at 5:30AM (that is the moon) heading out to pick the Pacer up in Joplin
Probably the ugliest airplane I have ever flown. I am still trying to figure out which war it flew in
My friend escorting me out for the first 50nm or so in the Cherokee
Panel is laid out kind of weird with all of the important stuff way over there and the AI and DG front and center
Crossing I-55
Tucked in the hangar the morning after showing up at IRS the #1 cylinder compression checked at 24/85 and the other 3 weren't too impressive either.