Aerocet pictures

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:37 am

I am probably going to have the STC in hand next week. Here are a few shots of 25B with the Aerocet 2200's on. Photos taken July 18th which is one of our rare nice days this summer.

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:39 am

Oh yes it is good for the straight tail 172's also. Now just got to get to work on the slant tail versions. And I will post a picture of standing on the sterns with an aft load and not going under water like the EDO's now manufactured in China, do.

bigrenna · Post by **bigrenna** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:23 am

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mit · Post by **mit** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:19 am

Looks Good please let us know what they will cost. My 2000's are getting old! How will they do with 145HP?

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:49 pm

It is way better then the Chedos. Chinese Edos. I would have to do some comparison tests as all we had to do was reduced power take offs. Go figure...no rivets and parasitic drag. Anything could do better. Plus you can load it up and step on the sterns and not have to wear chest waders and a PFD

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:52 pm

Hey Big renna I know a guy who can make those float fittings a reality

bigrenna · Post by **bigrenna** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:14 pm

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hilltop170 · Post by **hilltop170** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:28 pm

marathonrunner wrote:I am probably going to have the STC in hand next week.

Are you working with Aerocet in obtaining the STC? Just wondering why you are doing it?

I flew both Edo and Aerocets over a 10 year period on a C-185. Aerocets performed better in every instance.

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 3:15 am

Not to go into huge detail but, Aerocet supplied me with floats and parts made from drawings as I had to have this engineered. It started over 3 years ago in May 2009. Once Aerocet got the PMA for the 2200's I was trying to get them to STC them on 170/172 series. They had a lot of other things going on and still do so basically it was up to me or someone else to do this.

Edos on a 170 are way under floated. I like to hunt and fish and with not too much of a load the Edos just do not feel right under certain conditions of wind and waves. Also, after all the testing required for this and then trying to replicate the same tests in a 170 on Edos I am amazed they got certified without a rudder centering device or ventral. I knew that you had to use rudder often one way or the other but did not realize until doing the sky brodie test and the aircraft is required to show a tendency to return that the 170s on Edos will just not pass that test.

I have done that in two different 170s on Edos and with the same results. No tendency to return. That test is full rudder one way and aileron to hold wings level. You release the rudder from the stop and keep the wings level and do not touch opposite rudder and you should show a tendency to return to straight flight not continue to do sky brodies.

Also I wanted it to be a legal installation. I may have the only 170 with 180 hp Avcon convdersion that is legal on Edo 2000s as I got a co-ordinated field approval a long time ago. I have since forwarded all that paperwork to the club. Actually one can now just google it and it pops up because there was a breach I think in the club computer system that allowed someone to get in and access that and put it out on the web.

To make it legal it required an STC. Aerocet has not come up with a price that I know of for the kit but, I believe for the Cub it is around 27,000.00

I believe that Edo 2000s new are approximately 20000.00 then you have to buy and install the hatch kit which bumps it up a lot. I do not have any idea how much the kit is. I put one on my floats some time ago and it was one kit per float at that time and it is a bit of labor to do. It is an STC as well. You cannot fit much in them either. With Aerocets you can put in 5 gallon gas cans or any other large objects. You cannot put anything large in the Edo hatches.

Maintenance is almost a non issue with the Aerocets. I know of planes that have bumped down rivers over rocks, landed in the tundra, etc with no or very minimal damage that was easily repairable. With aluminum floats you are looking at major damage and repairs if you just bump a rock or slightly submerged log that is not visible. Corrosion is gone.

Guess it got longer then I intended. No one may ever may buy a kit but I am sure happy with mine and it performs awesome compared to the Edos with larger loads too. I remember the Avcon conversions and people in the mid 70's saying why would you put a 20,000.00 kit on a 6000.00 airplane. Well look how many are out there now. I think just one flight would convince a lot of people to get rid of their Edos and go with the Aerocets. Usually from what I have seen a good pair not a shabby pair of Edos goes in the 10,000.00 to 12,500.00 range.

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:06 am

What I meant was the if you sell your Edos you can offset whatever the cost of the Aerocets will be. They also have flat waffle tops so you can walk easier then with the rounded Edo tops.

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:38 am

Oh yes one other consideration if you are debating between Aerocets and Edos. Aerocet is U.S.A. based in Idaho and employees U.S. citizens. I put periods after the initials because when I filled out my first application for my private certificate in 1973 I did not put periods. The examiner handed it back to me and made me put them in and told me that we were in the United States of America and not USA Japan who had made that city so they could put made in USA on their products. Not a great start to a check ride. He was a former WWII pilot. Actually it went quite well and he was more of an instructor then a check airman.

bagarre · Post by **bagarre** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:04 pm

Great info on the floats. I was thinking of getting my seaplane rating this year. Not that I have any way to put floats on my 170 or even a place to land it on water...I just like the idea of flying a float plane.

I've heard the 'Made in USA, Japan' story before as well.
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/usa.asp
Its actually an urban legend.

marathonrunner · Post by **marathonrunner** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:15 pm

Float flying is a really fun activity. Part of the reason for going for an STC for the Aerocets is that , much as I hate to admit it, I am getting older and not as on top of my game as I was in my younger days. It is much safer to be on floats that are forgiving and the non maintenance is an issue as well. I know that at times on the 2000's in cetain conditions you have to have not only skill but youth to counter some adverse conditions. i taught my sons who are twins to fly and they far surpass my skills. I don't let them know that but I am sure they do and are kind enough to not let me know. Again I hope to be in Oshkosh next year and rides are available. If you come to Alaska, which should be on your bucket list, I will for sure if available to let you fly it left seat

akav8or · Post by **akav8or** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:18 am

I noticed that plane at Wolf Lake this year. It was parked at a float slip across the street from where I live. Spent some time day dreaming about putting floats on my 170.

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:06 am

Those are really nice looking floats on the C-170. I wish I was a young fellow again and flying on floats.
When I was stationed up in Alaska, from '47 to '51, I used to fly the old C-64 Noorduyn Norseman on EDO 7170s. They sure do make the 2200s look small.

The International Cessna^® 170 Association