The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Math Question:

What's 310 x 2?

Hint: http://1000aircraftphotos.com/PRPhotos/Cessna620.htm

Miles

Yep. That was Cleo's "Mystery Plane" a few quarterly's back. When Cessna decided to cancel the project, they ran a bulldozer over it after they'd removed the engines.

The Cessna 620 reminds me of the Dehavilland Herron. I flew Doves and twin Beeches for a small commuter airline in the early seventies. Our competition flew the Herron. I wish I could recall the name of the company - they headquartered at Santa Maria, Ca. The Doves we flew had lycomings in place of the original gyspy moth engines which were super charged - actually quite a performer. Interesting transitioning to the pneumatic systems on the Dove.

I flew Dehavilland Herons out of Miami in the late 1970s, four engines and 19 passengers! Ours were the Riley conversion to 260hp Lycomings.
Weird airplane - the brakes were a thumb lever on the control wheel,
pneumatically operated, as were the gear and flaps.

Robert, the only West Coast operators of the Heron I'm aware of were Baja California and Swift-Aire; do either of those ring a bell? Russ Farris

Thanks Russ - SwiftAire is the outfit I was trying to remember.

Swift Aire was a commuter airline that flew out of San Luis Obispo/Paso Robles to SFO, SJC and LAX in late 60s and 70s. They operated Herons with Lyc O-540s and then bought Nord 262s (small french transport with Turbomecca Bastan engines). They went to F-28s in early 80s and were bought by Golden Gate Airlines shortly thereafter. GG went outa business 2 days after the controllers strike. Charles Wiswell was the founder of Swift Aire and an aviation icon along the central coast of CA. He died a few years ago piloting a CE 340 air ambulance trying to land in the fog at Selma CA. Mr. Wiswell was one of the pioneers of the commuter/regional airline industry. Swift Aire was a well run "class" operation.

I agree Swift was a well run outfit. I flew for Valley Airlines in Volpar converted twin Beeches. Valley was later acquired by RAM Airlines. RAM stood for Reliable Airline Management - the airline was badly misnamed. RAM acquired three Doves powered by Lycomings and added them to the fleet. RAM did not last any longer than Swift - towards the end the pilots raced each other to the bank on pay day. The pay check of the third or fourth guy at bank would bounce. We had to carry cash with us in the airplane because the fuel providers at the airports along our route would not accept RAM credit any longer. But, while it lasted I enjoyed flying both the Beech and the Dove.

And the commuters were great multi-engine training (and how this thread has not been hijacked and still relates to multi engine training.)

So Miles,... quit that highly-paid engineering job Edwards Air Force base.... and throw everything away on a multi engine training episode at a commuter... and race to the bank and pray you don't get killed flying sorry junk and beat the other guys to the teller window!

(been there done that got the Tshirt)

George,

I can always count on you to look at the darkest side.

It's all moot now, as N3110L went to a new caretaker as of last Saturday.

Miles

Miles, too bad you didn't get this done before your dad sold his a/c. A sad day I'm sure.....