The International Cessna^® 170 Association

George,
You're surely correct in your description of the intracate details of the WWII German aircraft engines and their comparison to our engines, but the amazing thing to me, in view of their complexity, was their ability to build the quantity of them that they did. They built one helluva lot of fighters during WWII. Their V-12 engines were considerably larger than ours, displacement wise, in order to get the necessary horse power on their lower octane fuel. I am always amazed at their ability to produce in view of the limited natural recources available there compared to ours.

rupertjl wrote:that's the one Miles! I'm bringing my logbook and flight bag in case I get some time to rent at the local flilght school.

The guy across the taxiway from me has a 180hp Cessna 175 and a Sundowner for rent. I also know a guy who might get you some right seat time in a 170...

I wanted to publically thanks Miles for taking time out of his weekend to show me around Tehachapi while I was there on travel. Quite an interesting little airport. I think I brought the east coast weather with me so I didn't get to fly this time but I'll be back in a week so we can try again.

Miles-it was a pleasure to meet you and Karen and the offer stands if you ever get back east for a tour of the Lycoming factory.

Jud

Our pleasure as well, Jud! We're looking forward to your return visit... but leave your weather in PA next time... I had to scrape ice and snow off of the car this morning.

Hey Miles-
Well, the weather in the Texas Hill Country was beautiful today, clear and 72F, nice enough for a Stearman flight. Do you recognize this place near Bandera, Texas? Willie Langholz and I were out flying around today and I happened to remember your dad had a Stearman and y'all used to visit the Flying L back in the day when it was still an airport. It has been developed to the point the airstrip is gone but the historic office and hangar are still there.

So who's Stearman is it? Don't remember Richard having a Stearman in his fleet. I know W wants a Stearman, since I didn't pick up the barrol of oil, he's got to do something with it. But I don't remember him buying one.

Richard,

I'd never heard of Bandera before your post, but Dad may very well have frequented the place. For many years he averaged 300 hours/year in his Stearman and he had to go SOMEWHERE. I'm pretty sure he covered every state east of the Rockies. He loved San Antonio and had several friends in the area. He may well have stopped at the Flying-L on his way to the St. Francis, Kansas Stearman fly-in that he hardly ever missed.

Dubya, don't you be getting any ideas about one of those Stearman! You know you can't put skiis on one and it would be dang cold flying that thing here in Minnesnowta. (But if you do find one I'm on your list to come fly with you!! )

Kyle,

What would preclude installing skis on a Stearman?

Kyle Wolfe wrote:...it would be dang cold flying that thing here in Minnesnowta. ...

Dad always said the minimum OAT for flying a Stearman is your age plus 20. He sold his just before he turned 73. I guess he figured that even in Florida it wasn't warm enough often enough to make it worthwile...

I seem to remember seeing pictures of Stearman trainers for the Canadian RCAF during WWII that were equipped with canopys.

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:So who's Stearman is it? Don't remember Richard having a Stearman in his fleet. I know W wants a Stearman, since I didn't pick up the barrol of oil, he's got to do something with it. But I don't remember him buying one.

Bruce-
The Stearman is owned by the guy I bought my 195 from and is painted in the same colors and a very similar pattern to my 195. He's one helluva guy and lets me and one other guy fly it on occassion. He gratiously let us take it up after W. drooled all over it. If the owner ever decides to sell, Willie and I will have to arm-wrestle for it.

blueldr wrote:I seem to remember seeing pictures of Stearman trainers for the Canadian RCAF during WWII that were equipped with canopys.

I think you're correct, I've seen pictures of some. I think Mile's temp criteria is about right, although 72F wasn't bad. We just climbed up until we could feel the temp drop, then levelled off at about 500agl which was perfect.

cessna170bdriver wrote:I'd never heard of Bandera before your post, but Dad may very well have frequented the place. For many years he averaged 300 hours/year in his Stearman and he had to go SOMEWHERE. I'm pretty sure he covered every state east of the Rockies. He loved San Antonio and had several friends in the area. He may well have stopped at the Flying-L on his way to the St. Francis, Kansas Stearman fly-in that he hardly ever missed.

My mistake, I thought I remembered a post where you talked about the Flying L from years ago.

Richard,
AS a matter of curiousity, what engine is installed on that Stearman. The cowling looks like it might have been made from a Beech 18 cowling.

To my memory, Beech 18's didn't have rocker-box streamlines. I'd guess a Jr-Wasp is installed.

Good guesses but wrong on all counts!

The Stearman has a 300hp Jacobs R755-A2. The rocker box streamlines are actually just decoration. The cowl came off a Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bomber.

The 300 Jacobs is a good balance in the Stearman, enough hp to make it perform well and fuel consumption low enough not to break the bank.