The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Dillion congratulations.

I was showing off your 170 to folks at the airport today using pictures here and your blog. It is obvious you had some first rate support, after all your family is in the business, but your doing the work in the pictures which I pointed out to everyone. Quite an accomplishment for you.

I look forward to seeing your 170 at the next convention in Kentucky hopefully.

Congrats Dillon! Plane looked great parked in the Vintage showcase section by the red barn! Glad you brought it to OSH.

Reserve Grand Champion - Silver Lindy
Mike Barron, Perry, Missouri
1954 Cessna 170B, N1899C

Congratulations, Dillon!

I had a chance to look at your 170 at OSH, truly an outstanding restoration. Well done Dillon.

Nice plane and a great time talking to you. Have fun flying also.

John

This is so exciting! Well done!

I can't wait to see it in person.

Congratulations Dillon!

Great job Dillon, Had my Texas buddies come by and say Hi. Jim, Larry, Bill, Maybe next year I can make it up.

Congratulations Dillon!!! Well done!

Five months to complete a project like your's is remarkable, most guys take years.

Also congratulations are in order to your dad Mike and grand dad John for supporting your efforts and making it possible for you to be able to take on a project of that magnitude at your age.

Hi guys!
Thanks for the interactions. It has been the most memorable and rewarding trip to OSH out of the 14 years I have been going! It was great seeing all the people enjoy and talk about my project. The stories it brought back to a number of them while they reminisced when they were young was just fantastic. Had a couple different guys tell me that this is exactly what they remembered when they used to work out at their home airport and a 170 came by. There was nothing more rewarding! I just have to say thanks to all of you for the information shared. Couldnt have done all this work without it!
I hope to make it to many shows to share my work and meet all new people!

Thanks again, means a lot!!
Dillon

Congratulations Dillon for the excellent article in the May/June 2013 Vintage Airplane magazine!
There is a 6 page article with Dillon's 170 on the back cover.
Hope you are doing well and see you at AirVenture.
Dan

Thank you guys!! Sparky does a great job writing articles, I owe it to her!

DWood wrote:Congratulations Dillon for the excellent article in the May/June 2013 Vintage Airplane magazine!
There is a 6 page article with Dillon's 170 on the back cover.
Hope you are doing well and see you at AirVenture.
Dan

Looking forward to going back to OSH. See you then Dan.

Hope to make it out to the convention this year.

Dillon

Dillon:
I will see you at OSH and I do plan on bringing the 170.
Can't wait!
Dan

Dan,
Sounds good, can't wait to see it!
Should be another great year.
Dillon

Dillion
I have been reading your comments on the "restoration" with great interest. I have imported a 55 170B into New Zealand where the Cessna SID inspections are mandatory in October 2014. I have bitten the bullet and decided to get everything done and out the way now. This has included removing the wing spars and refurbing the fuse. I am currently starting work on the wings. you mentioned that you use ALUMA Plus and pressure wash. Could you give me a few more details on this please.

I have very mild corrosion and have been sanding back with 240 grit paper and orbital sander..............litterally takes forever. We then acid wash and alodine prior to two pot painting.

Everything is coming up OK however I started this 3 months ago and we are still grinding !! any tips would be appreciated. regards JK

Hi JKelly:
I'm not Dillon, but I've cleaned a few planes in my time. Aluma-bright /Aluma-prep, et al is basically phosphoric acid. I use 1 pint to 2 gallons of water and put in some dish detergent to act as a wetting agent. Spray it on, wait for it to foam, scrub with a plastic bristle brush and then pressure wash thoroughly. For very stubborn spots, use a fine bristled stainless steel brush or a maroon scotch-brite pad, followed by another application of the Aluma-bright .I advise against using sandpaper on your plane, ever. The pure aluminum coating on 2024 Alclad is only .002" thick. The 240 grit paper you are using will remove it in just a couple of seconds. Try the phos acid, you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to get to clean metal.

John