The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Announcing the official return to flight of N5444C, 1950, C-170A today. A good while back, I purchased 44Charlie from the widow of Tom Barrett. Some of you many remember Tom of Orlando, FL. Tom was a retired Delta aircraft mechanic and had owned the plane for over 20 years. From what I heard, Tom was active with the club (maybe even helped started it?), so many of you may have known him; I did not. I do know he passed away in 2010 and the plane sat for a little while until I came along. I was spending a lot of time in Florida when I was President/CEO of Angel Flight and I bumped into the plane by accident and fell in love.

Several items had to be tended to over the past year plus and the plane was 500 miles from me, so distance was an issue, and I was spending time messing with a Stearman we had as a business to give rides at airshowes etc, but we completed the annual on teh 170 today and she took flight. Tom took exceptional care of 44Charlie and actually had it on a progressive inspection schedule instead of an annual inspection. This was approved by the FAA. The books go all the way back to the test flight in Wichita. I have the original owner’s manual, and some original avionics. I got a well organized batch of most every letter sent out from Cessna on the plane, tons of C-170 club newsletters organized by date and more. I am so excited and have not said anything until I got it back in the air. I will continue to give this plane some TLC and work out minor bugs here and there. I have asked questions on the forum and will continue. I also have a 1946, Cessna 140 and I have been flying for about 25 years. I look forward to getting to know you all, thanks!

Blake Mathis
Huntsville, AL

Congratulations!
I LOVE the original, heated Kollsman pitot-tube! VERY cool! (Kinda rare!)

I'm sure it must be just me, but that's the first time I can remember seeing a shark fin pitot head on a C-170. Looks very classy!

I also have the South Winds gas heater that was an optional add on back when they were new.

Wow Blake. Very nice. Nice to see these aircraft get back in the sky.

Yes the pitot is pretty rarely seen. I've only seen one other and I've seen a few 170's. I'd say the South Winds heater is also rare as I've never seen one. You will need to document that alone in pictures for us so I can put them in our library.

Congratulations Blake! How much work/what type of work did you have to put into it?

Nice job getting it flying again!!

Nicely done Blake,

We are not far from each other, keep an eye out in the flyin and events section of the forums for south eastern get togethers.

New carb (was gummed up do to auto gas), had to replace the 2 L brackets at the base of the vertical stab, a little surface corrosion spots, inspected entire inside of plane with inspection camera with 3 foot flexible cable and detailed annual took a week. Only real trouble shooting now is a little drop on left mag.

BlakeinAlabama wrote:New carb (was gummed up do to auto gas), ....

That's Florida for you, heh bluElder?

What'd that carb cost you, Blake?

That auto gas will do it every time! Anyone would be crazy to even try it. I have also been told by reputable junior flight instructors that an airplane with auto gas in it will not recover from a spin. This is apparently due to the difference in per gallon weight, unleaded fuel being lighter.

N5448C will be right on your heels. Our planes must have been right next to each other in Kansas. Here's me after I installed the "new" engine. I picked up a zero-time C-145 out of Virginia for a decent price. I still have to get everything hooked up and fire her cylinders. It's been so long since I tore her apart, I'm forgetting what goes where. Seriously, if anyone can shoot a few photos under the cowling to help remind me what goes where, I'd appreciate it.....

Thanks Arash. It's been such a looooooong road. The firewall is painted - yes, it's true.
5444C looks very, very good. Obviously the owners took two very different paths over the years.
Where is 44C located?

Wow....N5507C is only 59 behind you Shawn. Great to see all these planes getting back in the air! I've been working to get my A model back together as well. If you check the members intercom part of the site I have some pictures of the engine compartment in my project thread.

Blake, how does the 170 fly compared to your 140? I have plenty of time in my 120 but none in a 170. Hopefully I will be flying this summer so any pointers for a fellow 120/140 driver would be appreciated!

Mike

A lot more comfortable, yes. I was very close to buying a 140, but the owner was kind enough to tell me that I look like a goofball sitting inside the tiny cabin (6'6" and 280#) and reminded me I couldn't carry anything with, except for a crowbar to get my big arse out of the cockpit. He ended up selling it to a munchkin who is having a ball with it....
I see Blake is in Alabama, from his handle at least. Wanna meet half way?

N5444C is now based in the Huntsville, AL area and loves it, lol. As for difference between the 120/140 and the 170, I describe it that the 170 lands like a truck. The 140 is quick to respond and light on the pedals, but the 170 lags and you have to be one it because it takes a moment to get a response, so it could get away from ya. As far as in the air, I love the 170, SO much on the controls and huge window and flys nose low and lets you see alot more than the 140. I ordered new fuel drain plugs yesterday and a fuel gauge stick, nylon washers to put under the screws on the cowling and other odds and ends. I do have some work to do to it, I want to remove and clean the fuel takes and I think the fuel gauges are not working right, so that might be fun.

I have located another 170A that I used to fly that had crashed and got parted out for the most part, but lots still left. I am going to try and buy the whole think to have extra stuff and a data plate.