The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I just took the plunge and bought a 170B w/180 hp. The owner said it was a 1954. In the logs, I found it was manufactured in Oct 1953. Are these airplanes like cars in that the new model comes out before the first of the year? Either way, I just love the plane and am really enjoying working, cleaning, and flying it. I have had it for a week now and have more than 10 hours and 30 landings (only one on each approach). Why didn't I get one of these years ago? Has anyone added Whelen strobes to their 170B. I would like to have more visiability and am looking into installing strobes. I have a price from Spruce but don't know about the cost of installation?? I would like the 3 light system with the tail strobe. This forum has been wonderful in the information and support from it's members. Thank you. Gary N1909C

If you rely on FAA documents, your airplane will be listed (incorrectly) as a 53 model because that's when it rec'd it's first airworthiness certificate. It is a 54 model, that came off the line in 53. That's why it's important to specify serial number when ordering parts. The Illustrated Parts Catalog will list part applicability according to serial number.

I have the Whelan stobe system on my B-model, on the wingtips only. My power supply is on a rack behind the baggage compartment. The system will support a tail combination nav/strobe lamp, but I did not want to 1) spend the extra money 2) because the wingtip system covers all directions of visibility and meets the rule. (I also did not want to have to climb back there to do the wiring, and so I told myself I didn't want to deal with changing my white nav light to a more expensive and more difficult to find lamp, and also worry about rudder balance.) You can program the wingtip units to flash simultaneously, or alternately. I chose alternately for two reasons, 1) it results in a brighter flash (more joules) and 2) simultaneously was disorienting in or out of clouds. After a few minutes I felt drunk, even in clear air. Use Whelan's installation kit with the proper shielded cables in order to avoid radio noise.

Thank you for the info. I will go with just the wing tip strobes as well. That will save some $$ and I can join the 170 Association sooner. I will talk to a mechanic at the airport this week and see if he will help me install the system and sign off on it. We used to have a boat and the saying goes "A boat is a hole in the water surrounded by fiberglass, in which you throw money". Well, the same holds true with aircraft ownership in that you just throw your money to the wind. I hope to catch up in the budget someday but keep finding these neat things on this site to have for my 170. .....BAS handles, strobes, Kennon covers, GPS, 3 lightspeed headsets, eyed tail bolt, 10 degree flap ratchet..... the list goes on and on. But, I am loving every minute of it. Thanks again for the wonderful site and all the work you do for it Gahorn. Gary N1909C 1954 C170B

It's not as visible as their wingtip models,but Whelen makes a single-strobe unit that is a drop-in replacement for the rotating beacon found on many 170's. Cheaper than the wingtip strobe system: $338 versus $611 in my latest Spruce catalog.
Spruce also sells the Flight Strobe FS4400 that's a direct replacement for the rotating beacon. It's not a trick "comet flash" like the Whelen models,but it only costs $115.
Just a couple other options to consider. However,the single top-mounted strobes don't seem to meet the 360 degree coverage requirement--which may or may not be applicable to the 170. I myself have a set of Whelen wingtip stobes plus a strobe head mounted where the rotating beacon used to be. The extra strobe head is probably overkill, the two wingtip strobes are plenty,but I'm pretty satisfied with the system.

Eric

Gary, shame on you- you still haven't joined the Association ?
(That's the first thing I did after buying my airplane)
Rudy

I am printing the membership application as I type. Surely I have gleened $35 worth of information from this site and it is now time to pay up. I am looking forward to sharing the joy and love of flying with fellow 170 drivers. GARY N1909C '54 170B /180hp

Rudy! Shame on you for waiting to join until after you bought a 170!

Seriously, I can't help but feel that many 170 purchases would be done in better lighting if a person joined TIC170A first, and harvested all the available help from the membership. (Not to mention the fact that most of the better-kept airplanes are the result of their owners TIC170A membership. It may be a chicken/egg argument...either the owners are mx-conscious already and so avail themselves of TIC170A resources, or they are mx-conscious because of their TIC170A alliances. Either way, TIC170A certainly enriches the ownership experience and I feel more than pays for itself in comraderie and information resources.

George, I'll drink to that !
(But not during landings or takeoffs)
Rudy

I agree completely with George on the benifits of membership and I don't even own a 170 although I have in the past and currently own a "Overgrown 170 with a funny tail" (180).

Harold H
Mbr #893
N92CP

PS
George,
Did you ever process the Outer Banks flying pictures?
HH

I AGREE! I joined TCA170A before buying and was able to ask intelligent questions during the prepurchase. The result is I am a proud owner of a 1950 170 A and love it! It's my first airplane and I'm having fun flying and fixing the little things left after the prepurchase.

I have never flown an airplane with a nosegear. I was able to find a flight school that had Citabria's and a 180. I was working on my commercial license when they folded. I just had to get a taildragger and the 170 filled the bill perfectly. Less expensive to maintain than the 180 and has a prettier tail.

I've learned lots of good stuff here and would suggest anyone with an interest in airplanes would receive a good benefit.

B

Ditto your comments, Bruce. I joined this past Nov because I am beginning the search for a 170. Most of my tailwheel time is in a C-188. I towed gliders before the ink was even dry on my commercial. I have not yet even flown a 170, but have decided, after a lot of research, that it is the perfect airplane for me. I have learned a lot in the few weeks I have been a member, and hope I'll be able to return the favor someday when I earn some experience!!

John

Quote: "Well, the same holds true with aircraft ownership in that you just throw your money to the wind".

I like to tell my wife that it's a wash. The value of my 170B has gone up as much as I've invested into it (since buying). The plane's an investment, her car isn't!
That sounds like good thinking, don't it?

This kinda goes along with the question about year models. I know my airplane is a '56 model built in Oct of '55. How would mine be judged at EAA Fly-ins? I always write down that it is a '56 model so that puts me in the Contemporary catagory. Havent ever won any awards but just has me curious if anyone knew what a judge would say about which catagory it would be in.

Hey Dan! Hope all is well with you! Heres what the EAA says (http://www.vintageaircraft.org/events/judging.html) re your question:
Classic
An aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or after September 1, 1945, up to and including December 31, 1955.
Contemporary
An aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or after January 1, 1956, up to and including December 31, 1967.

It looks like your "56 model" qualifies as Classic due to its manufacture date. They say nothing about the year model.
Hope all is well with you! I'm almost back in the air!!!
JJH55

AH HA! I have been looking for that info for a long time! Thanks Jim! When you get your bird flying we'll have to fly to lunch!