The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Greetings.

I don't currently own a 170 but have been lurking here for a month or so, learning. A partner and I will be acquiring a 1953 170B in January, so we're learning as much as we can before we get it.

I'm currently flying a '58 Champion 7EC. My wife says it's too small to carry us, two dogs (Rat Terriers) and 'stuff', so we need something bigger. She saw a 170 at a fly-in last summer. It had the rear seats removed and a dog bed on the floor. "Yes! That's what we need!"

The Champ is going to Michigan soon, and soon after, the 170 moves from Illinois to Minnesota. I'm excited about having it, and learning how to fly all over again. All my time is tail-wheel, and all except a few hours is in the 7-Series aircraft - Champs and Citabrias. This left seat and yoke stuff ought to be interesting.

Jon B.

Jon,

Where abouts in Minnesota are you? There are several 170s at Lake Elmo, where I'm based. Stop by some time!

John

John:

I'm out west, in Willmar - BDH is the new airport ID.

I can't say that I've ever been to Lake Elmo. In fact, although I did my primary instruction, and used to rent a couple of Citabrais, at FCM, I've not been to *any* of the east metro fields. The Champ has Mode C but I prefer grass strips - or no strip at all! Bean stubble fields are great, with hay fields and gravel roads close behind.

I get to Winsted now & then, as our older son lives in Lester Prairie, only 5-6 miles from 10D. Been into Crystal, FCM (of course), AirLake, Anoka County, Buffalo, Maple Lake and Surfside (grass, not water) but none of the east-side places. I hear an awful lot of radio traffic at Lake Elmo; it sounds like a busy place on a nice weekend. Some day I'll go there as well as Osceola, Forest Lake and the St. Paul fields.

The 170 comes with skis, also. I flew on skis with the Champ last winter, so am looking forward to some more snow-flying.

I'm a private pilot, 50-some years old, with SEL and SES ratings, VFR only.


Jon B.

have you guys from minn
heard of elbow lake?
i think there is a little grass strip
up there s.w. and my brother,
from tintah (~70 pop)
and who flys out of his farm (wheatoncamp)
and i practiced wheel landings there.
was great fun!!
my brother's name is norm ahrens
and he is a flt instructor out of fergus falls.
he is also a wheat farmer
and has about given up instructing
except for doing my bi annuals!!
iowa

iowa,

I'm not Jon but I know where Elbow Lake is. I have never flown in there but grew up on a dairy farm near Underwood which is 10 miles east of Fergus Falls. My mother and a brother still live in the area so I am there often when I am home in the summers. I fly int Fergus quite a bit.

My Cessna is kept in Park Rapids and I have a Champ on my place near Itasca State Park. I have a 1000 foot stirp there so if you think you can make it in and out you are welcome anytime.

Keith

keith
i'll write that down
and next time i'm up
to my br's
i'll see about coming over!
dave

WWhunter wrote:iowa,

I'm not Jon but I know where Elbow Lake is. I have never flown in there but grew up on a dairy farm near Underwood which is 10 miles east of Fergus Falls. My mother and a brother still live in the area so I am there often when I am home in the summers. I fly int Fergus quite a bit.

My Cessna is kept in Park Rapids and I have a Champ on my place near Itasca State Park. I have a 1000 foot stirp there so if you think you can make it in and out you are welcome anytime.

Keith

Keith:

I could get the Champ in & out of your home strip but the 170 may not get back out. Mike V., with 180hp & CS prop should have no trouble, though.

There's an awful lot of overlap between some of these forum groups. SUperCub.org, treetopflyers, backcountrypilot.org, etc. I keep running into you no matter where I go!

Jon B. - (yes, I know of Elbow Lake, too.)

keith
my dad had a 1500ft strip
on his farm
and i got in and out of there w/o problems
of course depending on the temp etc.
but 500ft makes a lot of difference
if it is 60-70 degrees
and i have a light load
i might give it a try
dave

There's an awful lot of overlap between some of these forum groups. SUperCub.org, treetopflyers, backcountrypilot.org, etc. I keep running into you no matter where I go!

Jon B. are you the pilot with the "kick *** champ". If you are, I see you at those other sites also. Some day I would like to fly that champ.

With 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, a map showing the lakes you guys are talking about would help. On those other sites the talk about ice fishing is pretty good but hard to follow without a map.

Dave,

I have confidence taking off a 1000' strip with my 170. Assuming that I am alone, no obstacles at the end, no deep snow or deep grass, no big density altitude, etc... So depending on many conditions, I believe the 170 can handle a 1000' strip.

Be a heck of a learning experience if I didn't make it.

Bill

Jon, welcome! Looking forward to another MN 170! We've got to get you (and all the other MN guys) thinking towards spring. A group goes to a fun flyin called Petit Jean. You'd fit right in!

Wilmar is a great place. Fly over it regularly. Stopped to get gas there at the new ariport in October, but it was after hours...

We're down in Owatonna. Give a holler if you get this way.

The skiis sound fun!

Kyle:

Did Mike Petersen ride in your 170 from OWA to Winsted in January? I may have met you and not known it...

Jon B.

ps: for Bill - yes, I'm the guywith that particular Champ.

Jon,

I have noticed the same thing as far as being on the same sites. I'm a little bored over here in Hawaii til spring so I end up surfing the net quite a bit.

Flat Country Pilot,

Not sure a map would do much good since there are many lake with the same name. It would be better to post the general area talked about or the coordinates.

iowa,

Wait til spring or summer since I am in Hawaii for the winter. My wife is in the Army and we are stationed here. I am home in MN building a house during the summer til the end of deer season. I have had several guys with Champ's and Super Cubs in there but that's all. I did end up clearing quite a few more trees this past summer so the approach is better than it was. Before hand it was "slip it in and drop her down". There is a drop in elevation the first 3-400 feet on the NE end of my strip also.

Keith

Jon,
Welcome! I'm from IL. where did you get your A/C. just wondering! It's good to have new blood in the forums. Hope to keep hearing from you!
brad

Not sure a map would do much good since there are many lake with the same name. It would be better to post the general area talked about or the coordinates.

Kieth,

When I look at a map of MN, it is difficult to find the smaller lakes. Like you said, many have the same name and I wonder how many are not listed.

Your right about the coordinates, especially with a GPS. I was hoping for a map with an X marks the spot for guys like me who are geographically challenged.

Bill

bradbrady wrote:Jon,
Welcome! I'm from IL. where did you get your A/C. just wondering! It's good to have new blood in the forums. Hope to keep hearing from you!
brad

Brad:

The new 170 is currently at Poplar Grove, in the capable hands of Bill Rusk. I'm hoping to get down there in early January to bring her home.

My wife hasn't yet seen it; I hope the two of them get along OK.

Jon B.