The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Well, it appears the search is over! I have put a deposit down on a '55 170, N4410B! Kind of interesting history on this one. Ground looped in the early '70's, put in storage in a crate in Tucson for about 30 years, then rebuilt a year or so ago and bought by a couple of gentlemen in New Mexico. As you can see in the pictures, it's got an original paint scheme and panel. You like, George?! I hope to be able to pick it up sometime in August once the paperwork is straightened out with the FAA. One of the owners passed away unexpectedly in March and his name is still on the registration.

A couple of questions: this airplane has been stored for so long that it never has had a beacon or strobes installed. Surely somebody here has had this done. Would you go with a fuselage mounted beacon (cheaper) or wingtip mounted strobes (less intrusive to the fuselage, but a lot more expensive)? I've been researching headsets and it seems the Lightspeed Zulu has all the bells and whistles. but they come with a price. How happy are you guys that have one? How about shoulder harnesses? I've read all the past posts and it seems that most everyone is happy enough with the kind that don't have the inertia reel for the difference in price. Still true?

That's enough questions for now. Needless to say, I'm very excited and will be back with a ton more questions, I'm sure. One of the reasons I chose a 170 was the great source of information that this association is!

Thanks,
Joe

Congrats Joe!

I am waiting for a ride

We had the BAS inertia harnesses in 80D. They were very nice!

Forrest

You got it, bro! I'll be picking your, as well as Tom and Bart's, brains especially hard! Up for giving some dual?!

Congratulations, Joe

It looks like a great plane. On your questions, I have one Lightspped Zulu and one Lightspeed G30 (?). Love the "zulu" and I plan to buy a second one soon. On strobe question, go with the wing tip and tail combination. It is pricy but is easier to see at night IMHO. You will not regret it.

Hope to see you and the plane a some future C-170 Convention.

Jim

Congratulations on your purchase, it is a nice looking airplane, but the paint scheme is not original 1955.

Congrats on the purchase! I had the fuselage mounted strobe but after seeing the 3 position comet flash strobes I went and installed them on mine. I used to fly with a group of guys and was always told how easy I was to see. I'm still using the old DC headsets so I can't comment there. I put front shoulder harnesses W/O inertia reel and am happy with them. I loosen them for cruise and after the first notch of flaps I tighten them for landing. No problem stowing the flaps even with the harness tight. Hope to see your airplane when you get it here.

OK, so maybe "sort of" original paint? Just curious, what was the original '55 paint scheme? Any pictures, Ginbug92B? Thanks, Jim and Walt on the headset, strobe and shoulder harness input! I think I'll probably save some money on the harnesses and put it towards the strobes.

Not sure how to get a copy of or a way to see them, but the binder for the Convention Aircraft judges has pictures of all the "authentic" paint schemes and colors. After the close of our Michigan Convention I gave the folders to Duane Shockey for his judges at the San Diego Convention. There is a minimal "Non Authentic Paint Scheme" points. If your plane is otherwise really nice the "Authentic Finish" (which is natural polished with painted trim) will let it be judged higher than one with a total paint job.

The aircraft judging rules and guidelines are in the members only page but not sure whether the color schemes are there also.

Having muddled through all that - - - Congratulations and I hope you get that good looking bird home to her new nest and fly the heck out of her.

busav8or wrote:A couple of questions: this airplane has been stored for so long that it never has had a beacon or strobes installed. Thanks,Joe

I am fairly certain that your 170 had a rotating beacon in the belly skin that looks like it has been replaced. I have seen ones with the later red/white strobe in that location but the Grimes all red rotating beacon was standard and not an option. If i remember right they were wired in to come on when the master switch was switched on. Years ago, unknown to me, mine got a small amount of water standing in the bottom of the lens. Freezing cold Missouri morning really hard freeze, I went to the airport and pulled Delta out of the hangar for a morning flight. Looking closely at the beacon wasn't on my preflight check that morning . Finished with the rest of the stuff - climbed in and flipped the master switch on - - heard a little groan from the beacon but it soon went away.. found out later the little mirror and bulb socket were held fast by the frozen water and had just twisted right off!

I agree with the wing and tail strobes. IMHO the others are ugly. I replaced my old Grimes wing strobes a few years ago, and didn't think, in the total scheme of things, they were that expensive. Got mine from Aircraft Spruce. Not hard to install - took a short afternoon.

Joe,

Nice find! That airplane is a real beauty. Congratulations. I'm only extremely jealous.

I have Zulus and love them. They're very light are far quieter than any other headsets I've tried. Yes, they're painfully expensive, but not as bad as Bose, if that's any consolation. I justified spending the money thusly: 1. My and my kids' hearing is worth a lot, 2. They make my marginal radios work better, and 3. They improve my quality of life on every flight. Can't say that about many airplane upgrades.

My airplane came with non-inertia reel harnesses. They work fine, so I won't replace them, but I'd sure prefer the BAS. But ouch, they cost.

I see the airplane has a 6000 fpm VSI. Must need it because it's RED. Right, George?


Dave

Congrats on the purchase Joe.

I have two Lightspeed Zulus and I like them. Lightweight and good sound. I also tried the Bose but I prefer the Zulu.

When I bought my plane I had the single, across the chest, shoulder harnesses. If I had it adjusted tight enough for take off and landing, I couldn't reach the flap lever. So I would fly with it too loose to save my noggin in a crash. Then one day my 5 year old grandson was with me and his harness was too tight. I was unable to reach over and loosen it in flight. The webbing was hung in the buckle and would not "slip" as it should to loosen. The thought of an accident and him being trapped in the plane pushed me over the edge. I had Del Lehman (Mountain Airframe, Mena, AR) install the BAS inertia reel harnesses and I could not be happier with them. For me, the cost was worth it.

Speaking of Mena, AR.... that might make a good stop for you on the flight home. Stop in and meet Del and the boys. You'll not only find a wealth of 170 knowledge but some good friends.

FWIW, my buddy who spends his winters in Henryetta, OK says they have cheap fuel there.

Happy Flying.
Keith

busav8or wrote:OK, so maybe "sort of" original paint? Just curious, what was the original '55 paint scheme? Any pictures, Ginbug92B? Thanks, Jim and Walt on the headset, strobe and shoulder harness input! I think I'll probably save some money on the harnesses and put it towards the strobes.

This one's a bit closer, though not exact. There should be a block letter "CESSNA 170" on the door just behind the narrow stripe, and a script "One Seventy" forward of the narrow stripe down the aft fuselage. Also, the aft end of the dark area under the cowl should be more rounded at the corners. There were several better examples at the convention; maybe someone can post a picture of one.

Thanks, everybody, for your responses so far! Another quick question. Does anyone know where I might get a replacement fairing for where the vertical and horizontal stabs come together? It's Cessna p/n 0530009-1. I've tried all the salvage yards I could find and so far, no luck. It looks like a pretty simple part to fabricate, if that's kosher, but I would love to replace it with an original. Also, is there any kind of a seal where the strut fairings meet the wing and fuselage? I don't see one in the IPC, but just wanted to make sure. It seems like there is a small gap between the joints, but I can't remember for sure.

Thanks again,
Joe

I didn't "blow up" the pics, and I know FlyGuy ain't got x-ray vision (he ain't a superman like he thinks, according to Deana) so I don't see where he gets the belly beacon... but in any case it was NOT standard equipment on aircraft of this vintage. It was an option. (Check your equipt. list)

I strongly recommend the Whelan wingtip strobes. The tail strobe is nice...but not req'd as the wingtip strobes cover all points of the compass, should you be looking to save money. The fixed harnesses work good for me. Slightly loose lets me work the flaps just fine while still keeping my dentist from making another Mercedes-payment on me should I nose-over. (In a real serious crash neither system is likely to save you any more than the other, IMO.)

The dorsal is available... contact me privately.

The strut upper/lower did not have "fairings"... but did have weather-stripping type of end-seals. (U-Channel available from Spruce.) PN 05-02200