Not Bad For A Navy Guy
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 12:55 am
Let me be the first to congratulate and welcome, Warren "Gizmo" Holland to the C-170 Owners and Pilot ranks. Gizmo recently purchased a beautiful 1955 "B" Model, Serial number 26836, N4492B. It has been a tough fall for Gizmo though because he purchased the plane back in the NE United States and wasn't qualified or able to schedule time to fly it home. To make matters worse, once the ferry pilot safely delivered his sweet airplane to him, the US Navy kept interfering with his free time for over a month before he could get checked out in his new airplane. It is a terrible day when you can't fly your C-170 because you have to go fly an F-18 with someone else buying the fuel.
Our first attempt to schedule the checkout was thwarted by typical fall Pacific Northwest weather of low ceilings and lots of moisture. Santa decided to deliver an early gift to the pilots in the local area and has recently provided us with over seven days of wonderful clear days and light winds. Saturday morning I arrived at the hangar at 7:00 to untuck my 1955 "B" Model, Serial number 26841, N4497B. With a nicely pre-heated engine I enjoyed a beautiful clear morning 20 minute flight up to Anacortes.
Once I arrived we had three beautiful C-170B's all at the same hangar. Gizmo's airplane is a great example of one of our classic airframes. A beauitful White/Blue paint scheme with wheelpants. The interior featured an excellent wool headliner and nicely upholstered original seats, the most comfortable and solid original model seats I have ever sat on, and excellent sidepanels and carpeting. The panel was in just as nice condition, with a modern attitude indicator being the only "modern update."
During the 2.4 hour flight I was amazed at how well the airplane flew and performed. The 1300 SMOH engine is as powerful and smooth as any I've flown behind. The airplane flies very straight with a nice "tightness" in the controls. Hands free flying and stalls, both benign and aggressive exhibited no surprises.
The most surprising aspect of the day’s flying was how well Gizmo flew. And as an USAF F-15C pilot, I don’t compliment Navy pilots very often, haha. Gizmo started the day with less than 5 hours of tailwheel time mostly in a ragwing C-170 and a tad of Champ time. Gizmo approached this flight with the same professionalism and discipline that he approaches combat naval aviation with. Throughout the day’s many many takeoffs and landings, my hands and feet were close to the controls, but I never had to touch them. Gizmo was well ahead of the airplane and exhibited a finesse on the controls that I have seen much more experienced tailwheel pilots not possess. The mistakes that Warren made were minor, but he took my instructional inputs with an open mind and immediately applied them. When his flying skills were combined with his situational awareness, it made for a truly enjoyable morning of helping a new owner learn the joy of flying his classic Businessliner. Warren is only the second tailwheel pilot I have flown with that I felt comfortable turning them loose at such a early stage. I look forward to meeting up with him and flying to some of my favorite destinations soon.
Welcome to your C-170 Gizmo!
PS. If you paid attention to our aircraft’s numbers, you realize they came down the assembly line five positions apart.
Jughead Counsell
Our first attempt to schedule the checkout was thwarted by typical fall Pacific Northwest weather of low ceilings and lots of moisture. Santa decided to deliver an early gift to the pilots in the local area and has recently provided us with over seven days of wonderful clear days and light winds. Saturday morning I arrived at the hangar at 7:00 to untuck my 1955 "B" Model, Serial number 26841, N4497B. With a nicely pre-heated engine I enjoyed a beautiful clear morning 20 minute flight up to Anacortes.
Once I arrived we had three beautiful C-170B's all at the same hangar. Gizmo's airplane is a great example of one of our classic airframes. A beauitful White/Blue paint scheme with wheelpants. The interior featured an excellent wool headliner and nicely upholstered original seats, the most comfortable and solid original model seats I have ever sat on, and excellent sidepanels and carpeting. The panel was in just as nice condition, with a modern attitude indicator being the only "modern update."
During the 2.4 hour flight I was amazed at how well the airplane flew and performed. The 1300 SMOH engine is as powerful and smooth as any I've flown behind. The airplane flies very straight with a nice "tightness" in the controls. Hands free flying and stalls, both benign and aggressive exhibited no surprises.
The most surprising aspect of the day’s flying was how well Gizmo flew. And as an USAF F-15C pilot, I don’t compliment Navy pilots very often, haha. Gizmo started the day with less than 5 hours of tailwheel time mostly in a ragwing C-170 and a tad of Champ time. Gizmo approached this flight with the same professionalism and discipline that he approaches combat naval aviation with. Throughout the day’s many many takeoffs and landings, my hands and feet were close to the controls, but I never had to touch them. Gizmo was well ahead of the airplane and exhibited a finesse on the controls that I have seen much more experienced tailwheel pilots not possess. The mistakes that Warren made were minor, but he took my instructional inputs with an open mind and immediately applied them. When his flying skills were combined with his situational awareness, it made for a truly enjoyable morning of helping a new owner learn the joy of flying his classic Businessliner. Warren is only the second tailwheel pilot I have flown with that I felt comfortable turning them loose at such a early stage. I look forward to meeting up with him and flying to some of my favorite destinations soon.
Welcome to your C-170 Gizmo!
PS. If you paid attention to our aircraft’s numbers, you realize they came down the assembly line five positions apart.
Jughead Counsell