The International Cessna 170 Association

blueldr wrote:I fly from pavement all of the time so I've decided to equip my C-170B main gear with plastc tired skate wheels to reduce the in flight drag. Does anyone have a line on some very small brake rotors?

Forget the small brake rotors, take the brakes off altogether, then to save even more weight and drag, take off the tailwheel and bolt a wood skid to the spring, then you won't need brakes.

I'd be about willing to bet that those 31 inchers will eat at least 15 mph off of the normal cruising speed of a C-170. I can see their usefulness if they're really required, but I wouldn't want to be flying many long legs with them.

I haven't run the 29's on mine just the 26 and 31's, but I would think the only notice able difference would be the ground handling and feel at the same tire pressure. This as you mentioned is because the 26 and 29 have an extra ply and have a higher weight rating. A friend has 29's on his cub and they feel stiffer when you put your knee to them (the standard preflight check for the correct and equal pressure). Functionally I don't think there would be much difference between the 29 and 31. Main thing I noticed with the 31's is I don't touch the tail first as much when landing slow, and similarly on takeoff don't drag the tail when I rotate. You will love them if you do a lot of off airport stuff. Here's some pictures of the progression of my planes tires over the years. Is it all necessary? Probably not

Paul.

The "Tandem" landing gear (Whitaker type)

n2582d wrote:

23E9C891-4952-4580-AA7B-7048E27040FF.jpeg

When N146YS left the assembly line for El Salvador it had a camera kit/hole and an "agricultural kit". I do not know if they were utilized or not, but agriculural-purpose airplanes imported into El Salvador were taxed at a lower rate than others. Hmmmn...

gahorn wrote:

n2582d wrote:

23E9C891-4952-4580-AA7B-7048E27040FF.jpeg

When N146YS left the assembly line for El Salvador it had a camera kit/hole and an "agricultural kit". I do not know if they were utilized or not, but agriculural-purpose airplanes imported into El Salvador were taxed at a lower rate than others. Hmmmn...

The camera kit/hole is being used quite frequently....

Joe
4518C

The main difference I have seen between 29" and 31" Bushwheels is the 31" tend to "roll under" on steep beaches where the 29" tend to stay in shape better.

My nephew had 31" on his C-180 and when he stopped parallel to the beach at my cabin, the tires would deflect more than was comfortable but they never actually caused any problems.

A popular quip says heaven is where the lovers are Italian, hell is where the engineers are Italians. 164 lbs. but increase in speed of 2 mph.You Tube link

n2582d wrote:A popular quip says heaven is where the lovers are Italian, hell is where the engineers are Italians.

IMG_1860.jpeg

You Tube link

Bruce would want the cross-wind version….