Despite my penchant for originality when it comes to anything vintage (planes, motorcycles, cars, houses, etc.), I'm perfectly willing to accept the mods that most reasonable people make to these things over the years. But every once in a while you come across something that just ain't right... a clipped-wing, turbine C195???
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
As a former 195 owner I rather like it. After all it IS still a round engine right? There were several P&W 450hp conversions and one I know of had clipped wings. I guess it was very sensitive on landings.
Ugly-ing up a beeyootiful airplane is a criminal activity.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention. An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
I think it would be a blast to fly. And looks are in the eyes of the beholder. I wonder what the range is, cruise speed, and again I would never clip those beautiful wings.
In the NW there are a couple of turbine single otters. The look grows on you and the perforrmance is awesome.
If a person has the bucks to purchase something and change it to his/her personal configuration then its their business. However, like most of you, I personally don't like it and hate to see such a classic plane done this way. But look at all the clipped wing Cubs, etc., etc. Ther are even a whole bunch of C-170's that have been changed a bunch since they came off the production line. Even a few C-172's
I agree with what everybody has said, but look at those FLAPS! If Cessna had put those huge barn doors on the 195 they wouldn't have needed to build the 180/185 and the world would now be full of beautiful round tailed Businessliners.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
hilltop170 wrote:I agree with what everybody has said, but look at those FLAPS! If Cessna had put those huge barn doors on the 195 they wouldn't have needed to build the 180/185 and the world would now be full of beautiful round tailed Businessliners.
Yep, true except:
Cost of building that airframe, eliptical wing etc (last real airplane Cessna built)
Maintenance of the radial engine
Mine had the 330 Jake, a wonderful combination. The same performance as a 185 except takeoff and landings due to flaps. Darn, now you're getting me hot for one again
Dave- It's never too late to get another 195, there are still about 600 out there! I forgot the 190/195s were overpriced for the market. It's hard to believe Beech was building Bonanzas for thousands $ less than Cessna was building 195s. They are about 500lbs heavier empty than a 185, about 2200lbs vs. 1700lbs equipped the same. Way kooler though. I wouldn't want to own one but I would still like to test fly that turbine conversion, just to see what it will do.
Richard
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
Not too late but then there's the pulling the prop through before start and positioning it after shutdown, tough to push around without help, and the 20:1 ratio of maintenance to flying hours most of which are FWF. And that's if it's in good condition to begin with. It's a fond memory but... been there done that...