Flying and motorcycling combined

[hilltop170]

The way it's loaded is to move the front seats fully forward, with the handlebars folded down, back the bike up to the pilot's door, lift the rear end up by the shocks leaving the front wheel on the ground, and set the rear tire just inside the door sill. The Trail 70 only weighs 145lb total so lifting the rear end is no problem. Then pick up the front of the bike by the forks and roll it into the plane and set the engine just inside the door sill, leaving the front wheel outside the door. Now, here is the hardest part. Climb into the plane and straddle the bike. Lift, rotate the bike, and move the rear wheel toward the baggage compartment as the front wheel is lifted into the plane. It sounds harder than it is and is a one-person job. Center it up and roll it back to the rear bulkhead.

To secure it, originally, I made small brackets that bolted to the existing rear seat anchors and were drilled to accept hooks for ratchet straps. One strap from each side rear seat attach point to the handlebar and one strap around the frame and engine to the center anchor. When ratcheted down snuggly the bike stands upright and will not move forward. Remember, the seat attach points are stressed for the seat weight plus two 170lb persons. The 145lb bike is less than half the design load.

Later, seat rails were installed to accept C-206 middle seats as rear C-170 seats per the Kenmore STC for C-180/185s. Kenmore gave permission to field approve their STC in the 170 since the fuselage is the same in that area. Additional pieces had to be installed under the floor since my 170 did not have a float kit but a 170 with a float kit already has the additional pieces. Now, I use seat rail tiedown anchors to secure the ratchet straps as mentioned before.

It takes about 5 minutes to load and unload the bike from the plane and I have not nicked-up the upholstery at all in the process.

[GAHorn]

In a conversation I had with our fellow-Member and forum participant Bryan Ward (cessnabryan at yahoo) about two months ago, I found he has two "minty" CT-70s for sale. I think one of them has the seat off for re-upholstery.

[Harold Holiman]

when we had our 170, I modified a mini-bike by cutting it in half and welding remounting flanges on it. We would remove and drain the fuel tank and place it in a sealed plastic bag for fume protection. I made a folding 1/4" plywood piece to protect the rear seat and the two mini-bike halves easily fit on it and were securred by the seat belts. When we arrived at the airport, we would reattach the two halves, attach the handlebars and fuel tank, fill it with avgas drained from the sumps, and it was ready to go. Not really street legal but we did ride it on public roads in rual areas and were never stopped. We both rode on that little mini-bike, but, we were both much smaller and lighter then. I still have the frame from the mini-bike, which I found several years ago, and at one time thought about rebuiding it.

[bagarre]

My wife and I use folding bicycles for ground transportation.
Lighter, simpler, less flammable and help keep my gross weight down

[KG]

In a conversation I had with our fellow-Member and forum participant Bryan Ward (cessnabryan at yahoo) about two months ago, I found he has two "minty" CT-70s for sale. I think one of them has the seat off for re-upholstery.

BryanWardCT70.JPG

BryanWardCT70needsseatcover.JPG

I'm petty sure I need one of those! Bryan, if you see this please get in touch with me. I sent an email to the above address but wanted to follow up here too.

Keith
kthgetz at g mail

[FredMa]

I'm beginning to see where this is heading. I think I see a cessna 170/ motorbike convention in the future.

[FredMa]

Aryana, look at the Kansas City craigslist under motorcycles. Is the 1971 honda trail 70 the color you are talking about?

[170C]

George, you will note that Bryan's blue bike was so much faster than the red one that it blew the seat cover off, resulting in it needing to be reupholstered Note how cool (and no doubt fast) Aryana's GREEN bike looked

[GAHorn]

Tell the truth Aryana,..... little brother rode it down a creek.....and water flowed up the tailpipe,
......and KILLED that poor little green thing.