The International Cessna 170 Association

Just curious.........are there any 170s still flying with the nose gear conversion? Many years ago, I used to fly a ragwing 170 with the conversion - flew okay, but sure was ugly (but it didn't cost me anything to fly)! When taxiing, it seemed like you could almost see the nosegear. If I remember, it was N2509V which still shows up on the registry. Also, had a cylinder fail around the flange at the case one night, but that's another story.

It would be a tragedy if it is still flying around with the nosegear, and some merciful individual hasn't converted it back to its original configuration.

Does anyone know how many of these were converted? Any pictures of one out there?

This isn't it.

In my mind, if there's an airplane that's uglier than a Tri-Pacer, it's a tricycle 170. I don't think any airplane more deserves the "milk stool" monicker. I just don't think those graceful round tails should stick up in the air like that... obscene!

There was a brown A-model on tricycle gear (from Ohio, I think) that used to show up semi-regularly at conventions. The owner took a lot of ribbing from us but was pretty good natured about it. As I remember, he received several industrial casters over the years just so he'd have some idea of what a tailwheel looks like.

If I happen to run across an old snap shot, I'll have it scanned and post it.

Miles

HERESY!
d

It has since been returned to proper form...
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0365082/M

When N4281V flew into the mountain in Nova Scotia it had the nosegear mod on it. They took 81V's wings and mounted them on repaired fuselage 47V - they even put the nose gear mod on that fuselage! Then it looks like someone groundlooped it and got the idea to put the third wheel back where it belongs.

Unfortunately my airplane is missing it's cabin entry steps and the spare gearboxes are in the way to re-install them. If I ever rip out a gearbox, I've got a spare pair just under the floorboards! However, they did leave the entry steps on the landing gear....I've gotten a couple of comments on those from people who'd like to install them on their 170. They sure are handy when checking the fuel.

Wish I had photos of it on the nosegear though.....

N4281V wrote:...
Unfortunately my airplane is missing it's cabin entry steps and the spare gearboxes are in the way to re-install them. If I ever rip out a gearbox, I've got a spare pair just under the floorboards! However, they did leave the entry steps on the landing gear....I've gotten a couple of comments on those from people who'd like to install them on their 170. They sure are handy when checking the fuel......

The steps on the landing gear legs are a corrosion problem which is likely a contributor to a serious problem. (see the associated http://cessna170.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4968 )

My 180 had been converted to tricycle in the late 50's, but thankfully someone converted it back to conventional in the 60's.

Harold

The tricycle gear was developed on N2540V. The experimental category is recorded in the logbooks.

N2540 is still in a lot of pieces right now and that darn nose gear is going to stay in the corner of the hanger. Someday, it will be mounted on the wall and never on an airplane again. The second gearbox weighed 30-35 lbs. I never had so much fun breaking rusty bolts before in my life and each skinned knuckle was worth it.

N2540V was written up a couple of years ago in the AOPA 50th anniversary addition for the C172.

N2540V wrote:The tricycle gear was developed on N2540V. The experimental category is recorded in the logbooks.

N2540 is still in a lot of pieces right now and that darn nose gear is going to stay in the corner of the hanger. Someday, it will be mounted on the wall and never on an airplane again. The second gearbox weighed 30-35 lbs. I never had so much fun breaking rusty bolts before in my life and each skinned knuckle was worth it.

N2540V was written up a couple of years ago in the AOPA 50th anniversary addition for the C172.

How is your progress? Did you ever get skins made?

Like Miles, I remember seeing one at one or two previous 170 conventions. The last one where I remember seeing it was at Lancaster, PA (I think ) As I remember it was painted flat black with some yellow or zinc chromate colors in some areas. Somewhere I too have a photo of it. I believe it was a Metco Conversion.

N5796C had a Met-C0-AIRE nose gear conversion back in 1956 (it's a 1950). The dorked up engine mount is still in place, as are the brake line fittings. In 1961 God smitted the nose wheel, a newly installed engine, the lower fuselage skin, and the Idolitor's wallet

In 1971 N5796C was returned to it's correct state.

Does anyone know if the Met-Co-Aire stc used the original 170 gear legs?