I'm going to fly an Aeronca Champ all over the country. Where should I go? Who wants to meet up?

Hey KKochan,, just saw this thread tonight. What a great plan.
Im in Napa, NORCal. So if you come back this way you are welcome to base it here for a few days.
KAPC. You would be welcome stay a day or so if you like.
 
stormchaser said:
Every page you write is me being one step closer to just buying a cheap airplane and throwin' caution to the wind...
Click to expand...

I would have loved to do it in a 140, and wanted to buy one, I guess I wasn't "established" enough nor had enough assets to qualify for a $18,000 A/C loan. Oh well!
 
TaxiBack said:
Hey KKochan,, just saw this thread tonight. What a great plan.
Im in Napa, NORCal. So if you come back this way you are welcome to base it here for a few days.
KAPC. You would be welcome stay a day or so if you like.
Click to expand...

I'll keep it in mind!

A couple new posts are up, I put a link in my signature. Let's just say the Champ and I had a little adventure today.. I'll try to get caught up!
 
Galaitoto said:
Dude, I am jealous. Good for you man. I have been following your blog, have fun and be safe.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Got another day up.

Currently in Kansas City, Missouri. There's a bunch of weather coming into the entire central/eastern US so I may be stuck here.. Signature at MKC has been very accomdating so far!
 
I believed your entire blog up to now...right until the point you said you had that thing at 10,500. I kid, I kid!

These are probably the best flying days you will get. Savor every one! And having flown a 172 all around the country, I know just what you mean about being blown off by some FBO's. I always loved the small "Mom and Pop" ones...where the love of aviation was still alive. It can be at the bigger ones, but I found it was often drowned out by the business of aviation.
 
stormchaser said:
Every page you write is me being one step closer to just buying a cheap airplane and throwin' caution to the wind...
Click to expand...

I'd argue you get to be more cautious with an older airplane.

Go buy a Champ to learn:
-Why cross wind inputs while taxiing are really important.
-How to safely hand-prop.
-Why actually having the fuselage aligned with the runway matters.
-Why you learned to forward slip


Do it!
 
I'm sitting at KCI (KMCI) waiting to hop onto a Q400 to Denver, and then back to CA. The airplane is still in Missouri and it will be the flight schools responsibility to get it back to CA. I hate to end my trip early, I'm disappointed, but the airplane is not safe to continue with.

I'll work on my blog, but the short story is, after being plagued with preventable maintenance issues the entire flight, I started to have engine problems. Took it in for MX and they found a huge red flag and many signs of poor maintenance. I made it this far, I'm safe and so is the aircraft, but I'm out. I'd like to thank the countless people who've helped me along the way, and wish I could have continued on to meet more.
 
KKochan said:
I'm sitting at KCI (KMCI) waiting to hop onto a Q400 to Denver, and then back to CA. The airplane is still in Missouri and it will be the flight schools responsibility to get it back to CA. I hate to end my trip early, I'm disappointed, but the airplane is not safe to continue with.

I'll work on my blog, but the short story is, after being plagued with preventable maintenance issues the entire flight, I started to have engine problems. Took it in for MX and they found a huge red flag and many signs of poor maintenance. I made it this far, I'm safe and so is the aircraft, but I'm out. I'd like to thank the countless people who've helped me along the way, and wish I could have continued on to meet more.
Click to expand...
metal in the filter?
 
I had one oil change during the trip and there was no metal in the screen, it doesn't have a filter.

Without going into tons of detail now, the flight school is the operator/mechanic. The mechanics in Missouri tore into it to check a loose spark plug insert. I also had them check the spark plugs because it had been stumbling during power application on takeoff. 5 of 8 were worn WELL beyond limits. The kicker? There is no data plate on the engine. The shop wouldn't continue repairs due to risk on their part, which I agreed with.

The airplane was NOT being maintained to standards, and possibly not legally. The owner claims the data plate "fell off". I don't buy that. No one should have been flying it in the condition it was in, let alone sending someone out on a cross country trip with it. I didn't feel comfortable continuing the flight.
 
KKochan said:
I had one oil change during the trip and there was no metal in the screen, it doesn't have a filter.

Without going into tons of detail now, the flight school is the operator/mechanic. The mechanics in Missouri tore into it to check a loose spark plug insert. I also had them check the spark plugs because it had been stumbling during power application on takeoff. 5 of 8 were worn WELL beyond limits. The kicker? There is no data plate on the engine. The shop wouldn't continue repairs due to risk on their part, which I agreed with.

The airplane was NOT being maintained to standards, and possibly not legally. The owner claims the data plate "fell off". I don't buy that. No one should have been flying it in the condition it was in, let alone sending someone out on a cross country trip with it. I didn't feel comfortable continuing the flight.
Click to expand...
Good on you for taking the safe way out.

Sorry the trip got ruined, but glad you're going home with just a story of poor maintenance practice!
 
KKochan said:
I had one oil change during the trip and there was no metal in the screen, it doesn't have a filter.

Without going into tons of detail now, the flight school is the operator/mechanic. The mechanics in Missouri tore into it to check a loose spark plug insert. I also had them check the spark plugs because it had been stumbling during power application on takeoff. 5 of 8 were worn WELL beyond limits. The kicker? There is no data plate on the engine. The shop wouldn't continue repairs due to risk on their part, which I agreed with.

The airplane was NOT being maintained to standards, and possibly not legally. The owner claims the data plate "fell off". I don't buy that. No one should have been flying it in the condition it was in, let alone sending someone out on a cross country trip with it. I didn't feel comfortable continuing the flight.
Click to expand...

Sparks plugs can be a pain, I have seen some wear out of limits between 100 hour inspections. Stumbling during power application is probably as simple as getting too much or little fuel to cylinders for one reason or another. Even though the plane isn't airworthy now, it might not be too far from decent shape.
 
slough said:
Sparks plugs can be a pain, I have seen some wear out of limits between 100 hour inspections. Stumbling during power application is probably as simple as getting too much or little fuel to cylinders for one reason or another. Even though the plane isn't airworthy now, it might not be too far from decent shape.
Click to expand...

It's tough to tell. I have quite a bit of mechanical knowledge, but I am not an A&P. From what I was told by the A&Ps who did look at it, it was not in good condition. There were other things that lead me to believe that it had been maintained to "keep it in the air as cheaply as possible" standards, not proper standards. With the knowledge I had, and the experiences I had flying the airplane, I think I made the right choice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top