Flying the Navajo ?

Pépé le Pilot

Pépé le Pilot

Well-Known Member
I've been offered to fly a very nice Navajo by its owner. It has the Colemill conversion with upgraded engines, q-tips props. I'm getting a PIM and will get a good introduction by a friend who knows this airplane very well. Any tips you Navajo drivers like to share ?
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
I've been offered to fly a very nice Navajo by its owner. It has the Colemill conversion with upgraded engines, q-tips props. I'm getting a PIM and will get a good introduction by a friend who knows this airplane very well. Any tips you Navajo drivers like to share ?
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Navajo or Chieftan. I know some people call them one in the same but there are some differences. If it's a true Navajo, be careful when changing tanks.
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
It is a Navajo, I sat briefly in it. Can you elaborate about the fuel ?
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The knobs to change the tanks are located between the seats and behind you. You have to make sure that it is locked into position when you change tanks. It's been atleast three years since I've flown a navajo/chieftan. Be sure that they're in the proper position also. You want to make sure they're not in the off position. :)
 
It's a very easy to fly airplane. Trim is your friend though, as it is heavy on the controls, and can be hard to "un-stick" if you don't have it trimmed properly. Watch the CG. With two upfront, and full fuel, you will probably be out of CG. The systems are STONE simple. Where we run ours, 30"mp/2200 RPM will get you about 45gph and 16-170 true. 32"/2300RPM will get you about 48GPH and 180 true.

The only quirk I can think of handling wise is near the aft CG point in the -325CR I've flown, the thing can get pitch sensitve, and be hard to trim. Same with the -350, so I'd imagine the -310 is the same.
 
Wait until the CHT is 200* before adding anything more than "taxi" power. The Oil temp will come in to the green arc before that. It'll help the engine make TBO, or better.

Stage cooling, stage cooling, and stage cooling. I liked nothing more than 2" per 2 min, however you can do 2-3" per minute.
 
Thanks for the tips guys, keep 'em coming ! Most of our MEAs are at 15000ft or above, what's it's "favorite" altitude to cruise at ? It has the 350hp engines, I haven't been able to get hold of the POH yet, but I'm flying it with it's owner this week.
 
Ya the jo fuel selectors are lame. Ok flying airplane for the most part though. Trim indicators are like reading hieroglyphics...
 
If you get up much higher than 15,000' you'll have to lean the engines, otherwise you might choke them out.

HOWEVER, watch that you don't lean too much. Pull back about 2" of travel. The CHT's will heat up pretty fast if you lean too much.
 
Look here: http://forums.jetcareers.com/technical-talk/122795-piper-navajo-flying-tips.html

Lots of good tips there.

I just started flying the ho and the chieftain. Its a great airplane. I regularly take it all the way up to 21,000 feet and it does just fine there. There no need to run the airplane full rich all the time. I start leaning out at low altitude, you get much better fuel economy. About 1450 on the EGT makes the engines pretty happy. Your friend will give you a good intro then its just getting used to it. It's a pretty fun airplane. Enjoy it. The -325 is a great performer, better than the Chieftain.
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
Can't wait. I'll keep you guys posted. Our airport sits at 8300ft MSL, let's see how it'll take off !
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It will likely require leaning before you apply takeoff power. I've flown it into airports at elevation. I've had one quit a time or two while applying take off power at that elevation also. haha!
 
KLB said:
It will likely require leaning before you apply takeoff power. I've flown it into airports at elevation. I've had one quit a time or two while applying take off power at that elevation also. haha!
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*A little throttle*

*A little mixture*

*a little throttle*

*A little mixture*

*A little...too much throttle, more mixture....ok now a little throttle*

Jesus that thing was temperamental at high altitudes. I did a stall recovery with somebody who mashed the mixtures full forward right before trying to gun the engines (improperly, of course) and I about crapped myself when I swore I heard both engines crap the bed at once from being drowned in gas.
 
jtrain609 said:
*A little throttle*

*A little mixture*

*a little throttle*

*A little mixture*

*A little...too much throttle, more mixture....ok now a little throttle*

Jesus that thing was temperamental at high altitudes. I did a stall recovery with somebody who mashed the mixtures full forward right before trying to gun the engines (improperly, of course) and I about crapped myself when I swore I heard both engines crap the bed at once from being drowned in gas.
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Sissy.
 
Inverted said:
Ya the jo fuel selectors are lame. Ok flying airplane for the most part though. Trim indicators are like reading hieroglyphics...
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They're not that bad, but the crossfeed procedure still has me mystified. I hope I don't ask too much about that on the checkride. Agree with you on the trim indicators.

Overall, I've enjoyed flying it so far. Fairly straight-forward, honest airplane. Although I can't seem to get the nosewheel to gently fall to the runway on landing most of the time.
 
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