Airplanes R Us: Airplanes I Have Known (Certified, Legacy Lightplanes)

In the last month installment for this column, I scoured my logbooks for experiences with airplanes of the Experimental, E-AB category. For this month, I will again scour logbooks and jog my memory of certified factory-built ships which I flew, some of which were uncommon.

PIPER AIRPLANES: In Summer 1961, I soloed a PIPER CUB. This was the legacy J-3. From there, my log is fully decked-out with most all the Piper singles and twins of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. I occupied those various Piper pilot seats as student, instructor, and owner at various times.

CESSNA AIRPLANES: From 1963 when I became a Private Pilot, I began my exposure to Cessna singles. Eventually I flew or instructed (or rode in) all the models. Its funny that my only Cessna twin experience has been the Push-Pull 337. I never owned a Cessna until now, owing to the recent acquisition of a 1963 Cessna 150C with tailwheel conversion.

AERONCA CHAMP: These were common airplanes in my younger era. The model that I flew was an L-16, military surplus unit acquired by the Newark Ohio CAP Squadron to which I belonged. The L-16 had an 85 hp fuel injected engine, and lots of glass. The CUB also belonged to the CAP, so I could fly either for $5 bucks an hour, wet price.

CHAMPION AIRPLANES: In addition to the L-16, I seem to have sampled many Champ-variants. Later on I was part owner of a Decathlon whose manufacturer was calling itself BELLANCA-CHAMPION. TAYLORCRAFT: I especially remember flying T-Craft on floats. This was in 1968 when I got a seaplane rating with Kurtzer on Lake Union, Seattle. One of these ships in on display at PT Aero Museum. That says something about my age.

WARBIRDS: I can claim a bit of warbird experience with the BEECH T-34 and NORTH AMERICAN T-6 in 1972, ‘73. This exposure was mostly due to the airplane horse-trading skill of my friend Barry Halsted. MONOCOUPE 90A: I was owner of a 1940 ship in mid-1970’s. This one was converted from radial engine to a Lycoming 0-290 sometime around 1950. It was cute, fast, aerobatic, and antique. RYAN PT-22: I found one of these for rent at the old Bellevue airport east of Seattle in 1967. Flew it some but the engine blew on a flight with another renter.

ALON ERCOUPE: I was part owner in this one. It had full instrument panel, rudder pedals and C-90 for engine power. Unfortunately this was in Denver. The high density altitude degraded performance thus one had to be careful flying around the area, even over the prairie.

AIRPLANES I HAVE KNOWN (continued from previous page)

COMMONWEALTH SKYRANGER: The name sounds like a Canadian radio serial program. Plane was another partnership for me. This one had a C-85 engine. It was not very fast but seemed to have a wide-body cabin, seating two side-by-side with exceptional comfort.

COLONIAL SKIMMER: Another unique name… but this one was in the family tree of LAKE AMPHIBIAN. As I recall, it was a 2 or 3 seater with 0-320 engine. It had nasty water characteristics (porpoising) so I was content to ride with skilled friend and owner. I did fly it solo on a few occasions, off and onto dry land. There are likely a few more types that I have skipped over… but its time to wrap-up this little trip down logbook-memory-lane.

John Meyers