I believe it’s being repaired at the moment.

Sexy rounded tail, classic good looks. This was mine and I flew it ~500 hours (got my license in it):


I had the 180 HP CS prop conversion, Avcon I think. Makes the plane into a mini 180 in terms of performance, but still with miserly fuel. I could get about 125 knots from it.

The runway performance is incredible. Very short take offs with the power and CS prop, very short landings with 40 degree flaps.


As a taildragger, it has pretty docile handling and the view over the nose is incredible in the landing attitude. In the air, it is almost helicopter like with the engine cowling sloping down so much (freaks out pilots used to a more level nose, feels like you are diving into the ground).

It does remind you it is a tail dragger if you are sloppy, but it isn't trying to "get you" too much.

The landing gear is "boing-o-matic" being spring steel with no energy absorption. If you put it down with too much energy, it will go back into the air. So you need to manage that properly and know how to handle it.

I flew it in all sorts of crosswinds and didn't have much trouble.

There's no better training for a future multiengine pilot than flying a taildragger.

Mike C.

Tom,

A buddy in Ft Polk had a 170B with the Franklin 220 and those nice flaps.

He said it was the perfect plane for 2 and lots of baggage to go anywhere

Martin

Only thing better than 2 airplanes, 3 airplanes.

Tom
The 170 is a horrible photo ship, may I suggest the strutless 190?

I do love the looks of the 190/195. Never been in one, but just ooze class.

Here's a picture of our brand-new 170 B in 1954, taken by my dad, with two of his brothers.
I was just a kid, but that beautiful, magic airplane encroached the aviation needle deep into the pilot's vein.
The gun seen on uncle Louis' hip was part of the MEL for operating in a wild place.
Many other aircraft took the place of the 170, but few as sweet.

From back when I was just a kid.

A lot of people would be surprised what you can do with 170. Even with the original 145 hp engine.

Wonderful airplane.

The 190/195 is not a good choice if you want to see where you are going.

Mike C.

I read your Dad’s book. He kept that 170 quite busy. Do you still have it?

I read your Dad’s book. He kept that 170 quite busy. Do you still have it?

I do, it’s one of those things one never parts with.

My first 1,000 hrs was in that 170, learned a ton in that little plane. For example, flying a multi with an engine out is just like an external load; watch your speed and NEVER turn into your load. Who would have thought a C170 could teach you about flying a twin.

Jeff

When I went for my ME rating, it became immediately apparent that my time in a 170 was useful. The ME instructor marveled that he didn't need to teach me how to use a rudder, apparently a skill lacking in many nosedragger pilots.

I got my ME rating in 2 days, which included the checkride.

Mike C.

Just don’t put a GoPro on the wing......a violation of half the regs according to the ramp busy bodies.

There is a 172H in Trade-A-Plane for 45K with the tailwheel conversion, 180HP, and 180 landing gear, STOL kit, and big fuel. The bad part is that it still has that god-awful slant tail on it. If it were a relatively simple operation to put a straight tail on it, then it might make a pretty neat two place bush plane.