No pic's yet, but I've asked for some.

Today at our local airport, a fellow walked in and told the manager that he had an airplane to sell. His dad had passed away last summer and left our visitor his pride and joy.

Turns out the fellow didn't know the tail number or serial number, but understood from his late father that it was a "1946 Commonwealth Sky Ranger". And that his dad had rebuilt it in 79-81 down in Tampa. A couple of years later, the father decided to move back home to TN, custom built a trailer, disassembled the aircraft, and hauled it home.

All good.

The not so good:
Once Dad got back to the farm in TN, he parked it, still on the trailer, in "the old tobacco barn". Has not been touched since the mid 80's. If you have not seen an "old tobacco barn"; think rough lumber, open design, leaking corrugated tin roofs, and collapsing interior structure support. (I have a couple myself).

A couple of us went out and looked at it. This once proud little bird is certainly beyond any rational return to service. However, there may be parts worth salvaging for someone who has a flying version. For instance, the windshield and side glass are unique and look to be in very good shape. The wheels (not tires) and brakes look new.

There may or may not be logbooks inside the airframe.

I am not a party to this at all. Just happened to be at the airport.
But I offered to put out on BT that we know where a Commonwealth Sky Ranger "project" can be found in case there is someone out there who has an interest in the type.

Yes..pics as soon as I can. But they'll break your heart.

Tom,

A fellow who used to work for me (Richard) told me a few years ago before he died that he had an airplane in his garage. So I went to see it. It turned out to be a Commonwealth Sky Ranger of the same vintage as yours wings off and covered by a tarp. The plane had belonged to Richard's best friend who had been a long time pilot. Richard told me a lot of stories about flying in the plane with his buddy which were a bit hard to imagine for me as I couldn't see how they both got into that cockpit (his friend was quite large). I guess the friend had lived at the Salinas, CA airport for a number of years before moving back here. The plane was one of the things he brought with him.

With Richard's friend deceased he was interested in what the plane was worth, what it would cost to restore and whether I'd like to have it. After doing a little research I determined that it would be a neat little plane to fly once restored but that it was a crazy financial proposition. I love to look at restored planes and admire those of you who actually take it on.

I can't wait to see your find.

My dad bought a Commonwealth Sky Ranger when he was in high school as a kid in rural Minnesota. It's the plane he learned to fly in. He later sold it and moved on to others, he now has a P35. Fast forward around 40 years into the future. When he learned about the landings website (remember that one), when I was in high school, he looked up his old plane. It was in Helena Montana, just a few hours away from where he was lives in Billings. He went to see it, it was in pretty rough shape.

This is part of the magic of BeechTalk.

None of us at Maury Regional had ever heard of either the manufacturer, Commonwealth, or a Sky Ranger before. But ask on BT, and there are going to be guys who have.


I'll run back out and get a couple of shots with my iPad this afternoon. In in the meantime here is a link about the Sky Ranger. You might note that it agrees with Tony's observation about the cabin; comparing exiting the aircraft to a breech delivery.


http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepSkyranger.html



Here is Wikipedia's image of a Sky Ranger....NOT the poor old girl in TN:

I have a 1946 Skyranger and it is a fun little airplane. Side by side stick and rudder. Very roomy for two adults. Needs a pair of mags so haven't flown it in awhile.

David,

There is a series of articles over the last few months in the Vintage Aviation Association magazine where Budd Davisson has been flying the older trainer type airplanes and writing comparison reports. It's been pretty interesting. Could you give us a pirep? While these planes aren't common they seem to be pretty inexpensive when for sale - sub $25 AMU's.