This thread could turn into one that costs me money!

Hi Nigel! I'm not sure what Johnny was hinting at when he looked at 81A, and commented about a 310B .

We did the first Annual on 81A in April, and only a few nitpick discrepancies. This aircraft has had a lot of money spent on it, and it has factory corrosion proofing throughout. Incredibly clean for a 60yo plane. Not perfect by any stretch, but we are very satisfied, and making improvements as we fly.

Tommy was"kool". Won a race at SNF with a 185 in excess of 200 mph. We were saddened to see him perish at Reno in a Questair Venture around 2002. Never knew him to be a PIA, at least not to me; I once gave him a tailwheel fork when his broke.
Back in the days of the Lajitas New Year's bash and air race, there was another cool dude, Nick Mardis. He had the most wild mods on his 180, and no one could touch him flat out.
Thinking about it, most Skywagon drivers I've met are cool.... Most 'em carry, but would rather not tell you all about it.

Good work, Really looks great and another neat airplane saved to continue flying.

JGG I've found your doppelganger.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/iwZdV52Kg38[/youtube]

John,

If you were a Southern Boy, you'd be called John T. so that's what I'm going to call you.

Thanks for the video. Exactly what I would do if I had to do it again, and I loved the song.

I did my four way speed check yesterday at 6.000'. 144 knots. that is about 7 or 8 better than before. At yesterday's temps, 6,000' was the altitude where full throttle and 2400 rpm's gave me 75%. That was just me and full fuel.

Jg

Pretty sure I flew 6LT in 1973 in Pendleton, Oregon, USFS. Sweet airplane then.

I was thinking the same thing......

Great thread
Thanks Tom, my first flight to Idaho was the Fluing B ranch, snowed in with Tommy. Great 180 club. None of them boys are left.
Happy 4th fellers

Psycho Billy just got a new pair of shoes. When I refurbished the airplane, it was to be my "retirement" airplane and my only real cross country mount so i went for speed. With the original wheels/tires, wheel pants, and clean up, she would give me 165 mph at 65% at altitude.

The Baron and first class airline tickets have put Psycho Billy to the sidelines for long cross country flying. The small tires had to be kept at high pressure to give the wheel pants adequate ground clearance. That made the airplane quite a challenge to land without skipping.

The 8:00 tires and lower air pressures have made a huge difference in ground handling and landing. I didn't know it could be so easy. It also slowed it down "a lot".

Jg

That's a Dam Fine Looking Aero plane John
Hope to get a Ride in it One Day

Slowed it down. Yep.

When I pulled the wheel pants and put on 8.50s (mains) on the 182 I lost 10-15 knots.

All airplanes, and decisions about airplanes, are compromises.

I put C-206 wheel pants over 800 tires on my 185 for that exact reason.