I did the conversion on mine and when I called david lowe he stated he wasn't doing them anymore but the STC is $500 and parts will be around #3k it took my mechanic well over 100 hours to do the conversion. Price aside I love that it sits in the right position now. If you want to keep yours dragging on its nose I think I have my gearbox sitting in my garage. PM me if you'd like me to dig it out.

Sent you a PM about the gear boxes. Looks like we are gonna go ahead and fix it. Would love to find a set of good, affordable used boxes if at all possible. Any recommendations for a source?

You'd have the BCP progress thread of the year if you did the conversion!

Newbizor wrote:You'd have the BCP progress thread of the year if you did the conversion!

Sweet! Too bad it will still be a gutless 60 year old trainer flying around the middle of the rockies!

Crenshaw wrote:

Newbizor wrote:You'd have the BCP progress thread of the year if you did the conversion!

Sweet! Too bad it will still be a gutless 60 year old trainer flying around the middle of the rockies!

I remember a time or 2 when all the big horse, big tire planes were sitting around thumbs in the pockets, feeling good about where they were and some dam kid about 17 comes in and lands with his straight tail stock 150 says how are you doing , drools all over the big tires and big planes, then flies out with everyone shaking there heads going CHIIIIIT!

Don't fret that it's an old tricycle trainer.

I find myself asking: What is all this for? Two big bore Continentals in the hanger and lusting for upgrades. I'd really like to get my hands on a no electrics rag wing taildragger for a month to just enjoy pure un distracted flight, and see if I can kick the big bore addiction.

In 2000 when I thought I was near to earning my license, I started looking for one that I could own. Anything airworthy and in my austere price range would have been fine. I never forget that. The best airplane there is is the one that's under your a$$ right now! I NEVER have a negative word to say about an airplane. I love them all. If you dream to fly, the vehicle is less important.

Repair that 150 any way you prefer, and I'll see you out there!

Pinecone wrote:Don't fret that it's an old tricycle trainer.

I find myself asking: What is all this for? Two big bore Continentals in the hanger and lusting for upgrades. I'd really like to get my hands on a no electrics rag wing taildragger for a month to just enjoy pure un distracted flight, and see if I can kick the big bore addiction.

In 2000 when I thought I was near to earning my license, I started looking for one that I could own. Anything airworthy and in my austere price range would have been fine. I never forget that. The best airplane there is is the one that's under your a$$ right now! I NEVER have a negative word to say about an airplane. I love them all. If you dream to fly, the vehicle is less important.

Repair that 150 any way you prefer, and I'll see you out there!

What he said!!

M6RV6 wrote:

Pinecone wrote:Don't fret that it's an old tricycle trainer.

I find myself asking: What is all this for? Two big bore Continentals in the hanger and lusting for upgrades. I'd really like to get my hands on a no electrics rag wing taildragger for a month to just enjoy pure un distracted flight, and see if I can kick the big bore addiction.

In 2000 when I thought I was near to earning my license, I started looking for one that I could own. Anything airworthy and in my austere price range would have been fine. I never forget that. The best airplane there is is the one that's under your a$$ right now! I NEVER have a negative word to say about an airplane. I love them all. If you dream to fly, the vehicle is less important.

Repair that 150 any way you prefer, and I'll see you out there!

What he said!!

Yes, hear hear! (Said by the guy in the no electrics rag wing taildragger dreaming of a 4-place upgrade )

Crenshaw wrote:Sent you a PM about the gear boxes. Looks like we are gonna go ahead and fix it. Would love to find a set of good, affordable used boxes if at all possible. Any recommendations for a source?

Have you found boxes yet? I have a 63 im going to do the Lowe conversion on here soon, so Ill have a set of ones that are in great shape.

M6RV6 wrote:I remember a time or 2 when all the big horse, big tire planes were sitting around thumbs in the pockets, feeling good about where they were and some dam kid about 17 comes in and lands with his straight tail stock 150 says how are you doing , drools all over the big tires and big planes, then flies out with everyone shaking there heads going CHIIIIIT!

I get that fairly often flying around here. Somewhere along the line everyone started thinking that flying in the mountains with a sub-200 horsepower spam can is a death wish. I swear it's not!

Thanks for the great replies about flying a little trainer! I love flying and it's rare that I want much more than what we've got. (it would be nice to be able to throw my black lab in the plane, not happening with the 150...but oh well) Also I fly on a pretty tight budget and 5 gal/hr helps a lot with that mission. If I could figure out how to transport Mogas a little more effectively that would be even better.

Bdiazair wrote:Have you found boxes yet? I have a 63 im going to do the Lowe conversion on here soon, so Ill have a set of ones that are in great shape.

I'm waiting for a PM from another member here about a set of boxes but no word yet. When are you starting the conversion on yours? It would be really sweet, but not crucial to have this thing flying by April or so.

Crenshaw wrote: Somewhere along the line everyone started thinking that flying in the mountains with a sub-200 horsepower spam can is a death wish. I swear it's not!

Boy, isn't THAT the truth!!!
John

Hate to tell you but I just sold a 150G fuselage for $200. Not sure if that would work for you but the guy who bought it wanted it for the firewall. I could see if he wants to sell the rest or give you his number. I might have another option for you too. I have an experimental C150E. I would consider selling the Fuselage but you would need to deal with the FAA to get it back in the air. The plane was listed as experimental at one time but now there is no record of it on the FAA website now. I do have paperwork showing it was an experimental plane. It has 6 skylights and completely different landing gear. I think I have two complete tails as well. One is a stock one and one is larger as the plane was Acrobatic and had an O-360. PM me if you are interested.

Jaerl wrote:...I have an experimental C150E. I would consider selling the Fuselage but you would need to deal with the FAA to get it back in the air. The plane was listed as experimental at one time but now there is no record of it on the FAA website now. I do have paperwork showing it was an experimental plane. It has 6 skylights and completely different landing gear. I think I have two complete tails as well. One is a stock one and one is larger as the plane was Acrobatic and had an O-360. PM me if you are interested.

Sounds like the old C150 "Mighty Mouse" of Issaquah glider-tug fame.

Felix wrote:

M6RV6 wrote:

Pinecone wrote:Don't fret that it's an old tricycle trainer.

I find myself asking: What is all this for? Two big bore Continentals in the hanger and lusting for upgrades. I'd really like to get my hands on a no electrics rag wing taildragger for a month to just enjoy pure un distracted flight, and see if I can kick the big bore addiction.

In 2000 when I thought I was near to earning my license, I started looking for one that I could own. Anything airworthy and in my austere price range would have been fine. I never forget that. The best airplane there is is the one that's under your a$$ right now! I NEVER have a negative word to say about an airplane. I love them all. If you dream to fly, the vehicle is less important.

Repair that 150 any way you prefer, and I'll see you out there!

What he said!!

Yes, hear hear! (Said by the guy in the no electrics rag wing taildragger dreaming of a 4-place upgrade )

Well said Pinecone.

There's enough guys with big bore engines and big tires pounding their chests while they buzz around at sea level. I'd say that flying a 60 year old trainer around in the big mountains takes a bit more doing.

I'm going to be heading out your way this summer in a 60 year old 0-300 spam can. I don't have much of an itinerary except head east until I'm over one ocean (close for me) and then head west until I'm over the other. It would be great to meet up with you when I get out your way.

It's great that its looking like you'll be able to fix your airplane.

Congratulations.

Frank

Let me know if you aren't able to locate the gear box parts from the other member. I'm sure we can figure something out if need be.

Hotrod, it is the "Mighty Mouse"

fshaw wrote:
Well said Pinecone. There's enough guys with big bore engines and big tires pounding their chests and buzzing around at sea level. I'd say that flying a 60 year old trainer around in the big mountains takes a bit more doing.

I'm going to be heading out your way this summer in a 60 year old 0-300 spam can. I don't have much of an itinerary except head east until I'm over one ocean (close for me) and then head west until I'm over the other. It would be great to meet up with you when I get out your way.

It's great that its looking like you'll be able to fix your airplane.

Congratulations.

Frank

Drop in to Salida KANK during your travels this summer! We have an awesome new airport manager who's really turned the place around and a great food truck that hangs out on the weekends. Not to mention the town is just awesome during summer months, it's like the beach. I have some good connections for inexpensive lodging also.

Bdiazair wrote:Let me know if you aren't able to locate the gear box parts from the other member. I'm sure we can figure something out if need be.

No word from him yet. I'll probably try to attack the work in mid March when we're on spring break (I work at the high school), so no great rush at the moment. What are those parts worth? I have no clue.

I want to know more about this Mighty Mouse airplane. Sounds fun! Why isn't it flying anymore?

I don't know everything about the history of Mighty Mouse, just what I've been told and there are some stories about it on the internet. I bought it as parts from a guy in Renton. Mighty Mouse is a 65 150E. It was built and used by Linn Emrich as a glider Tug out of Issaquah Airport on Camino Island. After he died, his son Thor got it.

I was told it had a O-360 in it and one comment I read on the internet said it had a 252hp turbocharged engine. I don't know if that's true because the same guy said it had Canards up front and a Bubble back Window. It's certainly possible it did have those but it doesn't have either of those on it now. If you Google "Cessna 150 Mighty Mouse" there are some stories about it and some photos.

I guess at one time it had L-19 BirdDog wings with 60 degree flaps. Linn drilled holes in the flaps and used them as dive brakes. I heard it was wrecked so a set of Sportsman Wings were put on. It used a motorcycle disc brake on the front and the mains didn't have any brakes. It has the heavy duty fork and a 6" front tire. I have no idea what kind of main gear is on it but the seats sit about chest high. The front gear is modified to sit higher and I was told it had an 80" prop. There are 6 skylights and he modified the tail and made it a lot bigger so it had more authority. The trim tab went all the way across the back and he had a lever by your left hand to control it for more elevator control. The firewall has been beefed up and the skin is doubled around the firewall.

It's an Acrobatic plane and the guy I got it from told me when he was a kid, he saw it do a loop right off the runway and land. It's in the Exhibition/Research class of experimentals. I bought it for parts because I wanted the wings. I have another certified 150E. The plane is disassembled and pretty stripped inside. I have almost all the parts and finally got an 0-320 I was planning to put in. I have been holding onto the idea of putting it back together someday but not sure if or when that will happen. Anyway, it's a cool piece of Aviation History that graces my backyard.


http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/244/244185.jpg

Wow, that thing is something else! That tail...

I imagine you hear this all the time, but you've got to put that back together.

I understand that Mighty Mouse was used as a glider tug at Issaquah Skyport, east of Seattle in the 80's. By the time I started flying, Issaquah had closed & MM was a ramp rat at Arlington. Later it was moved to Camano Island (home of Pponk) where it sat for a good long while. I heard that John Carson who owns SkySigns in he Seattle are bought it to restore, but it was just in too poor a shape. I do see a Mighty Mouse cartoon figure on Skysigns' website so maybe that's the real deal.



Here's a clip from another discussion on BCP about 5 years ago where MM was mentioned:

Stickman wrote:Had the nickname "mighty mouse" painted on it
Mighty Mouse belonged to Linn Emrich who owned the Issaquah glider center in the 1970's and early 80's. I towed gliders with it back then, it had a 180hp engine, no electrical system, extended rudder, articulated elevator, nosewheel brake (off of a motorcycle) extended flaps and home made knobby tires. No canard on it.
It would climb at 3000 fpm with no glider behind it. It had a very bright paint job, orange white and black, with pictures of mighty mouse on it.
Linn, who sadly passed away ten years ago, gave me my first flying job when I was seventeen. I remember him joking that if he could fit 230hp under the cowl he would be able to go straight up.
An impressive man and an impressive airplane.

Here's a pic of Mighty Mouse in all it's glory from about 10 years ago, on the grass at Camano Island.