Recently someone requested that I add the Aeronca 15AC Sedan to the List of Aircraft in the Knowledge Base, which I gladly did. These 4-place Aeroncas seem rare compared to 7AC Champs, though I'm not sure their exactly remaining numbers. They were originally equipped with a Continental C-145 and all the seam-splitting performance associated with that.

In Googling though, I came across this choice specimen:




Everything looks better with bushwheels. Does this belong to anyone here?

A little more Googling turned this up:

Zzz wrote:Recently someone requested that I add the Aeronca 15AC Sedan to the List of Aircraft in the Knowledge Base, which I gladly did. These 4-place Aeroncas seem rare compared to 7AC Champs, though I'm not sure their exactly remaining numbers. They were originally equipped with a Continental C-145 and all the seam-splitting performance associated with that.

In Googling though, I came across this choice specimen:



Everything looks better with bushwheels. Does this belong to anyone here?

I see where my Scout evolved from. Classic. Nice photograph.

I love family pictures.

When I was shopping I saw several of these in AK with 180 Lycs. But with no flaps I thought they would land a little hot for what I was wanting to do. Several on floats. But still a good p/ane and a lot for the money.

... and it's the plane that Don Sheldon did the famous canyon rescue in (four times), by floating backwards through a canyon for about a mile in rapids, to save four guys who's boat broke up in those rapids. He got them out one at a time.

Neat classy aircraft.

Burl's Aircraft provides a lot of support and STCs, including 180 hp conversions.

--Bill

Used to be one on Nimpo lake on floats, kind of half hangared on the east shoreline. Gone from there now, hopefully somebody put it back in the air.

The Aeronca Sedan is one of the best small seaplanes around, flaps or no. With a 180 conversion, they are simply fire breathers.

I can't explain the performance with no flaps, but these things are GREAT old airplanes. I did two float ratings in two of these, one with the 180, the other stock. While the stock airplane wasn't a real great performer on floats, it would easily beat any stock engine 170 on floats,and I've done a fair amount of time in those.

Many years ago, I chatted with a fish spotter in Kodiak, at Lilly Lake, which is about 2200 feet, bank to bank. He filled the tanks and two adult men and two teenage boys saddled up. I mentioned to him the length of Lilly Lake, to which he smiled and said "Just watch". I did, and that airplane blasted off with lake to spare......it was a 180 Lyc powered Sedan.

The big problem with these USED to be the relative lack of parts support, but Burl Rogers bought the Type Certificate a while back and will now support any parts needed. And, while these are airplane parts, his prices aren't inordinately ugly. Burl owns a beautiful Sedan, by the way.

Great airplane, and scarce enough to be pretty unique....you won't see a bunch of these at an airport unless it's a Sedan fly in.

MTV

Yes, fun aircraft. The Canadian aircraft registry show 38 of them up here.

Cessnas, Pipers, and Beach products (at the lower sizes) do get to feeling pretty "Plane Vanilla" after a few decades of flying them, and something like this is a bit of a taste treat....

Never seen one but, picture looks sturdy. With light wing loading, flaps (opinion) may not be needed with certain skilled pilots.

Back when I was flying my Champ (I racked up more hours in that Champ than all other airplanes I've flown combined, yeah, it was slow) the 15AC was my dream airplane. They are big and roomy and comfortable and fly like a Champ! I think there are more Sedans in AK than anywhere else. Thanks for adding it!

.......and fly like a Champ

That speaks very highly-if all of them flew as good as the Champ I owned!

patrol guy wrote:... and it's the plane that Don Sheldon did the famous canyon rescue in (four times), by floating backwards through a canyon for about a mile in rapids, to save four guys who's boat broke up in those rapids. He got them out one at a time.

Probably the greatest bush flying story on record!

http://gotbush.org/forums/index.php?topic=4513.0

an old wolf hunter friend of mine said the Sedan had his favorite wing to fly. "It will always get you home." We have a local guy here, Chet Nelson, who restores Sedans. I believe he is on his 5th one now.

A fella that I know has one that I think has an 0-470 cont, in it. He seems to like it quite well and it is a real performer.

And it just flat out cuts a pretty silhouette.

Years back I had chance to buy one ( that I had annualed) for 10 k. Had a newly overhauled c145 ,which was marginalal at best. This patcilar sedan had been metalized , per Marco STC - one of 1/2 dozen done. Burls aircraft in Alaska has the type certificate now with lots of mods.

Toothpick Mcaulley prop really wakes the 145 up on a stock Sedan. Gets as much out of it as you can expect. So if you don't have the 180 conversion, this is the route I'd go.

Those Pictures of the 15AC look like they were taken at airport in Healy Alaska. I saw the plane there in 2010 & talked to the owner. Nice looking plane and the owner loved it . I only rode in one once, you would think it was a 182 the way we had it loaded. The owner and his dad were up front and each of them were well over 250#s ,the dad was most likely over 300 # ! A friend and I were in the rear set and we were each about 150#. I have no idea how much fuel we had. I was very surprised by the take off! It had the 145 and did not do all that bad on the climb out either . I would love to ride in one with the 180 !
Doug

Have had the pleasure of flying in this Sedan many times and yes, it lives in Healy, AK. Coming back from a trip to BC a border guard asked if we were carrying the kitchen sink! Hauls enough to make for very comfortable camping and is still able to get into and out of some great spots. This one is well cared for and gets hangered for the winter to save it from harsh interior AK weather.