Backcountry Pilot

[Taildown offline]

A buddy (not a computer guy) has a nice, original 53' 170. It is time to do some significant maintenance, and while it is down he is interested in installing cabin skylights. He heard that someone makes a kit, possibly STC'd, for skylight installation on the 170's. He asked if I could ask around some of the aviation sites to see if anyone knows about installing skylights on a 170. I figured if such a kit exists someone here would know.

Anyone out there familiar with such a kit?

Thanks,

Mark

[58Skylane offline]

Have you browsed through FAA web site? If not, the following link may have some information. I started to browse through, but there's alot of info to look at.

Zane might know of an STC of the top of his head.

Good luck!

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSTC.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet

I just checked the link. Doesn't go to the list of STC holders I was looking at. I'll try to fix it.

Type in "skylights" in the search box and 39 results should come up.

[hotrod180 offline]

Never seen skylights on a 170, but I have seen them on a 172 taildragger, and I've seen quite a few Skywagons with a skylight mod, so I have to believe there's some sort of kit available- probably STC'd.
Don't know who has it- maybe you should peruse the skywagons.org site?

~Eric

[Zzz]

Hotrod150 is close. I think we discussed this a while back. There are a few STC's available for Skywagons. A quick googling pulled up a thread from the Skywagon site when I learned that a company called BLR used to hold the STC for the 5 window skylight mod, but now Jim Richmond at Cub Crafters owns it. Your mileage may vary. A phone call to Jim might get you all the info you need.

Also noteworthy was a comment along the lines of: Skylights can be installed with a logbook entry if they were an option from the factory. You might want to dig further into that too. I've never seen a 170 with skylights, so I assume that wasn't a factory option. Odd, since I've seen 140's with them.

Seems like it would be a good safety modification.

[Taildown offline]

Thanks for the quick replies. I searched through the STCs and didn't find anything for a 170. As suggested, there is one for the 206, as well as for a Beaver, some Pipers etc.

I'll keep looking to see if I can find a reference for a factory option skylight and try that route.

A call to Cub Crafters is also in order, thanks for the suggestion.

I think he'd like to avoid going the field approval route, but that may be the only option.

Thanks again.

Mark

[mtv offline]

Go with a field approval. I don't believe this was a factory option on the 170.

There's going to be a good bit of work there, by the way, in both the windows themselves, and in modifying a headliner to fit as well. It certainly can be done.

Frankly, I don't think it's worth the cost and effort, but I just never liked those small Cessna skylights anyway. I've flown 185's with them, and you didn't even notice them, cause they were so small.

But, if it winds your watch, there shouldn't be a huge problem getting them field approved, depending on your FSDO. The structures of all those Cessnas is so similar it SHOULD be a no brainer.

MTV

[cabinflyer offline]

There was an A&P from Alaska who installed one in his C170 and posted lots of pictures. If my memory serves me I think his name was Timbre Houlton from Fairbanks. (FYI... it's the memory of a 51 yr old ) There was some talk of doing this on the International 170 assoc.

[mtv offline]

Timbre has done a few things to his 170. I don't recall the skylights, but he may have done that after I left FAI.

I'm sure he'd share field approvals if anyone is interested, and he's probably in the phone book, either Fairbanks or North Pole. Last I heard he was still flying 135 there.

MTV

[Taildown offline]

Well, Jim at Cub Crafters does not have a skylight STC for the 170's, and has not heard of one. I cannot find any reference to a factory option for skylights in any 170 either. Looks like the best option would be a field approval

I found a phone number for Timbre Houlton in Fairbanks and will try calling him this evening.

Vic has had his 170 for a long time and plans on keeping it even longer. He had heard that there was an STC and an installation kit available for the 170s, but that does not seem to be the case. It looks to me like skylights would be a lot of work and expense for the return.

I told him I would look into the idea, and I appreciate the responses. If I get in touch with Timbre and he has a field approval to share I'll post a reply. If Vic decides to do his own field approval from scratch (doubtful) I'm sure he would share it, and I'll post a reply as well.

Again, thanks

Mark

[Zzz]

Mark, please do report back if you get more info on the field approval. I'd like to add it to the Cessna 170 Guide.

[gbflyer offline]

I agree with Mike, but to each their own. We had them in a 180, put in a headliner and didn't feel like taking the time to make it fit around them so we covered them up. Didn't really miss them.

I don't see where anyone mentioned it, but you might also try Harry (559) 784-9440 at Del-Air in California. If there has ever been something done to a 170, he knows about it. Just make sure you've got plenty of time when you call him. He's a good guy and loves to talk about 170's.

gb

[hotrod180 offline]

I did my PP training in a C-152 which had those dual factory skylights. Couldn't ever see anything (like traffic) through them, but I did get plenty of cricks in my neck trying- one time I damn near threw out my back. Plus the airplane did a bunch of unusal attitude stuff while I was trying to see throiugh them also. Unless the skylights are big'uns, such as the skylight mod for Pacers, IMHO they're kind of a waste of time & money.
A better mod if you fly alone would be a RH patrol door. I'd like to have one of those on my 150, maybe someday I'll find one for sale or modify what I've got. I saw a Maule a while back that had nice factory patrol doors, but they were upholstered over inside.I thought that was a waste of a good mod. But at least the upholstery that showed through the plex was color-coordinated with the exterior of the airplane.

Eric

[Guy offline]

I have them in my 180 and I use them a lot. In traffic patterns looking overhead for those reporting airplanes that you cant find and find out that they are right above you. Turning base to final being able to keep an eye on the runway through the skylight is nice too. Installing a headliner around them does take about 4 hours longer but looks nice when you are done.

Guy

[hotrod180 offline]

.......Turning base to final being able to keep an eye on the runway through the skylight is nice too. .........

It seems like you'd have to be well over 30 degrees of bank to be able to do that, but since I don't have skylights I'll have to take your word for it.

Eric

[Guy offline]

Standard rate turns are no fun!

[hotrod180 offline]

Standard rate turns are no fun!

I have to agree with that one!

[jon s blocker offline]

I had them in my C140. Did absolutely nothing for me, except it was brighter during the day, (what a bonus) . They did make it hotter inside in the summer as well as warmer in the winter, but down here in Texas we don't need that. The headliner wasn't a problem in the 140, but I would have to look again at the 170. When I did the 170 I had to make all new headliner hangers, as there were none when I got the plane, but those are easy to make and shape. I just honestly don't see a real purpose for the sky-lights. Just my thoughts. Jon

[ruplanecrazy offline]

Hello, This is Timbre Houlton. My wife was playing around on the computer and found my name here.

If you are still wondering about skylights in the 170 I have installed them in 3 different 170's over the years. I installed them in my 170B back in 1987 and really like them,

I used all 180 parts, made a new top cabin skin, Would not need to do this if you want to mess with filling rivet holes. You have to move the two original roof stiffeners out board and install a third. They only difference is the fact that the 170 fuel vent is in the way of the center stiffener so I modified the center stiffener. I have had all three of them field approved.

I have not installed headliners in the planes so can't say how much time it would require. but I had less than 30 hours into the sheetmetal including pulling the wings and reinstalling them. you don't need to pull them but it makes the skin work much easier. drill old roof skin off, use as a pattern, transfer all holes except for the old stringer holes.

If you are still interested would be glad to help with info.

I posted a few pictures of mine when I installed them.

[Zzz]

Timbre, welcome. A few of us have been looking for that website you used to have, seems like you had a lot of good stuff on there.

Thanks for the skylight info.

[Roger S offline]

My wife was playing around on the computer and found my name here.

Timbre, you have a wife that goes to airplane web sites.....on her own will? Where the hell did I go wrong?

Roger