That's the Cardinal. I'll have to show these pictures to Bill Dillbeck. He loved that airplane and put most of the ten thousand hours on it.

We looked at buying one back in the early 90's. I don't recall what year model it was, however we put in a call to Horton STOL about it. If I remember right, they told us their kit REALLY helped one version, but not so much the other. It would be worth a call to them if you get serious.

The one I flew was great. I wouldn't hesitate to use it off the pavement so long as tire size was adequate for the conditions and the load/DA was right.

You need to look closely at the carry-thru spar for corrosion. It is a huge casting and I had to replace one. The one that I did had a case of intergrannular corrosion. It was one of 4 Cardinals that I know of that have to have that done. Can't remember specific TT but it wasn't a lot.
Tough to access for a close look, but worth doing.

Also look at the gear leg attach area. A customer with a fixed gear 177 was always complaining about wheel shimmy with the mains. Jack the ship to get mains off the ground and see if there is any rotational play in the gear leg. The big wheel pants put quite a rotational load on that bolt. We found the bolt worn by the gear leg.

The shimmy dampner was also really particular for the correct CC of fluid. A little low and it doesn't work, too much and you blow the end dampner off.

The owners really loved their ships and they do have a following.
Good Luck,
Dave

N300RE,

The plane I flew most for Underwood was a N model yellow and white 172. It had about 30,000 hours at the turn of the century. Did you guys get that one as well?

Jim

contactflying wrote:N300RE,

The plane I flew most for Underwood was a N model yellow and white 172. It had about 30,000 hours at the turn of the century. Did you guys get that one as well?

Jim

Yep we call it lemon drop.. It's down in South Texas. I was chased by the DEA Citation in that plane over Kingsville. They don't like planes flying with broken transponders at low level haha.

Used to be that if you stayed low they didn't know. Those look down radars are a bear since 09-11. Where where you on 09-11? I got stuck in eastern Ohio until they let us IFR home. I was in the yellow airplane.

Hey Travis - You'll really like a Cardinal! They are very comfortable and roomy - You could fit all your camping gear and a couple of bikes and have room to spare (assuming you yank the back seats). The one I flew was an RG 1976 with a 200HP engine. I put about 30 hours on it back when I was doing my pilot training.

I would say the RG setup isn't a great back country platform - The gear and the wet wings will bite you...

I know of a FG 177 for sale in Ottumwa, IA that looks awful, but has been very well maintained... He's asking 30K (I thought about buying it and flipping it). If you want the info on it, I'll be back out there next week.

Jim

Went an looked at the local 177 today, I couldn't believe the amount to space in the interior; the back seat was huge. The owner was a really nice older guy that had obviously had some great memories in the plane and really didn't want to sell it. That was no problem because we weren't there to buy.

It still isn't quite what I want in an airplane but because it meets the majority of my mission so well I wouldn't turn down the right deal. My dad, whom I will be partners with on whatever we buy, wants a TW airplane. I can't blame him, whatever we buy will likely be the last plane he owns so he should get something that he wants. Also, is seems like the good 177s go for the same price as a crappy 180...I've always been a sucker for a project and probly always will be.

The huge doors, ample interior space, good cruise speed,1000# useful and 180hp makes it seem like a great option for someone that doesn't need great short field performance. I'm keeping my mind open to them and if the right deal comes along I might be interested.

I have a very close friend who owns a 177 RG. He is paralyzed from the waist down. I think it is incredible that he is able to fly because of the 177. It has huge doors (be careful in the wind) and a very low slung landing gear and lower overall profile than say a 182. Aside from that, i have flown with him quite a few times, and i think the performance honestly is lackluster. His particular plane gets really hot in the climbout phase of flight, and it only cruises at around 130kt. Im not really impressed with it, since it is retractable and looks super sleek. I think it flies ok, and has a ton of room in it, i dont find it all that much bigger than my 182, but it is indeed a bigger longer cabin. You sit right at the leading edge of the wing, as compared to sitting way behind it and lower in a 17xxx or 18xxx series airplane.

I think if Cessna had put a say IO470 with 260hp in the airplane, it really would have been bad ass, but really im not overly impressed with its performance. It lands much differently than a Cessna with strut braced wings, as well as a Cessna that doesnt have a stabilator.

My honest opinions of the plane. I think it is great that a man that is paralyzed can fly because he can get in and out of it, and handle it...but i would take a 182 over it any day!!

Mike

I have a very close friend who owns a 177 RG. He is paralyzed from the waist down. I think it is incredible that he is able to fly because of the 177. It has huge doors (be careful in the wind) and a very low slung landing gear and lower overall profile than say a 182. Aside from that, i have flown with him quite a few times, and i think the performance honestly is lackluster. His particular plane gets really hot in the climbout phase of flight, and it only cruises at around 130kt. Im not really impressed with it, since it is retractable and looks super sleek. I think it flies ok, and has a ton of room in it, i dont find it all that much bigger than my 182, but it is indeed a bigger longer cabin. You sit right at the leading edge of the wing, as compared to sitting way behind it and lower in a 17xxx or 18xxx series airplane.

I think if Cessna had put a say IO470 with 260hp in the airplane, it really would have been bad ass, but really im not overly impressed with its performance. It lands much differently than a Cessna with strut braced wings, as well as a Cessna that doesnt have a stabilator.

My honest opinions of the plane. I think it is great that a man that is paralyzed can fly because he can get in and out of it, and handle it...but i would take a 182 over it any day!!

Mike