A buddy of mine just had his offer accepted on a 1947 Cessna 195. It's beautiful and he's super excited.

While walking me through everything, he mentioned that his insurance broker said that the 195 is the most ground looped plane ever built. As you can see from my profile picture, I'm a Maule pilot, another plane with a reputation for ground loops.

Does anyone have any insight into the 195 and whether or not it's going to be a big handful for him?

Found this useful thread in the archives: http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/c ... untry-1407

Apparently folks here think it's reputation is well deserved.

RW:

Have to echo that. I have personally flown a lot of taildraggers. Learned in a Luscombe, owned a Chief, 170 and 2 180s. Have about 15 hrs in a 190 and I will tell you that it in a crosswind it is a handful. When it goes, it really is hard to control.

Had a Starduster pilot here in NM with lots of hours that bought a pristine 195 and promptly groundlooped it. Had a neighbor of mine who started in the military, then went to Southwest. He has more hours than most of us can imagine in everything from Hueys to 195s. He purchased a 195 and not to shortly thereafter, ground looped it.

Have your friend take time with someone who is good in them and knows what they are doing.

Great bird though. Tell him congratulations.

Regards, Larry

rw2 wrote:Found this useful thread in the archives: http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/c ... untry-1407

Apparently folks here think it's reputation is well deserved.

Have had a couple of them, They were always ready to bite you as most TD are. You just can't let this one get away from you as once it starts you wont be able to stop it. This is where contact flying talks about be proactive with the rudders, you have to be with the 195, you just can't wait and react!
The other thing is there are a lot of 195 drivers who land wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyya to fast!! IMHO!! Land it when it quits flying, I never 3 pointed mine!!
When you get the tail down, keep it there and get slowed down quickly! Seems like most usually swap ends about 20-25mph??
They are just like a Maule in many ways. Doesn't matter if you have 12,000 hrs in a cub and a 180, it's different and if you don't do what needs to be done it will turn around!!
One recommendation that might draw some ire is if you do lose it, don't fight it!! add some power and take it on around!! Don't freeze up and rip a leg off of it by forcing it to go the other direction! A wing tip is easy to replace! The door post, gear box and the bent tail is harder on the pocket book>
I was lucky, I never GL mine, and really did not have much problem with it, Loved the way they fly! Of course I was a Maule driver for a few hours before!!??
Best advice get a good 195 mechanic to do a prebuy, and a good 195 pilot to get checked out with, Then fly the hell out of it because your buddy is gonna Luv IT!!
When your buddy gets comfortable in it, have him try seting it down with the ball just off center, set that tire down 1 inch below the other one!! IT will go er,er and it will be headed straight down the strip and makes you feel good!!
Only reason I got rid of mine was we traded for our Broussard

Here's a nice video of some 195's; about halfway through, there are some good shots of what appear to be some nice, intentional 'drifts' on the taxiway, which shows the caster built into the wheels...