2 Months of Ownership

Radar Contact

Radar Contact

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Messages
2,305
Location
Illinois
Display Name
Display name:
Kevin
So, I'm two months into the ownership journey and so far it's gone pretty well (all wood available has been knocked on). I've flow her about 28 1/2 hours and covered 13 states and roughly 5000 miles. I'm feeling really comfortable in it after taking many years away from Twin Cessna's.

Maintenance wise, I've had a couple things pop up but I suppose it's to be expected (nothing close to what @Ted DuPuis is dealing with thank god). I had to have the left fuel divider over-hauled as it was dripping fuel. The heater AD came out and my heater didn't pass inspection so I will have to have it repaired before next winter (can't mess around with heaters on twins), hopefully it's on the easier side of repair and I don't need it completely over-hauled or a new one. My glide slope on my HSI just stopped working but I have an appointment to get a Garmin G5 installed next week so I will have it repaired then (online appears to be minor as it passes GNS530 startup test). Last chance @arkvet and @NealRomeoGolf to talk me out of the G5 if you guys have had any issues with your's?

Here's a couple pics of the first two months...


First day I got her home.
IMG_3425.JPG
Our new (to us) hangar! She bought it for me=lucky guy.
IMG_3500.JPG IMG_3602.JPG
Trip to Mackinaw Island.
IMG_3587.JPG
IMG_3583.JPG
Giving @NealRomeoGolf a ride to pick up his plane.
IMG_3467.JPG IMG_3469.JPG

And that's all. Sorry for the @denverpilot long post ;)

I had a really nice trip to D.C. with a nice Appalachian crossing but I didn't think to snap any photos.

Hopefully the next 10 months are as nice and uneventful as the last 2 and the first annual doesn't break the bank!
 
Radar Contact said:
So, I'm two months into the ownership journey and so far it's gone pretty well (all wood available has been knocked on). I've flow her about 28 1/2 hours and covered 13 states and roughly 5000 miles. I'm feeling really comfortable in it after taking many years away from Twin Cessna's.

Maintenance wise, I've had a couple things pop up but I suppose it's to be expected (nothing close to what @Ted DuPuis is dealing with thank god). I had to have the left fuel divider over-hauled as it was dripping fuel. The heater AD came out and my heater didn't pass inspection so I will have to have it repaired before next winter (can't mess around with heaters on twins), hopefully it's on the easier side of repair and I don't need it completely over-hauled or a new one. My glide slope on my HSI just stopped working but I have an appointment to get a Garmin G5 installed next week so I will have it repaired then (online appears to be minor as it passes GNS530 startup test). Last chance @arkvet and @NealRomeoGolf to talk me out of the G5 if you guys have had any issues with your's?

Here's a couple pics of the first two months...


First day I got her home.
View attachment 53656
Our new (to us) hangar! She bought it for me=lucky guy.
View attachment 53657 View attachment 53658
Trip to Mackinaw Island.
View attachment 53659
View attachment 53660
Giving @NealRomeoGolf a ride to pick up his plane.
View attachment 53665 View attachment 53662

And that's all. Sorry for the @denverpilot long post ;)

I had a really nice trip to D.C. with a nice Appalachian crossing but I didn't think to snap any photos.

Hopefully the next 10 months are as nice and uneventful as the last 2 and the first annual doesn't break the bank!
Click to expand...

Nice! So for someone also considering ownership what's one important piece of advise you can give?
 
That hangar is ridiculous. Am I to understand your significant other BOUGHT that for you?! I'm sort of only half joking, but how'd you work that?
 
Timbeck2 said:
NealRomeoGolf is HOT!!

I had no idea.
Click to expand...


Hotter than I am apparently. I have to pay (my own) rent in my hangar, and it not only has neither cabinetry nor tiles, but I have a hard time preventing lizzard $#!t and Black Widows from piling up in it. :mad:
 
Well if that is you next to Lorne Greene in your avatar, you look like you just stepped out of the Miami Vice trailer. ;)

'sup Crockett? :)
 
You're flying 2500 feet below my house....:yikes:

And that hangar is great..!!! Love that floor...:yesnod::yesnod::yesnod:

Oh yeah, nice plane, too..... :lol::lol::lol:
 
Timbeck2 said:
Well if that is you next to Lorne Greene in your avatar, you look like you just stepped out of the Miami Vice trailer. ;)
Click to expand...

And there was a time when that would have been respected, if not worth a hangar subsidy...

For whatever it's worth, I'll be lucky to have Lorne Greene's looks by that age.

The older guy in the avatar is Ernest Borgnine of "Airwolf" fame. The young guy with the uncomfortable looking blue rayon flight suit and cioffire of chest hair has fallen into the 1970's pit of obscurity I think.
 
For what it's worth, that ain't me in my avatar either. I think that guy is dead. I had to go back and look at the cast because that wasn't the Airwolf I remember seeing. I was on Okinawa when the new cast including Ernest and his dashing sidekick were stars. AFN didn't carry it so I missed it.
 
Timbeck2 said:
For what it's worth, that ain't me in my avatar either. I think that guy is dead. I had to go back and look at the cast because that wasn't the Airwolf I remember seeing. I was on Okinawa when the new cast including Ernest and his dashing sidekick were stars. AFN didn't carry it so I missed it.
Click to expand...

Dude, I'm going to be gutted if I learn your avatar isn't Michael Keaton. I've seen your posts for ages while in lurking mode and I always assumed he was on some variant of a Pushing Tin movie that I missed.

And good copy on the AFN comment. I only watched it for the commercials.
 
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Blue Doughnut said:
Dude, I'm going to be gutted if I learn your avatar isn't Michael Keaton. I've seen your posts for ages while in lurking mode and I always assumed he was on some variant of a Pushing Tin movie that I missed.

And good copy on the AFN comment. I only watched it for the commercials.
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The animated "Don't go to the commissary huuuuuungry!" And the "Grill Sargeant" ones are the only commercials I remember.
 
Time for some AFN refresher training:




(Sorry for the admittedly bad thread drift. I'm trying to get my mind off of how upset I am that no one has bought me a hangar like that)
 
And I can't get over all this time I thought NealRomeoGolf was a guy! ;)

<----- attempt at bringing it back around.
 
Blue Doughnut said:
That hangar is ridiculous. Am I to understand your significant other BOUGHT that for you?! I'm sort of only half joking, but how'd you work that?
Click to expand...
Yes she did! That's her in the pic on our Mackinaw trip. She's not a pilot but loves flying, especially in the 310. I was thinking Ovation but always wanted a 310, she pushed me in the 310 direction and bought the hangar for it. Unicorn
 
Congrats on our first two months and may the rest of your first year treat you well... Love the hangar too... I say you are lucky man...:yes: She's a keeper...:goofy:
 
Rebel Lord said:
Nice! So for someone also considering ownership what's one important piece of advise you can give?
Click to expand...
Nothing prolific unfortunately. I'm still new in the ownership world. A few things as I see it...
-Understand your mission, no single plane will do it all but get the one that does the majority of it. And not just today but for what you think you'll need/want for the next 5-10 years. We have 4 kids. Not everyone flies that often but I need the seats at times. I really wanted a traveling machine so 175kts+ was important to me. 163 gallons gives me the legs I want. We enjoy the redundancy a twin gives for night/low ifr/crossing water, etc. Useful load was important to me too.
-Make sure you have plenty of disposable income to throw at it...you will need it.
-Join a type group once you think you know what you want. The Twin Cessna Owners Group (TTCF) is honestly invaluable. Lots of willing knowledgeable people that love to give useful advice.
-Make sure you are insurable at a rate you're willing to pay. I had lot's of twin cessna time so that was not an issue for me but have heard some people need a lot of hours with a MEI/Sim training/$8000 a year for the first year, etc.
-Independent pre-purchase.
-Resolve the hangar issue asap, I got really lucky there.
-Pick a mechanic/avionics shop near you that comes highly recommended. You'll be using it more than likely if you are getting a 60's-80's plane.
-Don't settle, keep searching.
-When you get it fly it. I just got really comfortable after 25+ hours in two months.

Good luck, it's an exciting adventure.
 
Radar Contact said:
Yes she did! That's her in the pic on our Mackinaw trip. She's not a pilot but loves flying, especially in the 310. I was thinking Ovation but always wanted a 310, she pushed me in the 310 direction and bought the hangar for it. Unicorn
Click to expand...


Radar Contact said:
-Resolve the hangar issue asap, I got really lucky there...
Click to expand...
Okay, this wins the prize for "Understatement of the Month". :cool:
 
Since you asked... I love my G5 and it's a great addition to the panel. However, had I installed my avidyne 550 first I would have likely not done the G5. The "glass panel" synthetic vision of the 550 is awesome which more than suffices for a backup (heck unofficial primary AI).

Love my G5 but I saw a light mention of a GNS 530... if it were me I'd put that 3+AMU towards trading in the 530 for an IFD (550) and mount a 9.7 iPad Pro running the IFD100 app and you'll be in heaven.

Beautiful plane btw!

And @NealRomeoGolf you look a lot different than when I met you with those pups. You have some work done?
 
Radar Contact said:
Nothing prolific unfortunately. I'm still new in the ownership world. A few things as I see it...
-Understand your mission, no single plane will do it all but get the one that does the majority of it. And not just today but for what you think you'll need/want for the next 5-10 years. We have 4 kids. Not everyone flies that often but I need the seats at times. I really wanted a traveling machine so 175kts+ was important to me. 163 gallons gives me the legs I want. We enjoy the redundancy a twin gives for night/low ifr/crossing water, etc. Useful load was important to me too.
-Make sure you have plenty of disposable income to throw at it...you will need it.
-Join a type group once you think you know what you want. The Twin Cessna Owners Group (TTCF) is honestly invaluable. Lots of willing knowledgeable people that love to give useful advice.
-Make sure you are insurable at a rate you're willing to pay. I had lot's of twin cessna time so that was not an issue for me but have heard some people need a lot of hours with a MEI/Sim training/$8000 a year for the first year, etc.
-Independent pre-purchase.
-Resolve the hangar issue asap, I got really lucky there.
-Pick a mechanic/avionics shop near you that comes highly recommended. You'll be using it more than likely if you are getting a 60's-80's plane.
-Don't settle, keep searching.
-When you get it fly it. I just got really comfortable after 25+ hours in two months.

Good luck, it's an exciting adventure.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat:
 
My personal opinion... don't rebuild your heater, buy a new one. The people I know who have their heaters rebuilt end up spending more money on them before long. Heaters are a pain to remove and install.

Buy new, do it once, get it over with.
 
Blue Doughnut said:
And there was a time when that would have been respected, if not worth a hangar subsidy...

For whatever it's worth, I'll be lucky to have Lorne Greene's looks by that age.

The older guy in the avatar is Ernest Borgnine of "Airwolf" fame. The young guy with the uncomfortable looking blue rayon flight suit and cioffire of chest hair has fallen into the 1970's pit of obscurity I think.
Click to expand...

Yep. Jan Michael Vincent.
 
Radar Contact said:
Yes she did! That's her in the pic on our Mackinaw trip. She's not a pilot but loves flying, especially in the 310. I was thinking Ovation but always wanted a 310, she pushed me in the 310 direction and bought the hangar for it. Unicorn
Click to expand...

I see you're in Illinois, but that looks like a UGA hat?
 
Beautiful airplane, congrats. My brother and I owned a 310 for a while. Loved that airplane but it was not as nice as yours. :)
 
I see an instructional "how to fly a 310 like a boss" video coming up......c'mon @Radar Contact !!!!
 
Ted DuPuis said:
My personal opinion... don't rebuild your heater, buy a new one. The people I know who have their heaters rebuilt end up spending more money on them before long. Heaters are a pain to remove and install.

Buy new, do it once, get it over with.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ted, I'll look into doing what you recommend.
 
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