First non-pilot passenger

"David Megginson" wrote in message
. rogers.com...

... and engine reserve (as you've already realized), but I'm guessing
that's
a pretty small number for you averaged out over TBO, despite the pain of
your recent overhaul. Did you buy the plane with a runout engine, or did
it
catch you by surprise?


When I bought the airplane it had the original engine with 2200 hours on
it, so I knew it was coming. I figured I'd be able to get to the 2400 hour
TBO pretty handily because the plane had never been used as a trainer, it
was used regularly by a handful of ranchers to count cattle in South Dakota
and Colorado. The engine was still running strong, and the first oil change
came out pretty clean, however the next change was completely different
(making serious metal) so I grounded the airplane. Although I knew the
overhaul was coming, I thought I was going to at least get through my
private with what the engine had left. The original idea was also to sell it
to someone who wanted to do an overhaul, and move up to a C172 for
instrument training. I never intended to keep it. According to my logbooks,
I flew ~71 hours before the engine quit, so I definitely had some use of it.
At that point I didn't want to spend the money on an overhaul because I
figured I'd need that money for a 172 and didn't see that I'd get my money
back from an overhaul and then selling directly afterwards. My first
daughter was born shortly afterwards and flying became a second-tier
activity so the plane sat there for a bit. I finally came to my senses and
realized that most of my flying would be alone and spending the money for a
new engine would still leave me better off than spending twice that much for
a clapped out 172, and I already knew the airplane. Thus began my restore of
Willie (the name was not chosen by me but by it's previous owner, it's still
on the key ring so the name stuck), put a new engine under the cowling,
added another radio with glideslope receiver/antenna and marker beacon with
audio panel. I was able to find all the pieces I needed used/yellow tagged,
so it wasn't that pricey. The radios were weak when they became warm, so I'd
have to keep one off until I needed to check ATIS, etc. I've recently added
an avionics fan and that has made a world of difference performance wise and
I can once again use both radios without problems. I'll never use it for
serious IFR, but in reality, you can't do that with a 172 either.

--
Louis L. Perley III
N46000