New guy, new Chief owner.,

[mike danford]

Hi,

It's finally official, I'm the owner of a 1946 Chief with a A65. It's currently getting it's annual condition inspection so I haven't flown it yet.

Not very "pretty" (pictures when I can), but very original, solid condition, low time engine, metal prop, comes with aluminum wheel pants. My hope is to fly it this winter, recover the wings in the spring when I get my Pietenpol back in the air (little mishap...). Lather, rinse, repeat the next year with the fuse and tail feathers.

I live near Lafayette GA and am currently bulldozing the yard so I can get the Chief in and out of my property. It'll be a short 1000' strip that's one direction (fair slope) with another 1000' over run. I've flown the Piet in and out with no problems, just dozing out the erosion control steps.

A neighbor gave us 60' of a 40' span chicken house's trusses and tin, so we're about to pour footers for the hangar.

I'm a former Navy carrier pilot (ya, really have no clue what those foot rests do...), current Airbus A330 driver for Delta and trying like mad to get a hunnert hours in light civilian planes!

Just thought I'd say hi and see if there's any other Aeronca drivers in the area.

Cheers,

Mike

[rkittine]

Welcome to the fraternity of little Aeronca Flyers Mike. You will love your Chief. Put a tail hook on and you will feel right at home on that 1,000 feet except, it will not be swaying from side to side and up and down! Look forward to seeing pictures.

[MikeB]

Hi Mike (Great name)
Welcome to the group. Good bunch of folks on this forum. I fly an Aeronca L16 with an 0200 conversion but just sold my Champ a couple of weeks ago. There are some Georgia guys that post on here once in a while and are into Aeronca restoration. I think maybe they might have a body shop and a still on the side (not sure which is the main business).

Mike Berg
Wisconsin

[mike danford]

Thanks to both of ya for the welcome, a tail hook IS a good idea! Even though it's a nose dragger, I remember being a little intimidated by having to do a field landing after a hundred straight traps on cruise in a S-3 Viking.

Mike, my Piet came from Osceola, courtesy Dick Navratil, NX2RN. Got my tailwheel endorsement there at the FBO, from Dick Johnson I believe. Also, I spend more than half my time up here in Wisconsin near Oshkosh.

Mike

[MikeB]

I'm just south of Eau Claire. Private (in name only) strip owned by the flying club (3WN9). We have two Champs on our field and two L16's. Also other assorted flying machines. Welcome to drop in sometime if you're up our way. We have airport loafers (coffee and lies) every Saturday morning.

Mike Berg

[joea]

Welcome on board Mike.

There are several Georgia boys on the board and they will chime in from time to time.

The Chief is a good honest airplane. Make sure you have a good tailwheel on it (I prefer the 3200 Scott or ABI copy) and just make sure that you are not wearing clunky shoes when flying it. The Chief is a bit more prone to bite you on ground loops and if you nail those funny pedals on the floor when she starts to sway, that helps.

Joe A

[james gevay]

Welcome Mike, there must still be some nice flying weather down there.
Speaking of Osceola WI, I have a Champ restoration at Anoka County, just on the north side of the Twin Cities. I used to fly with Dick Johnson when we flew Hawkers at MSP.
Please post some pictures of your Chief when you get a chance, the Piet too.

[mike danford]

Small world!

Hopefully I can get over tomorrow and work on the annual, will get some pics. You can see some pics of the Piet on youtube, just search NX2RN and there's some (albeit not very good quality) vids I took when I soloed my son. The kid has NEVER flown a nose dragger!

Hope to get the Chief up to Oshkosh, maybe I can fly in to Eau Claire!

Cheers,

Mike

[EDGEFLY]

Hi Mike, Glad to see another Chief lover in the group. This forum is a real fine place for Aeronca lovers and I'm sure you will enjoy the discourse here. Welcome

Dale