National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Hello All,

There is a 1939 65CA Stick Chief on Barnstormers for sale and it has been on and off barnstormers many times over the last year. It is low time and looks really nice, but curious as to why it is not selling. Is it overpriced? something wrong with it? Just curious since its been on Barnstormers many times before if anyone has any knowlege of this chief. I am just learning to fly, (fly sailplanes at the moment) but my goal is to buy a Champ or Citabria when I am ready to own my own plane, but this one keeps popping up and I relly like it.

Would a 6'4" 235lb person fit in this? I know I dont fit in a Taylorcraft, so I have pretty much given up on any side by side pilot arangements on older Taildraggers. So basicaly no Taylorcraft, Luscomb or Old Cessna... Anyone know if someone my size would fit in a chief.

Best regards,

Marc

You would not fit in a stick Chief. You would virtually have limited controls because of the stick control position and your size. It may be a nice Chief, but in this economy and the fact it is a stick Chief (rare but not as functional as a wheel Chief) I would suspect that to sell it the price will have to be reduced to a real buyer. The fact that it is Califorina is another consideration--too hard for many who would be interested to see it. Most of the stick Chiefs were found in the midwest and East of the Mississippi. There were only 78 stick Chiefs built. Just my two cents.

Doug

Marc,

I believe that Doug (grumps) has owned and flown two stick Chiefs, so he knows what they are like.

Wish I could afford one!

Joe

Joe

Have had 3--one with a upstack Continentnal, one with a regular C65 and one with a 65 Lycoming.

Doug

Hi Marc,

You could probably fit comfortably in a Champ. I own one and I have taken people well over 6 feet up in it and they seemed to have enough space.

Try and find one and see if it fits you. Anything tadem should probably work.

addicted2climbing wrote:Hello All,


Would a 6'4" 235lb person fit in this? I know I dont fit in a Taylorcraft, so I have pretty much given up on any side by side pilot arangements on older Taildraggers. So basicaly no Taylorcraft, Luscomb or Old Cessna... Anyone know if someone my size would fit in a chief.

Best regards,

Marc

I am 6'4" and 250 and fit fine in my chief.

Bet it isn't a stick Chief. If it was you might get in but have to fly solo to keep the wings level.

Doug

No your right it isn't a stick. I have been flying the hell out of it the last week i got about 15 hours in!

Hello John,

It seems your the same size as me and you fit in a (non Stick) chief. I have never sat in one before. Is there room for a passenger as well? If so what weight is left after fuel or with average fuel. I am begining to realize that finding something nostalgic for my dad and I to fly together at our weight may not be feasable so may as well also consider what works for me. On another note there is a 1940 65-LB chief restoration project for sale in my area. No price listed, but I saw the add in the taylorcraft site.
Here is a link: http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?t=7721

I cant seem to find much info on the LB designation.. Any thoughts on this?

Marc

yes there is room for another person. The usefull load is (depending on your plane) about 460lbs. I have flown with myself and another guy that was 200# but I would not do anymore than that.

My son is 6' 7" and 235 lbs. He flies our pre-war chief by removing the airtex lower cushion.
I've been curious if the flight controls on a stick chief are as light as a wheel controlled chief.
He just purchased a Stinson 108 on an auction bid and is disappointed in the room for his legs. Told him to remove the front seat and fly it from the back seat.
Richard

When that Stinson was built anyone 6'7 and 235lbs was busy with the traveling circus.

SFC Hiatt wrote:When that Stinson was built anyone 6'7 and 235lbs was busy with the traveling circus.

Correct. When these planes were built, the average guy was 5' 7" and weighed 160 pounds. Times have changed.

Looks like it's back up for sale again. I was heading out west a couple of years ago and asked the owner about the dimensions. He was kind enough to go out and measure, but wasn't sure I'd (6'5" and was about 270 at the time) would fit. He di say his son was taller than me and had a hard time in it. So I didn't pursue. It's also been advertised as a 65CA (not now, though), but the pics make it look like a 65C. I think the seller is OK on that point, just an error perpetuated over time- which happens a lot in a lot of ways with old planes...


Hi Dennis,

Cabin dimensions are as follows: (took me a day or two to get down and
measure!)
at shoulders: 38"
at seat: 35"
at knees: 32+"
seat back to instrument panel (at shoulder level): 33"

Hope that's what you wanted to know. If not, come on back and we'll try
again!