Excellent video Buddy. Even though I'm not an aviator, this was super informative and interesting! The flight over the Falls was awesome, very nice camera work on that... 👍🏻👍🏻 I like the T.P. blast too, lets see if that makes its way to him! 😂😂
Good information. My Champ has been in my family since 1961. I learned to fly it in the '70's and I'm now the caretaker of the Champ. I have recently pieced together a C85 for it and I'm looking forward to the performance increase. Open T hangar for me in Indiana is 75 a month but my playground is very different than yours. Pretty sure I don't want to know what I've spent but its worth it.
You make an excellent point. I had a '46 T Cart that always amzed me on how well it flew on the A-65, though I HATED the BS involved with it being certified! Before and after the T I've gone experimental 4 times for the freedom to do what the heck I want to it. BUT, I have over 50 K in my 16 year old RANS S-7S, a bargain I guess as if I was to duplicate it at current prices it would be much more! Amazingly enough it appears I could sell it for more than I have in it. I paid $6500 for the T, but it needed new wing spars and covering, which I did. I put 117 hours on it and sold it for 2 K more than I had in it, 11 K, a couple years later it sold again, at an even higher price, the classics are a pretty good investment for sure and the admission price can't be beat! A modern lightly modded Rotax 912S in a T would be a super performer BTW.
Have you considered turning it into an experimental? Would give you a lot more options for adding an electrical system, updated avionics, etc. Maybe even do a Yamaha Sidewinder conversion. 😎
Ahh. I haven’t really considered it. I’ve heard that can be hard to do. And while it would be nice to give her some modern upgrades, I would be a bit leery of going more powerful, faster, heavier with the old girl and her wooden wings! 😂
@@trustyaeronaut Hmm... yea the wooden wings might not like 250hp. 😆 The advantages of the electric system/avionics might make it worth the switch (especially for night flying), but as this is a "budget" bush plane it probably just makes more sense to keep it as-is... and these days a lot of the avionics side of things can be augmented with an iPhone/iPad, ForeFlight and a Stratux device.
@ yeah, I never fly without my foreflight/sentry! As far as the lights go, they were an option originally on these old chiefs. Drop down landing lights (the grimes fold down style), position lights (little egg shaped units), batteries 6v or 12v,and of course the old wind driven generator option! IF I could find the parts, I don’t think it would be a big deal putting them on with my mechanic. Maybe sometime I’ll find them!
@@trustyaeronaut I wonder if you could design and 3D print some replacements? Or even just find some workable parts at Aircraft Spruce / Wicks and come up with your own solution? Should be doable under 21.9(a)(5) and AC 20-62E. Might be worth discussing with your mechanic. I helped do something similar (albeit just interior trim) at my old flight school with a couple of broken Piper air vents in their planes that were almost impossible to source.
Gret video. This makes me wonder how difficult it would be to mod the aircraft with flaperons. Shs's great the way she is but I hear you about the flaps and lighting.
Ah thanks! I did think briefly about flatperons on the chief...after a few adult beverages one night! Anything is possible with enough Time/money, but there would be some big hurdles. The paperwork would be a pain on a certified plane. The flaps on the chief a cable driven. (Avids/Kitfoxes with flaperons have pushrod driven controls which makes the linkage a lot easier to engineer.) The ailerons on the chief an adequate, but using them for flaps would probably reduce their effectiveness to an uncomfortable level. But the biggest issue is they are also out towards the end of the wings, so using them as flaps out there would effectively increase the angle of attack at the wingtips which you don't want (it would nullify any washout in the wing). Sadly the chief will probably never have her own flaps, but for most of my flying it's just a minor inconvenience!
What a deal! Heck, the engine is worth that much regardless of the rest. Engine prices are ridiculous. Let's face it, u can always get your money back easy if you dont break it.
IF I don’t break it! 😂 yeah, it was a good deal. But, the deals are out there! And I suspect most of these planes on barnstormers and Facebook are actually selling for quite a bit less than asking price, so don’t give up hope! You’ll find the right plane!
Good video. I’m real close to purchasing a ‘46 Chief from a local guy and your videos are great. You mentioned the annual being a bit extra expensive this time. Would you care to share any more details on what it needed, how much it ran, etc? Keep up the good work and happy landings!
Ah cool! Go buy it! Life is short! Local planes can be easy to buy and a good deal… sometimes… I would talk to your mechanic and if he supports the purchase. Go for it! IMHO - Your relationship with your mechanic is the most important part of owning a plane. The annual wasn’t THAT bad, just dealt with some things that shouldn’t be an issue for quite a while now. So I’m hoping next year will be a bit easier, but who knows? 😆
Ahhh, I usually fill them to about 12psi or so? Both sides seem to lose pressure about the same rate and it seems like after a month or so they are down to 8 or 9 and then I air them up. I think they could easily support the aircraft at lower pressures, but I worry about ripping the stem off the tube.
My dad always loved the Taylorcraft! I ALMOST bought one out of the Bay Area, but it had a 65hp and I really wanted something with an 85. Let me know if you ever come up this way!
Great little airplane..should look at engine swap...either a C 90 12 F.. or an 0 200. that way you could have an electrical system but then you would be sacrificing useful load..I have a 59 Champ on floats with a 90.. great little machine..
I bet the champ on floats is a lot of fun! It would be nice to have some electrical, but don’t think the accessories would fit. There isn’t much room between the engine and firewall. And yeah, I don’t think I’d want to give up the weight. She flys so nice right now 😄
You just have to slip that Chief all the way to the ground , that way you can land flatter and short. I have a j-3 so in the same boat but for the money they will do 90% what a new bush plane will do , i can land and take off in less then 400’ at gross all day long
@@RobRollins-u2b ah nice! Yeah, I probably need to practice slipping at a bit lower approach speed. I tend to keep the speed up when I’m slipping and then I end up floating down the runway farther than I’d prefer. 😂
@ yes even go with a CFI tail wheel guy that is really good at slipping , an old timer if you can find one . Go up around 3,200’ and slip it at stall all the way down to 1,500’ AGL . Ive had the cub at 27MPH true door at 90% AKA the stall warning on a cub lol,just roll off ailerons first then rudder flair last min land in 50/75’
Great video! Alot of us dream of flying , but reality keeps us on a budget to balance while flying.
Bro. I fugging love this. It felt like you were talking directly to me. So I went ahead and put pants on.
Haha! 🤦 I’m going to start texting you good deals on taildraggers when I see them 😉😎
Excellent video!😊
great vid! love that you built in some flying too
Excellent video Buddy. Even though I'm not an aviator, this was super informative and interesting! The flight over the Falls was awesome, very nice camera work on that... 👍🏻👍🏻 I like the T.P. blast too, lets see if that makes its way to him! 😂😂
Haha! thanks buddy! It was a good day for the falls!
The more I watch your videos the more I want to get up in my Chief again!
Go fire her up this weekend. She will probably fire up a lot easier than the old Harley! 😂
@ Probably would!
Amen to everything you’re saying! Also, good to mention that most of the zoo, Taildragger Spotify as light sport. Great video!
Ah yeah, indeed. Qualifying as a light sport is nice.
Good information. My Champ has been in my family since 1961. I learned to fly it in the '70's and I'm now the caretaker of the Champ. I have recently pieced together a C85 for it and I'm looking forward to the performance increase. Open T hangar for me in Indiana is 75 a month but my playground is very different than yours. Pretty sure I don't want to know what I've spent but its worth it.
Love it. I got a 46 chief. 85 in it. Tell me more about it.
You make an excellent point. I had a '46 T Cart that always amzed me on how well it flew on the A-65, though I HATED the BS involved with it being certified! Before and after the T I've gone experimental 4 times for the freedom to do what the heck I want to it. BUT, I have over 50 K in my 16 year old RANS S-7S, a bargain I guess as if I was to duplicate it at current prices it would be much more! Amazingly enough it appears I could sell it for more than I have in it. I paid $6500 for the T, but it needed new wing spars and covering, which I did. I put 117 hours on it and sold it for 2 K more than I had in it, 11 K, a couple years later it sold again, at an even higher price, the classics are a pretty good investment for sure and the admission price can't be beat! A modern lightly modded Rotax 912S in a T would be a super performer BTW.
Ah nice! I would like to fly a t-cart one of these days! A big rotax in any of these old taildraggers would probably be pretty nice! haha!
Have you considered turning it into an experimental? Would give you a lot more options for adding an electrical system, updated avionics, etc. Maybe even do a Yamaha Sidewinder conversion. 😎
Ahh. I haven’t really considered it. I’ve heard that can be hard to do. And while it would be nice to give her some modern upgrades, I would be a bit leery of going more powerful, faster, heavier with the old girl and her wooden wings! 😂
@@trustyaeronaut Hmm... yea the wooden wings might not like 250hp. 😆
The advantages of the electric system/avionics might make it worth the switch (especially for night flying), but as this is a "budget" bush plane it probably just makes more sense to keep it as-is... and these days a lot of the avionics side of things can be augmented with an iPhone/iPad, ForeFlight and a Stratux device.
@ yeah, I never fly without my foreflight/sentry! As far as the lights go, they were an option originally on these old chiefs. Drop down landing lights (the grimes fold down style), position lights (little egg shaped units), batteries 6v or 12v,and of course the old wind driven generator option! IF I could find the parts, I don’t think it would be a big deal putting them on with my mechanic. Maybe sometime I’ll find them!
@@trustyaeronaut I wonder if you could design and 3D print some replacements? Or even just find some workable parts at Aircraft Spruce / Wicks and come up with your own solution? Should be doable under 21.9(a)(5) and AC 20-62E. Might be worth discussing with your mechanic. I helped do something similar (albeit just interior trim) at my old flight school with a couple of broken Piper air vents in their planes that were almost impossible to source.
Gret video. This makes me wonder how difficult it would be to mod the aircraft with flaperons. Shs's great the way she is but I hear you about the flaps and lighting.
Ah thanks! I did think briefly about flatperons on the chief...after a few adult beverages one night! Anything is possible with enough Time/money, but there would be some big hurdles. The paperwork would be a pain on a certified plane. The flaps on the chief a cable driven. (Avids/Kitfoxes with flaperons have pushrod driven controls which makes the linkage a lot easier to engineer.) The ailerons on the chief an adequate, but using them for flaps would probably reduce their effectiveness to an uncomfortable level. But the biggest issue is they are also out towards the end of the wings, so using them as flaps out there would effectively increase the angle of attack at the wingtips which you don't want (it would nullify any washout in the wing). Sadly the chief will probably never have her own flaps, but for most of my flying it's just a minor inconvenience!
Dang 15grand! What a deal , risk or not. Sweet! Watched the first video when u went to get it. I cant ever find the good deals. Thanks for sharing.
What a deal! Heck, the engine is worth that much regardless of the rest. Engine prices are ridiculous. Let's face it, u can always get your money back easy if you dont break it.
IF I don’t break it! 😂 yeah, it was a good deal. But, the deals are out there! And I suspect most of these planes on barnstormers and Facebook are actually selling for quite a bit less than asking price, so don’t give up hope! You’ll find the right plane!
Super informative and interesting! Man, I need a plane. 😂
You do need a plane!
1:20 That airport looks like KG00. Say Hi to Blancolirio...
@@AzTrailRider57 bingo! I will…
Best video ever that you have posted!
Ah thanks. It was a good year with the old Chief!
Good video. I’m real close to purchasing a ‘46 Chief from a local guy and your videos are great. You mentioned the annual being a bit extra expensive this time. Would you care to share any more details on what it needed, how much it ran, etc? Keep up the good work and happy landings!
Ah cool! Go buy it! Life is short!
Local planes can be easy to buy and a good deal… sometimes… I would talk to your mechanic and if he supports the purchase. Go for it! IMHO - Your relationship with your mechanic is the most important part of owning a plane.
The annual wasn’t THAT bad, just dealt with some things that shouldn’t be an issue for quite a while now. So I’m hoping next year will be a bit easier, but who knows? 😆
@ sounds good, I’ll be sure to share if I buy it.
I have a 47 superchief with a C-85-8. No electric. Love to fly it. Curious as to what air pressure you run in your 8.50s. I have the same tires.
Ahhh, I usually fill them to about 12psi or so? Both sides seem to lose pressure about the same rate and it seems like after a month or so they are down to 8 or 9 and then I air them up. I think they could easily support the aircraft at lower pressures, but I worry about ripping the stem off the tube.
85hp Taylorcraft pilot watching your videos and thinking “We need to fly together,” then you call me out directly! 😂.
My dad always loved the Taylorcraft! I ALMOST bought one out of the Bay Area, but it had a 65hp and I really wanted something with an 85. Let me know if you ever come up this way!
Great little airplane..should look at engine swap...either a C 90 12 F.. or an 0 200. that way you could have an electrical system but then you would be sacrificing useful load..I have a 59 Champ on floats with a 90.. great little machine..
I bet the champ on floats is a lot of fun!
It would be nice to have some electrical, but don’t think the accessories would fit. There isn’t much room between the engine and firewall. And yeah, I don’t think I’d want to give up the weight. She flys so nice right now 😄
Do you have the cable brakes? What’s your tire size?
Yeah, 8.50s.
I would like to send you a video of my chief. How could I do this without you tube?
@ ahhhh. I think my email is in my yt bio... you may need to be on a computer to see it tho.
It is a budget bush plane
I have some questions, how can I contact you?
@@garybaca6775 I think my email is in my YT profile, or message me on instagram
You just have to slip that Chief all the way to the ground , that way you can land flatter and short.
I have a j-3 so in the same boat but for the money they will do 90% what a new bush plane will do , i can land and take off in less then 400’ at gross all day long
@@RobRollins-u2b ah nice! Yeah, I probably need to practice slipping at a bit lower approach speed. I tend to keep the speed up when I’m slipping and then I end up floating down the runway farther than I’d prefer. 😂
@ yes even go with a CFI tail wheel guy that is really good at slipping , an old timer if you can find one .
Go up around 3,200’ and slip it at stall all the way down to 1,500’ AGL .
Ive had the cub at 27MPH true door at 90% AKA the stall warning on a cub lol,just roll off ailerons first then rudder flair last min land in 50/75’