Piper Cherokee Towplane?
Burt Compton
towplanes. I'd like to know more, as I need another towplane that doesn't
require a pilot w/ 100 hours tailwheel time. Thanks,
Burt Compton
"Miami Gliders" in winter, "Marfa Soaring" in summer
www.FLYGLIDERS.com
1-800-667-WING
Bruce Hoult
fbco...@aol.com (Burt Compton) wrote:
> I hear that someone is having sucess with Piper Cherokee 140 / 180 HP
> towplanes. I'd like to know more, as I need another towplane that doesn't
> require a pilot w/ 100 hours tailwheel time. Thanks,
At Omarama, NZ, they're using a Dakota. I think that's a Cherokee with
a 235 HP engine? It tows great, so 180 HP is probably OK too?
-- Bruce
Bill Daniels
"Bruce Hoult" <br...@hoult.org> wrote in message
news:bruce-1C91FD....@copper.ipg.tsnz.net...
I have heard of an operation that used an old "Hershey Bar Wing" Cherokee
180 as a tug. The operator was happy with the results. I have always
thought that the PA-28 series was an overlooked option for a tug.
If you check with insurance agents, you will find the PA-28 series is their
favorite insured. Pilots find it difficult to break them. Three fat 600x6
tires on Oleo struts handle rough fields well.
I owned an Archer that is the successor to the Cherokee 180. The main
difference is that the Archer wing is a double taper planform of greater
span. It is a docile little workhorse that will do a lot of jobs, towing
among them. All of the PA-28 family has a reputation for easy and cheap
maintenance. Mine was certainly inexpensive to maintain. The all metal
airframe is extremely durable.
The Dakota is the same airframe as the Archer but with a 235 HP Lycoming
O-540 and a constant speed propeller. That would be my choice. A lightly
loaded Dakota will climb like a rocket at 60 Knots.
The key to getting good performance out of either is to insure that they are
lightly loaded. I would strip all unnecessary weight out of it such as
seats and interior fittings not strictly necessary for towing duty. I might
even strip the paint to save another 50 or so pounds.
Bill Daniels
Rob
worked good off of pavement and grass.
Have you thought about a Cessna 182?
I would think the hotter weather in Florida might tax a Cherokee 180 a bit
much.
--
Rob
"Burt Compton" <fbco...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020401172030...@mb-mp.aol.com...
BTIZ
keep it hot out here.. Tonopah NV used to tow with a C-182, they didn't do a
lot of daily tows, so it was not so hard on the engine.
60-65knt tows for 1-26s or 70knt tows for glass.. with about 10degree flaps
on the C182
TZ
"Rob" <rclu...@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
news:oSaq8.217532$Hu6.51...@typhoon.neo.rr.com...