hood produced many nostalgic memories of flying with dad. Accordingly, diving headfirst into the world of Vi- king ownership is a meaningful endeavor for Chris, and he has happily earned what I estimate is the equivalent of an associate’s degree in Super Viking ownership since purchasing it. Similarly, my friend Kristin recently purchased a Cessna 170B and has assigned herself the task of learn- ing all the minutiae of the type, from sourcing parts to addressing known weak points of the airplane to updating certain systems with modern components. For months, she peppered me with random questions via text. How do 170 owners deal with the limited clearance for ra- dios behind the panel? Is it really advisable to remove the parking brake entirely? What about that landing gear re- inforcement kit I’ve been hearing about? Is it worth it? Both Chris and Kristin have made it their mission to become the most informed aircraft owners possible. Their interest and motivation are so strong, few things will ever catch them off guard. They know what parts and compo- nents are next up for overhaul or replacement. They’ve learned which mechanics in their area are the most qual- ified to work on their airplanes. And, accordingly, nei- ther they nor their bank accounts are likely to be caught by surprise anytime soon. It can be argued that if a prospective vintage aircraft owner doesn’t have the time or motivation to spend an hour or two studying and learning their aircraft type for every hour they spend flying, they’re taking a concern- ingly passive approach to ownership. People do this all the time, but these are the same people who overlook key
maintenance items and don’t know where to turn when an obscure part requires replacement. Their passiveness erodes safety to a certain degree, and it results in an in- crease in both expense and downtime. As I investigated those old diesel Mercedes sedans more closely, I learned a lot. I learned how the floor pans hap- pily deteriorate and rust out if a shaker of salt so much as glances in their direction. I learned that their insanely complex vacuum systems were apparently designed around witchcraft and dark magic. And I learned that if one lacks the time and knowledge to perform their own maintenance, one would be well-advised to marry into a family of qualified mechanics. Before long, I realized that I most certainly do not pos- sess the time or drive to earn the equivalent of an asso- ciate’s degree in Vintage Mercedes Studies. I knew my limits, and I knew I just wanted to be able to hop in and cruise around, fat, dumb, and happy. And my limited re- search revealed that, like a vintage aircraft, this machine is not at all suited to an owner like me. So whether it’s a vintage aircraft or automobile, take a step back before diving in. Evaluate the amount of free time at your disposal. And consider the research and ownership of such a machine to be a hobby in and of it- self, separate from operating it, and worthy of its own time and mental energy. Jason Mcdowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves a. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur.
When he was a kid, his father owned one, and his childhood produced many nostalgic memories of flying with dad.
Among the challenges of owning a vintage Bellanca Super Viking is sourcing knowledgeable and experienced maintenance—a task that took this owner years to achieve.
8 Aircraft For Sale | April 2024
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