A Romeo for Juliet

Pilots,

Please welcome the newest addition to the roost -- Cessna 6525R, a 1980 Cessna "Cutlass" RG II. Cessna 25R joins us from Billings, Montana -- where CFII Will flew her back over the course of 3 days, snow, nasty weather, pointy mountains, and a crabby student. (just kidding, ha ha) Be nice to Will for the next few days.



Imagine, if you're one of the Cessna engineers, and you're sitting around one day wondering how you can make a plane like the 172 even better. In the Tim Allen "needs more power" sense. Hmm.. I might add:

66 Gallons long-range fuel
A beefier engine, 180hp should do the trick
Tuck in those draggy gear legs
Tighten up the cowling and let's add cowl flaps for cooling only when we need it
How about a Constant-speed prop into the bargain for some efficiency?

Not a bad day at the drafting table, wouldn't you say? The end result is the Cutlass, a 140-kt 6.5-hour long-range machine.

25 Romeo will be debuting on the line at $99/hr for Block Pilots, and $119/hr for Retail pilots. Available immediately for your long-range or training needs!




In other news,

Cessna 68U completed her 100hr.

Cessna 20U is back with tighter steering.

Cessna 04H is in one piece and undergoing proving now. We expect her back on the line next week.

Cessna 1ES is having her Stall warning horn examined. Apparently the buzzer is going off at or below 100kts -- perhaps a safety feature, some might say, but the rest of us say "annoying"

Cessna 17J completed her 100hr

Cessna 25R just got here -- sheesh. No squawks here yet! :)

Piper 85Y is due back Wednesday, pending the last (we hope) visit from the FAA to bless her paperwork.



The Riverside Air Show is today. I didn't know about it either, sorry about that. Apparently they keep this sort of thing a secret until we get buzzed by military jets, or yelled at by tower about a "Tee Eff Arr" in effect. (doh!) Those of you in the know, I heard it was a nice show this year!

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Fair weather, if a little cloudy. We will miss the shade soon enough.

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Spring has sprung

Pilots,

Please join me in welcoming warm predictable weather, and the beginning of flying season!

Cessna 68U has had her brake system rebuilt, and a 100hr inspection completed.

Cessna 20U is awaiting her rudder steering rod replacement

Cessna 04H is due to return any day now.

Cessna 1ES completed her 100hr

Cessna 17J is in for her 100hr

Piper 85Y is due back from Annual imminently

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Not much else to report around the ranch. Things are mellow.

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Lucky Charms

Pilots,

Some items of note around the ranch currently -- here is what I know:

Cessna 1ES was grounded unexpectedly as she sprinted to her 100hr service limit in record time -- this caught us all by surprise (we were expecting to have service life through this coming Friday), and my apologies to affected pilots. We will, of course, get her back in the air as soon as possible.

Piper 85Y is still waiting on her prop overhaul. Apparently the prop shop found some unsavory squawks, which we are happy to have corrected. The $4,600 bill for the prop alone, of course, is no picnic, but it's the nature of the game. We expect her back aaaaany (flipping) daaaaaay nowwwwwww.



While our hunt for a new plane has led us to many hideous and deformed 150/152s, we have not given up hope yet. Discussions with brokers suggest that everything with 2 seats and a fuel-sipping nature is being crated and shipped overseas due to the weak dollar. Makes sense, but it doesn't help us. Even some real junkwagons are fetching 25-30k right now, which is nearly enough for another 172.



Unexpectedly, our search for two-seat playthings has led us to a nice 172RG which we think might plug the gap between the 172s and the PA30. A few folks have commented that the jump to Multi+Commercial right off of IFR is a large one -- I suppose it is.

A Cessna 172RG "Cutlass" is basically a 172 with folding legs, constant-speed prop, cowl flaps, huge fuel tanks, and more power. A cross-country machine. Cruise books at 140kt, way better than our fixed-gear friends. A 172RG would end up renting at either 99 or 109/hr, depending on the insurance quote. We are curious who would be interested in a reasonable (04H-esque) 172RG. Commercial and CFI training would be less complicated, and people who actually travel places might appreciate the speed, as the cost per nm would actually be about the same as 68U/20U!

Ponder, ponder.



Well, it seems our doe-eyed optimism regarding fuel prices was not well-founded, and high prices seem to be here to stay. As you know, our aircraft prices are wet including fuel at $3.00/gallon, which we last saw in 2006. At a current $4.50 per gallon, and with our planes burning 8, 10, or 18 gallons per hour, the fuel surcharge may soon dwarf our rental rates, which is silly.

We are considering revising rates to reflect fuel at $4.50/gal and include a new surcharge schedule which covers fuel prices up to (cringe) $6.00. We do not anticipate any changes to the net cost per hour on any of our aircraft this year, but do not be surprised if you see a change to the line-item pricing in the coming months.

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Have a safe St. Patrick's Day!

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Action Forecast

Pilots!

When was the last time you saw such a loaded METAR and TAF?

KONT 152253Z 24018G26KT 10SM BKN050 14/02 A2979 RMK AO2 PK WND 22028/2203 SLP087 T01440017

KONT 151730Z 151818 23008KT P6SM SCT025 BKN035
FM2000 25011KT P6SM SCT030 BKN040
FM2300 25015G25KT P6SM SCT025 BKN040
TEMPO 2303 -SHRA BKN025
FM0300 27015G25KT P6SM SHRA BKN025 BKN050
PROB30 0309 TSRA BKN020CB
FM0900 31010KT P6SM SHRA BKN025 BKN050
PROB30 0915 TSRA BKN020CB
FM1500 35012KT P6SM BKN025



Even the boeings are complaining in this stuff -- good practice for local pattern work, but I wouldn't want to be headed to Vegas right now. Hang onto your hat!

Best,

- Mike

Blue Skies

Pilots,

Nice weather is back in fashion!

Some updates around the ranch:

Cessna 68U has some new wingtips after both of the old ones spontaneously combusted under two separate mysterious circumstances.

Cessna 04H is being put back together with her new engine and prop

Piper 85Y is waiting on new propeller parts, specifically new spinner cones which we found some small cracks in, a definite no-no. Her new ETA is now Wed of next week (sorry, twinkie pilots)



Spring has sprung, and the flybabies are buzzy! Grab some sky!

Blue Skies,

- Mike

Late congrats

Pilots,

Please join me in congratulating U.S. Private Pilot Brandon R., who got his wings with DPE Tom Hamm in Cessna 1ES on Thursday! Nice Job, Brandon!



Blue Skies,

- Mike