Volume 23, No. 6 – June 2006
The June 2006 issue of the Colorado Pilots Association's Flight Lines newsletter features President Bart Jones reflecting on selling his vintage Cessna 170 aircraft after 30 years of ownership and flying adventures in Alaska. Jones describes the emotional process of letting go of the plane and his satisfaction in finding the right new owner—Paul Tappen from Delta Junction, Alaska—a hunter and aspiring pilot who will put the aircraft to good use in the Alaskan environment. The newsletter also highlights a CPA members' fly-in to Dakota Arms in Spearfish/Sturgis, South Dakota, where members toured the custom rifle factory and witnessed American craftsmanship firsthand.
A featured article by Gary Justus recounts a harrowing takeoff experience from Navajo Landing Strip at Arboles in 1985, illustrating critical lessons about aircraft performance parameters, density altitude, weight and balance, and the dangers of relying solely on published performance data without accounting for real-world variables. Justus describes a near-disaster when his Grumman Tiger barely cleared the runway and water hazard, forced into ground effect and barely maintaining altitude, ultimately teaching him the vital importance of understanding his aircraft's actual capabilities versus theoretical specifications.
Key Topics
- Selling and transitioning ownership of vintage aircraft
- Published performance parameters and their limitations
- Density altitude and its effects on aircraft performance
- Weight and balance considerations and loading procedures
- Real-world flying challenges vs. theoretical performance specifications
- American craftsmanship and manufacturing
Events & Activities
- CPA members' fly-in to Dakota Arms factory in Spearfish/Sturgis, South Dakota
- Private factory tour showcasing custom rifle manufacturing
Member News
- Bart Jones (CPA President): Sold his Cessna 170 to Paul Tappen from Delta Junction, Alaska; assisted with ferry flight to Alaska
- Gary Justus: Featured article contributor sharing lessons learned from critical takeoff incident at Navajo Landing Strip in 1985
- Paul Tappen: New owner of Cessna 170; low-time pilot with two sons working toward pilot licenses
