SN: 9820 / 7752 ??
Manufactured 1946
I wish this plane could tell me its history. The logbooks I have dates back to August 1964 at which time she accumulated 1484 hours already. Something that is a little confusing is the Serial number. The serial number stamped on the back of the throttle plate is definitly 9820. The paperwork however says serial number 7752. I cannot find that number anywhere on the fuselage, original data plate unfortunatly also does not exist anymore.
Last flew in 1984. From the logbooks it was registered originally as ZS-CCW. It had at least one mayor incident in the 1970’s but was repaired and flew again until it was torn down and stripped in 1980’s to be rebuild completely. At that time it was re-registered as ZS-VHL putting it in the NTCA class.
The stripped down aircraft was sold and went through 3 different owners, until I bought it in August 2007. According to its logs total time on the airframe is 2793 hours.
I got the project with a Continental 0-200 engine (100Hp).They came out with the continental 65Hp engine but there is an STC that allows the bigger engine, upgrade to 1500lbs gross. Full electrics, bigger baggage compartment & two wing tanks.
This is what I bought - Very proud, having no idea what I let myself in for (August 2007).
As some of my friends commented - it looks more like a "windpomp" that fell over.
I thought I bought a complete aircraft, but a lot of the smaller bits and pieces got lost over the years as it changed home several times
Its a few years later and some progress has been made.
Fuselage covered & silvered, instrument panel, interior, doors and all electrics done (May 2011).
Trying the undercarriage with the new 850 tyres and Hydraulic brakes (July 2011).
Headliner going in (August 2011).
Bigger baggage compartment (August 2011).
And recently it changed colour from silver to white (September 2011)
Engine is finally in, now to extend those cowls to suite the longer mount. Longer mount is to make provision for the starter and alternator. (October 2011)
Starting to look like a plane. (December 2011).
To follow is the engine cowls, baffles & Exhaust.
