My first solo was in 1969 in our Citabria and a year later I received my Private Pilot’s license on my 17th birthday in our 170B. I never flew a tricycle gear airplane until I had around 300 hours. Great memories in the 170 and flying all around New Jersey and the surrounding states back then.
Great story Alyssa. Thanks for sharing. I have always been fond of the 140 and 170. The book Weekend Pilot by Frank Kingston Smith learning to fly in a C140, and Frank’s follow on about his 170, caused the bug to bite hard when I was 14. 52 years later I own and fly a Grumman Tiger and if I ever sell to go low and slow, I’ll look for a 170.
They are a perfect family airplane. My first 170 was an A model and flew it for five years and then my instructor called me and said he was selling the B model he had and the one I got my license in. Flew that for eleven years and moved into a 180. Several times I had four adults and full gas and got her off a sod field. Flew my family to southern Il. many times from the Chicago area. The 180 was like flying a Mack truck after the 170s.
Headed up to Canada at the end of the month to spend some time flying the 170 with my dad. I was hoping your retirement would not mean the end of seeing more great flying content from you. Always time well spent.
Thanks for sharing your family (which includes the 170)! It sounds like a family heirloom in the making. I'll miss you on the weekly videos, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the next chapter just as much or more.
We had a 170 we restored. Landing it on a grass strip was a hair raising experience with a lot of fast rudder pedal foot work, while looking out the side, because you could not see forward either landing or taking off. I just say no thank you to any plane I can't see forward while landing but have to look to the left and the right to try and maintain a straight line on the runway and not ground loop out. I'm glad we sold it. Bought a backhoe and bulldozer instead, and got a whole lot of actual work out of the backhoe. Not so much so out of an airplane or bulldozer.
Our family Aeronca Sedan was my grandfather's. My uncles flew it, now by brother and i get to fly it. Pretty cool to take my daughter up in the same plane i got to.
Great video, thanks for sharing! Great looking airplane and family. Fun times ahead for you. Did the same for my tail number. My wife and I were married in April of 1971. N471LJ
Great video… the 170 is a great family plane while kids are small. Small correction… Straight 170’s and 170 A’s have plain flaps and 170 B’s have Fowler flaps.
Taildraggers are more difficult to handle on the ground than tricycle gear aircraft. However you can get an endorsement to fly tailwheel aircraft from an instructor. It does not require a separate certificate or rating, just some specialized training and the instructor’s signature.
My first solo was in 1969 in our Citabria and a year later I received my Private Pilot’s license on my 17th birthday in our 170B. I never flew a tricycle gear airplane until I had around 300 hours. Great memories in the 170 and flying all around New Jersey and the surrounding states back then.
Great story Alyssa. Thanks for sharing. I have always been fond of the 140 and 170. The book Weekend Pilot by Frank Kingston Smith learning to fly in a C140, and Frank’s follow on about his 170, caused the bug to bite hard when I was 14. 52 years later I own and fly a Grumman Tiger and if I ever sell to go low and slow, I’ll look for a 170.
They are a perfect family airplane. My first 170 was an A model and flew it for five years and then my instructor called me and said he was selling the B model he had and the one I got my license in. Flew that for eleven years and moved into a 180. Several times I had four adults and full gas and got her off a sod field. Flew my family to southern Il. many times from the Chicago area. The 180 was like flying a Mack truck after the 170s.
Wow, I bet you have a lot of great memories in the A and B models!
Headed up to Canada at the end of the month to spend some time flying the 170 with my dad. I was hoping your retirement would not mean the end of seeing more great flying content from you. Always time well spent.
Thanks! Enjoy your trip and flying with your dad!
Thanks for sharing your family (which includes the 170)! It sounds like a family heirloom in the making. I'll miss you on the weekly videos, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the next chapter just as much or more.
Thank you :)
Wonderful history be always safe God Bless you and your family 💯🌻🌹🌻💯
We had a 170 we restored. Landing it on a grass strip was a hair raising experience with a lot of fast rudder pedal foot work, while looking out the side, because you could not see forward either landing or taking off. I just say no thank you to any plane I can't see forward while landing but have to look to the left and the right to try and maintain a straight line on the runway and not ground loop out. I'm glad we sold it. Bought a backhoe and bulldozer instead, and got a whole lot of actual work out of the backhoe. Not so much so out of an airplane or bulldozer.
Thanks for sharing! Great looking family. Hope the kids take up flying, too.
Thanks! Our son is already asking when he can fly it, so I think the bug has bitten him!
Our family Aeronca Sedan was my grandfather's. My uncles flew it, now by brother and i get to fly it. Pretty cool to take my daughter up in the same plane i got to.
That's awesome! I am glad the Aeronca has stayed in your family for so long!
Great Video . Hope to see you at Airventure again this year . I want be flying my 170 this year. It’s to slow to fly from Texas.
Hi! I'm not sure if we will make it to AirVenture this year, but I hope to bump into you again sometime!
Great video, thanks for sharing! Great looking airplane and family. Fun times ahead for you.
Did the same for my tail number. My wife and I were married in April of 1971. N471LJ
Glad you enjoyed it. Nice to know we aren't the only ones who made our wedding date our N-number!
Great video… the 170 is a great family plane while kids are small. Small correction… Straight 170’s and 170 A’s have plain flaps and 170 B’s have Fowler flaps.
You are right, thank you for catching that!
Isn't a tail dragger a bit hard to handle for the typical pilot?
Taildraggers are more difficult to handle on the ground than tricycle gear aircraft. However you can get an endorsement to fly tailwheel aircraft from an instructor. It does not require a separate certificate or rating, just some specialized training and the instructor’s signature.
Sweet
Thanks :)
growing up my dad was going through lessons on this, now it costs more than my house for a used one 🤷♂️
Airplane prices have definitely increased.