Since more or less deciding I want to buy a 140 as a first plane, my moderate networking has led me to a few offers to fly some... one is in Chicago, where I will be later this month, and another is a "mere" 150 miles away in Danville, PA. Close enough for a bearable drive out and back.
The owner of this classic is sort of thinking about selling it; he's a CFI and corporate Citation Bravo driver who has a family and is looking for something a little bigger and faster. But he's very fond of this old girl, and is very devoted to caring for her.
I set out early, but of course the field was still fogged-in when I got there... we strolled over to the warm FBO classroom to peruse the logs and just chat until it burned off sufficiently.
Finally it was time to haul her out and remove the pre-heater and blanket.
Metallized wings, overhauled C85 with a little over 300 hrs. on it, and in good shape overall. It has a "heavy" right wing, but he's working on tweaking that out.
Even unpolished, all that raw aluminum is just mouthwatering... I don't think this is my "dream 140", but she scores major points with me for being naked.
That old Narco antenna doesn't do anything anymore, but he left it on because it looks "period".
The panel is strictly VFR, as is common with these: no artificial horizon, even. It does have a modest comm radio and transponder, though.
I will post a flight report later, but let's just say that after 1.7 logged guiding this beauty around the local area at about 3000 and making one landing, I'm even more sold on the type than I was before!
Cramped for sure (practically the same cabin as the C-150), but a sweet flyer, even with the "heavy" wing, which I got used to pretty quickly. Fast, too... surprisingly so.
