Jim Burns wrote:
I did my initial multi training in an Apache (which when heavily loaded on a
hot day will really show you what the second engine is for), created a
partnership that purchased an Aztec (which we love) and did my MEI training
in a Beech Travel Air.



I used to fly for a cancelled check courier service that used Apaches. When
they first were transitioning me from the Lance to the Apache, I really didn't
want to fly it. Their's had the usual nonstandard instrument placement that I
came to expect from them but one of their birds had the long Aztec nose and 180
hp engines instead of the usual 150 hp engines. I was really leery of flying it
but they pushed and pushed until I agreed.

The first time I was supposed to fly it the chief pilot showed up with it early
one morning. As it turned out, we had a huge load that morning and with the two
of us on board, we were going to be about 300 lbs over gross. "Go ahead and
take it back to RDU without me. It'll never get off the ground with both of
us", I said.

"Sure it will.", he said.

"Bull****."

Well, he kept insisting so I finally agreed. What the hell, I had a good mile
and a half of runway in front of me. Surely we could waddle into the sky with
that kind of space. I poured the coals to it.

That thing came off the ground like a scalded cat before I crossed the
intersecting runway 1100 feet down from where I started. "Hmmm...there might be
something to this after all." I came to really appreciate its ability to climb
and later learned how ridiculously short and steep you could land it. People
used to come out to watch me land it just because you wouldn't think an airplane
could do what that one could. I ended up really enjoying flying it (except in
the rain where I would land looking like I'd ridden on the outside). When it
was cold the Janitrol heater would cause me to get headaches and my lips would
go numb. And riding though thunderstorms was like a cork floating in the ocean
with those big fat wings. But it sure would fly.

Then one day it was sick and I had to fly one of the older Apaches with the 150
hp engines. What a POS. Couldn't recommend that to anyone.

One thing they all shared was a single hydraulic pump that was needed to raise
and lower both gear and flaps. If you lost the left engine, you lost a hell of
a lot. IIFC they had generators instead of alternators too. The carburetors
were prone to carb ice in humid conditions. And the radios were state of the
art when Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic.

Interesting flying, that.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com