Opinions on Navions? Anyone?

[AlbieF15]

OK guys, especially those of you with lots of GA experience. The coffee talk subject of the day is Navion Rangemasters. Have you flown them? Did you like them? What are the pros/cons to the plane? Lessons or words to the wise?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DAS at 10/250]

1. Navions were originally slated to be used as low orbit vehicles, but were replaced by the space shuttle at the last minute.

2. Orville and Wibur were originally going to fly a Navion in 1903 but at the last minute switched to the Wright Flyer.

3. The Navion was replaced at the last minute by the B-25 for the "Tokoyo Run".

4. The Navion can payload more than a 737-300. With full fuel.

5. The Navion can climb at 4500' ft/min at 250 IAS through FL410. At MTOW.

6. The Navion can pull 152.3 G's up and down. And it's worth a lot of money.


If you don't believe me just come on down to BMT. Navions rull supreme, are revered as gods, and can do no wrong. Anyone who believes otherwise will be burned at the stake.


Actually, I think they are an ugly hunk of junk. But I don't know anything about them. Better wait for someone who actually knows to chim in!

Note: Not trying to be a smarta@@ to your post. I just find humor in the level of worship this airplane receives here in Swamp Texas and thought I would share! Good luck!

 

[katanabob]

Ditto the comments on not being impressed. Call it the first North American product I've flown and didn't like.

Hydraulic gear and flaps. Nightmare.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft.../North American Navion flight test report.htm

Look at what this guy is enamored with:

"One little detail I found immediately interesting was to foreshadow my overall evaluation of the airplane: The welded step that dangles down in front of the wing is not only made of steel, but the step portion is of diamond pattern boiler plate!" (This doesn't bother him at all?)

"Knocking on the wing leading edge results in a dull "thunk," like knuckling the edge of a kitchen sink. Sliding the canopy forward results in a rumbling sound like rolling a piano across a hardwood floor." (Oh, yeah... just the kind of noises I usually associate with a well-oiled machine)

"The useful load is just short of 1000 pounds. That's impressive!"
(What has this guy been flying?)

"You'll see lots of variations but the most common and the one Gene had on his airplane is the original Hartzell controllable, which is a "variable pitch" prop. It isn't constant speed since, at a given prop setting. moving the throttle also moves the rpm. If the pilot resets the prop, he can maintain the proper manifold pressure/rpm relationship." (Ah, yes.. another throwback to the 1930's)

"Gene told me to hold 85 mph, which gave about 700-800 fpm, climb with two people and nearly full fuel." (So it climbs like... a 172)

"Coming back into Marion I just dropped the nose and let the airplane burn off altitude while the speed built up to 150 knots or so. As we came smoking into the pattern..." (150 knots. Downhill.)

Buy a Bonanza. Even an old one with the E-series engine will outrun this hulk buy 50 knots, outclimb it by 500 fpm (while hauling more stuff), out-perform it ina nd out of short strips, and it's easy to work on. Oh, and no diamondplate on the welded step. (Or naked chicks on the mud flaps)

 

[DAS at 10/250]

(Or naked chicks on the mud flaps)

ROTFLMAO!!

My girlfriend thinks I just lost my mind. Well, maybe not just now.......

 

[AlbieF15]

Where is BMT and who are the Navion fans there?

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Beaumont, TX.

Serious though, there is a newsletter that comes out of Kalifornia for Navion fans.

Do a google search, or I could ask around if you need.

DAS

 

[Lead Sled]

...Hydraulic gear and flaps. Nightmare.

Ditto times 10. Let's see what can I add? Out of production for 50 years and a hydraulic system designed in the late Jurrasic. Oh, by the way, some of the engines are now basically unsupported as well. It would be a great airplane if you've got plenty of $$$, and/or a lot a free time to dink around with it, and/or your A&P or better yet, your IA. Now for the good part - you can usually pick them up pretty cheaply from guys who bought them with out plenty of $$$, and/or a lot a free time to dink around with it, and/or their A&P or better yet, their IA.

'Sled

 

[BD King]

On the flip side. Your question was to the Rangemaster. Yep, tis slow. Strong? Ya better believe it. There is also a reason to own an old and rare airplane, and that is that of AD notes. Take a Myers 200 for example, and look at the AD noted on the airframe. Zero. My guess is that a Rangemaster is also Zero, and will remain so..................I personally saw a Navion clip a telephone pole with its wing, and the telephone pole lost. As for DAS, his Avatar is great!

 

[DAS at 10/250]

As for DAS, his Avatar is great!

Theme to "Rocky" plays in my head.