AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2015 - 34

PILOT BRIEFING
VREF VALUE

Vref, the AOPA
partner offering
aircraft value estimates,
suggests a base price for
the 145-horsepower 1956
Cessna 170B, the latest
year the aircraft was
made, of $30,000. If the
aircraft has been converted to a 180-horsepower engine, the base
price is $35,000. Avionics are extra.
RECENT ADVERTISED
PRICES

BUDGET BUY

Dirt simple
Cessna 170B
B Y A LTO N K . M A R S H

ONE OWNER SAID he loves his Cessna 170B because it is "dirt simple," meaning simple not only to
fly, but simple to maintain. In its long history, the Cessna 170, 170A, and 170B had few airworthiness directives. While stock models may be as slow as a Cessna 152, there are models with upgraded
engines that will outrun a Cessna 172. I personally checked out in a rental 170B a few years ago
and observed that if you have the approach speed exactly right as you enter ground effect, the airplane nearly lands itself. You won't need exceptional tailwheel piloting skills-until the crosswind
blows, of course. If you are hauling 55 gallon drums of whale oil, get the Cessna 180.
THE REAL WORLD

EMAIL alton.marsh@aopa.org

34 | AOPA PILOT February 2015

HOW MANY IN THE FLEET?

AIRPAC PlaneBase shows
a registered fleet of 1,420
Cessna 170B aircraft.
AIRWORTHINESS
DIRECTIVES

There are very few.
The Cessna 170B is
considered very similar
to the older 170A and 170
models. There are only
nine airworthiness directives for all models, and
one specific to the 170B
regarding fuel valves
made in 1998 and early
1999.
BIGGEST PLUS

It's a tailwheel
airplane. Are you
rated? Low cost and
simple to fly.
BIGGEST MINUS: THINGS
TO WATCH OUT FOR

Fabric covering on
the wiring in older
170B aircraft may have
frayed and pose a fire
hazard, requiring
replacement. Many owners have removed the
parking brake, because
it can be applied without
the pilot's knowledge
before landing.
WHAT ELSE TO CONSIDER

Pilots considering the
Cessna 170 might also
consider the Cessna
170A, Cessna 180, or
Cessna 140.

RIVERSIDE AIR SERVICE

Richard Pulley is the current president of The International Cessna 170 Association and operates his 170B between Fredericksburg, Texas, and Alaska. There are lots of 170B aircraft in Alaska
where, thanks to their larger flaps than earlier models, they operate as bush planes. Some of those
have the Continental IO-360 engine, meaning better takeoff performance and a cruise speed of 125
knots true airspeed.
Most will have the Continental C-145 or similar Continental O-300 engine, giving a cruise speed
of 110 knots true airspeed. The aircraft will carry four adults but if there is a lot of gear to transport,
you have a two-person airplane, Pulley said.
Pulley said you can get into the 170B world for between
WHO TO CONTACT
$30,000 and $50,000 and have a "really nice" airplane. Before
The International Cessna 170
purchase, have an annual inspection done by someone who knows
Association, Inc., 22 Vista
the 170B, with an agreement that the seller will pay for repairs.
View Lane, Cody, Wyoming
82414-9606; phone 307Pulley said he never calculated a per-hour operating cost
587-6397 (www.cessna170.
because he is having too much fun flying it, but another pilot
org); email headquarters@
estimated $99 an hour.
cessna170.org.

Listed in Trade-APlane at the time this
was written were three
Cessna 170B models ranging in price from $39,000
to $50,000. There were
five Cessna 170A models
ranging in price from
$20,000 to $44,500.

http://www.cessna170.org http://www.cessna170.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2015