AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2023 - 32

BRIEFING
AOPA SWEEPSTAKES /
Spilling the sweepstakes beans
Here's all the cool stuff we are doing to your airplane
BY CAYLA MCLEOD HUNT
" WHAT MODIFICATIONS ARE y'all making? "
" Can I buy the old propeller? " " What
about XYZ... " As one of the project managers
of the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 170B
upgrades, I keep hearing the same questions
over and over again.
Well, I'm here to set the record straight
and to let everyone in on our not-so-secret
plans for the 1953 Cessna 170B. First, let's
get into our list of modifications.
Perhaps the most important modification
being made to the Cessna 170 is the
replacement of the older, worn-out engine
with a brand-new Continental Prime
IO-370. The upgrade, made possible by a
supplemental type certificate from David
Stoots, will allow the airplane to become
a fire-breathing backcountry beast. This
upgrade is taking place at my home field-
the Peach State Aerodrome in Williamson,
Georgia-at Barnstormer's Workshop.
" It's just going to be an awesome airplane, "
said Scott Clark of Barnstormer's
Workshop. " It's a privilege to be able to
do something like this. "
Along those same backcountry lines,
the aircraft will also be outfitted with
26-inch Alaskan Bushwheels; wing cuffs;
Micro AeroDynamics vortex generators;
LakeVue Aeronautics' folding, lightweight
interior; and a BAS tail pull handle.
" Like AOPA, Airframes Alaska's mission
is to provide strong and safe products
to pilots who are pursuing adventure in
the backcountry, " said Alaskan Airframes
marketing director Ryan Kedzie. " We
fully believe that Bushwheels are an
essential tool to increase safety in off-airport
operations and provide improved
backcountry performance. "
I haven't even mentioned the avionics.
Gardner-Lowe Avionics at the Atlanta
Regional Airport in Peachtree City,
Georgia, has been tasked with upgrading
the 170's panel to feature Garmin's GI 275
32
AOPA PILOT / March 2023
Ouch. Makeovers aren't easy. The engine is being replaced with a new Continental Prime IO-370 at
Barnstormer's Workshop at Peach State Aerodrome in Williamson, Georgia.
engine indicating system, dual GSB 15 USB
ports, GNC 355 and GNC 255 nav/coms,
GTX 345 ADS-B, Aspen's E5 Evolution
flight instrument, and PS Engineering's
PMA8000G audio panel.
After the aircraft leaves the avionics
shop it will be ready for paint and interior.
An eye-catching backcountry paint
scheme is still in the works.
As far as the 170's original items are
concerned, several parts including the
propeller, interior, and exhaust are being
donated to the Cessna 170 Association.
" The International Cessna 170
Association reached out to AOPA as soon
as we announced our intended upgrades
to the sweepstakes airplane. They asked
if we would donate parts removed
from the sweepstakes airplane to their
nonprofit association to help them
achieve their promise and purpose of
promoting and maintaining this classic
airplane. We are happy to help support
their mission to keep the Cessna 170 fleet
flying for a long time to come, " said Kollin
Stagnito, AOPA senior vice president of
media and marketing.
Expect to see the new and improved
sweepstakes Cessna 170 at various events
this year including Sun 'n Fun, EAA
AirVenture, and our AOPA fly-ins.
cayla.hunt@aopa.org
aopa.org/sweeps
Claim your chance
to win this airplane today.
Join. Renew. Donate.
No purchase or contribution
necessary to enter or win. Void
where prohibited. Ends 11:59
p.m. ET on 12/29/23. Grand
Prize winner must be certificated
by the U.S. FAA as of 12/29/23.
For complete details/eligibility
requirements/rules, visit
aopa.org/sweeps. Sponsor: AOPA
CAYLA MCLEOD HUNT

http://www.aopa.org/sweeps http://www.aopa.org/sweeps

AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2023

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