Looking to purchase this aircraft. Any thoughts?

[Charles Schefer]

Good luck with it Albert. By the way... it's actually a small nose tire STC not nose wheel. The wheel is the same, it's just approval for a different profile tire. I've got that on mine and it makes a difference on the ground and landing.

- Charles

[Albert Murrer III]

What size did you go with Charles?

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

Stock tire size is 6.00x6, 6 ply. The STC allows for a 15x6.00x6 6 ply replacement. The replacement tire is 1 inch shorter in radius so it lowers the nose one inch.

Zach

[Albert Murrer III]

[Zach Grant L1011jock]

The tire is two inches smaller in diameter so it does look smaller, but it is only 1 inch smaller in radius so it lowers the nose just one inch. It does make a difference, but putting an extra inch extension in the main struts accomplishes the same thing, or 1/2 inch less on the nose and a half more on the mains. If you operate into grass or off dirt/gravel or rough concrete runways, the extra prop clearance of the original tire is nice. The nose gear is almost online with the prop arcs so it translates directly to prop clearance. I think the small tire looks better but operationally you can accomplish the same things with a little pressure adjustment.

Zach

[Kristin Winter]

I have both the small nose tire and I adjust the struts. After surveying the last ten years of Twinkie accidents, there are a number of LOC on takeoff. The fact that the aircraft can be hard to keep on the ground until Vmc is reached, let alone Vmc +5, may account for some of that as pilots are wrestling to keep the plane on the ground when it wants to fly. Lowering the angle of attack while sitting, helps that and gives you more margin for safety. That being said, for unimproved strips, the original is probably better.

[Albert Murrer III]

We had the smaller nose wheel on the Twinky we just sold and loved it. We also kept it at grass strip and never had issues with the clearance the entire 3 years we owned it. Definitely like the look of the smaller wheel a lot better but never flew a Twinco with the bigger one yet so I guess I'll see how it flies with it next week and decide if it's worth it or not. Heading up Monday to do a pre-buy and make a final decision on the purchase. Over 16 hours total of driving in one day. I hope it's worth it!

[Charles Schefer]

Albert sorry for the delayed response but Zach already gave you the small tire STC tire size. Mine has the 15x6.0-6 6ply (Goodyear Flight Custom III). Only 1 inch smaller but by comparison to the mains it visually looks much smaller and the nose is pointed far less skyward on the ground.

Good luck, hope it works out.

- Charles

[Albert Murrer III]

[Timothy Poole]

[Albert Murrer III]

Great thanks!

[Charles Schefer]

Yes the wheel remains unchanged, just the tire is changed by the STC. Also a somewhat related comment for what it is worth - the nose wheel and main wheels are the same size but they are different types. You can check the IPC for part numbers but the stock nose wheel is a different type to the stock main wheel tho they are all the same size.

- Charles

[Albert Murrer III]

Thanks again Charles. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of props do you have on your aircraft. I really like that white color scheme.

[Charles Schefer]

[Albert Murrer III]

Very successful! Airplane was in great shape minus a few things that will be taken care of in the annual. Got it for a VERY FAIR PRICE and will be picking it up in about 3 weeks. Mechanic has to finish another airplane before she gets to mine. Seller was extremely nice and everything was worth the 16 hours of driving. Ad should be showing sale pending any day now. My son and I started driving at 1am and made it there around 915am. Looked the plane over along with the logs, ran it, then sealed the deal and was back on the road by 12 and home in ATL by 830pm. Extremely happy with my purchase! Already have avionics shops working on quotes to get a GPS installed and the aircraft ADSB compliant.

Would you happen to have any more close up pictures of your props or ones that show your paint scheme and props?