C336
Dear All,
Having owned Skymasters of many types including early Non-Turbo and Turbo, late Model Non-Turbo and P through a Riley Super with the TSIO-520s, I am happiest with my 336.
It is simple. Very cheap to maintain and has 932 pounds of payload full of 128 gallons of fuel.
It will not only fly comfortably on one engine at 5000 ft MSL at my normal 500 pounds below gross weight, but will takeoff from 700 ft MSL on a 90 degree F day with either engine left at idle.
The comfort level this gives as I load my wife and kids is reason enough. (Empty weight of my 336 is 2200 pounds after a serious diet program)
It has the Horton STOL kit with droop tips as well as the VG kit, but these are cheap enough and have added greatly to the original climb and Single Engine performance.
My Longest regular trip of 800 NM from North Alabama to Eleuthera takes 6.5 Hours flight time plus a fuel stop. (Cruising at 140 Knots TAS)
In my 1967 337 the same trip took 5.6 Hours plus the fuel stop (Cruising at 155 Knots TAS). With this amounting to less than 30 mins per leg difference, I felt and still feel that the simplicity of the fixed gear and excellent single engine performance make the trade well worthwhile.
Of course, with only a handful of 336s still flying a good example is hard to come by so one of the more plentiful early 337s may be the only real answer.
Fly safe.
Regards,
James
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