Cruisemaster CFI needed in Phoenix Area

R

RonMcRoy

New member
Hello All,

I just bought a Cruisemaster, N9824B, and need to get it to its new home at Falcon Field, in Mesa, Arizona. The airplane is now in its previous owner's hangar at Redding, California. For insurance purposes, I need a CFI with an instrument rating, 750+ hours, and 25+ hours in the 14-19-2. Five hours of instruction with the CFI will permit me to fly solo or with passengers. Ideally, I'd like to find a CFI in the Phoenix area, but one near Redding would be a a workable second choice. Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
When I bought my 14-19-2 the insurance company had the same requirements. I was able to negotiate with them to accept a competent tail dragger CFI without time in the 14-19-2 when I had trouble getting a local CFI with Cruisemaster time. I was fortunate to have a lot of Cruisair time so the only major transition was the larger smile when you push in the throttle, and the extended opportunity so show off the plane at the fuel pump.
Ralph
 
How much conventional gear time do you have? In what aircraft? Complex aircraft time? In what aircraft?
This might be doable for me...but it would be a month or so down the line.
Is the airplane in annual? Is this the airplane Dan Torrey surveyed a few weeks back?
Dan
 
Get a title search. The FAA records show that as a canceled registration. Maybe you have sorted that all out, but be careful. You might try Bob Moore (Redding) who I think has given BFRs in Cruisairs and Cruismasters. I dont have a phone number, but the local FBO should have it. Best of Luck.______Grant.
 
Grant,

Thanks for your reply. I had a title search done before I bought the airplane, and it was good. It may be that the registration is showing as cancelled during the change in ownership. I'll try Mr. Moore in Redding, in case I can't find a Phoenix CFI.

Ron
 
Ok.. there is an experienced CFI at Santa Rosa, Cal. with plenty of time in the Cruisair.
Close enough for Jazz.

This is 45-60 air minutes from Redding California.
Contact North Coast Air, at KSTS Santa Rosa 707 542-8687
They will help you.

I would suggest you move the plane to Sonoma County...so you can have frequent flying
time with him. Getting a hanger at KSTS is a pain in the butt.. because they have TSA there..
so it takes some weeks to get photographed, apply, get the thing approved and a badge issued,
without which you can be arrested for walking to the bathroom without an escort. Without which you cannot rent a hanger. Maybe transient tie-down..near their flight school.. go in through their gate, escorted by the CFI.
Should work for a week.

Healdsburg is too hard to fly out of for transients/ students.. up/down hill and narrow. Forget it.
Just train from KSTS to avoid logistic nightmares and schedule problems for the instructor...unless he has an idea.

Maybe Santa Rosa Jet Center, or some other FBO can rent you hanger space, and you can suffer along being escorted everywhere for a week or so.. while you get checked out. I had to get 10 hours in type for my Insurance Company.. but since I hadn't flown tail draggers in 40 years.. or retracts or low wings ever.. that was about right. never mind that I checked out my instructor in the airplane operation, so he could check me out !
( good story if you're buying).

Anyway.. this will work, if you can schedule it. Plenty of motels near by, and enterprise rentals.
Horizon Air ( Alaska Airlines) flies into KSTS ( Be careful some flights will take you to Seattle then back to California From Arizona !) ... short walk from North Coast Air. Airport bus from SF or Oakland gets you to Santa Rosa just fine.

If you are stuck, I can put you up for a night, fetch you at the airport, and help get you oriented.
The CFI lives near me ( 10 miles ?) and can probably help too. Everything you need will be within 5 miles of the airport.. I am an easy half hour away. 707-874-OneThousand advance notice required.

BTW getting to Redding from Santa Rosa without a private plane is hard ..a car is basically the only way.
Allow a half day or more.

It will rain early this winter.. so by oct 1 you want this done and to be home.
 
didn't read grants post.
his is best option for sure.\
Redding.. " its a dry heat". :lol:

When you plan the flight home.. pay real attention to the MOA that crosses the state from the coast at Santa Barbara.. East past Bakersfield. You want to find the freq to call about activity..and use flight following when you cross it. Supersonic jets at low altitudes playing games are not healthy for GA airplanes.

then the maze of Restricted, Prohibited and MOA airspace between Palm Springs and Tucson pretty much shunts you onto the VOR airways.. even if you use GPS. There are other ways to go... but since I keep planning for the Tucson area..that's what I end up with.

larry
 
Hi Ron... I hope you have your -2 back home and are flying it comfortably by now. I had the opportunity to buy this airplane and had a few conversations with the previous owner, however a busy work schedule prevented my from making the trip to Redding. From what I recall this was a well cared for bird. I still own a -2 which I purchased back in the '70s when I was just a kid and is now under restoration. I had about 60 hours of total flying time under my belt at the time I purchased my Cruisemaster, no complex time, and received only a 30 minute check out from the previous owner. Fortunately for me this airplane was easy to fly and took good care of me on a 1000 mile trip back to home base. Let us know how things are going for you. Happy flying! --Rob
 
great story rob. I fell in love with the bellancas in the early 70's when I was ramp walking, and hadn't
flown a lick. Bought a luscome and learned in it.. then opted out. Making the transition to the bellanca as you did.. pretty dang nice. By the time I filled my bucket list with one... it was 40 years older, and much tougher to do everything . I think my money to flight time ratio puts me in the Cessna Citation category in terms of bucks per hour...I'm really doing all the work and paying all the money so somebody else can fly her regularly.
But oh well. That's what we are all doing, whether we know it yet or not. :)
 
Rob58 said:
Hi Ron... I hope you have your -2 back home and are flying it comfortably by now. I had the opportunity to buy this airplane and had a few conversations with the previous owner, however a busy work schedule prevented my from making the trip to Redding. From what I recall this was a well cared for bird. I still own a -2 which I purchased back in the '70s when I was just a kid and is now under restoration. I had about 60 hours of total flying time under my belt at the time I purchased my Cruisemaster, no complex time, and received only a 30 minute check out from the previous owner. Fortunately for me this airplane was easy to fly and took good care of me on a 1000 mile trip back to home base. Let us know how things are going for you. Happy flying! --Rob
Click to expand...

Rob - I'm sorry that I missed your reply. Thought I had all the replies that I was going to get, and I hadn't checked in a while. N9842B is in its new home at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona now. Happy to have it, and yes, it does seem to have been well cared for. Helping my mechanic complete an annual on it now. Learning a lot. Good luck on your own Bellanca – hope to see it sometime.

Still trying to figure out the workings of the forum. There may have been some other way to answer your reply.
 
Ron, isnt this the plane that the factory completely rebuilt the wings? If so, it should last another half century or more. Have fun with a great airplane. _____ Grant. P.S. What California CFI did you find to check you out? It is always good to know who is available.
 
Hi Ron... nice to hear from you and glad to know your plane is back at home base. The forum is a wealth of information and there are many contributors with great knowledge about all aspect of the Bellancas. Really a nice bunch of folks! The key to making the best use of the forum is to practice using the search feature. You will be surprised how many topics have been discussed at length over the years. Please post a few pictures as time goes by and let us know how the annual turns out. --Rob
 
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