VIKING of the MONTH
August 1999
"Miss August"
N 7379V is a 1969 Super Viking owned by Bob & Bette Nixon
This Viking is based in Willits, CA (O28)
What attention to detail!
Bette writes: "We purchased our '69 17-30 with only 891 hour total time. For the four years prior to our getting the plane it had been flown very infrequently. Many problems began to surface as we started flying the plane on a more frequent basis, including a high level engine vibration. Considering advise from fellow pilots we decided to take on a zero time engine replacement and along with that decision came a total restoration, including interior. We ordered engine, fabric, leather and known incidentals. Bob tore out the interior, from skin inward. It is one way to really become familiar with your aircraft and appreciate Bellanca quality.
All side windows were replaced, window frames stripped and repainted to match the fabric. Every screw in the plane was replaced and all mildew and corrosion was removed. As we tore seats and side panels out, we needed to save all the old pieces to compare for size and location of mounting screws. Some of the pieces were so warped and ragged that it took fitting in the plane and adjusting prior to gluing and screwing into place. The headliner was probably the worst fitting of all. There was no margin for error between sections. The wood on the side panels is Bocote from South America, trimmed with curly maple. Even the ceiling light has a hand finished wood bezel. As a result of the interior refurbishment and clean-up, we gained another 39.2 pounds of useful load!
We flew the plane after the engine installation and there were very few bugs to work out. We were going fine until Continental's mandatory crankshaft inspection. After some haggling to get an inspection date from TCM, the inspection was finally done and the crankshaft passed. Our first oil analysis was very good and there is no vibration as before, and we use no oil. So far so good. We are happy with the results for all we've done. When the exterior is done it will be a really sharp looking plane." (I think it's quite sharp looking already! Tom)
Bob & Bette can be reached at:
bobette@pacific.net
The Newest Member of the Fleet!
Picture YOUR Airplane Here
Send me photos and some history about your Viking, and I'll place it on this page for all Bellanca Fans to see! Snail mail photos to: 3741 N. Forgeus Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716 (all photos will be returned promptly)...or e-mail .jpg files to:
Vikingdrvr@att.net
Previous "Vikings of the Month"
N 1285R...Don Ame's 1972 Turbo Viking
N 93570...Larry Smalley's 1973 17-31A
N 39819...Jim Howell's 1973 17-30A
N 4081B...Tom Binder's 1975 17-31ATC
N 4052B...The DeFoe's 1976 17-30A
N 28067...Craig Gifford's 1979 17-30A
N 6578V...James Gryder's 1970 17-31ATC
N 93554...Troy Foster's 1974 17-31ATC
N 110CB...RJ Lint's 1974 17-30A
N 6639V...Michael Waiwood's 1970 17-30A
N 147PH...Ron Bianchi's 1974 17-30A
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