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N6123M
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1948 Stinson 108-3 Voyager C/N 108-4123Discuss this aircraft in forum |
| Manufacturer: | Stinson |
| Model: | 108-3 Voyager Search all Stinson 108-3 |
| Year built: | 1948 |
| Construction Number (C/N): | 108-4123 |
| Aircraft Type: | Fixed wing single engine |
| Number of Seats: | 4 |
| Number of Engines: | 1 |
| Engine Type: | Reciprocating |
| Engine Manufacturer and Model: | Franklin 6A4165 SERIES |
| Registration Number: | N6123M |
| Mode S (ICAO24) Code: | A7F8F9 |
| Certification Class: | Standard |
| Certification Issued: | 1996-01-26 |
| Last Action Taken: | 2008-01-15 |
| Current Status: | Valid |
| Registration Type: | Co-Owned |
| Address: | Lewiston, MI 49756 United States |
| Region: | Great Lakes |
| JayTee WEATHERBIE, 2006-08-14 00:00:00 | |
| Were we to win 'THE Lottery' and have almost unlimited fund$ I do not think we will ever have another flying machine quite like 123Mike. First of all, it was our first private 'plane. We bought it from Bud Cook, up in Auburn, Calif. (vic. Frsno), for about $3600, which ~~ today ~~ is an almost unbelievable price. Of coursse, the pure senimentallity of one's first aircraft cannot be imagined 'til ya have one....... We were only the third owners of record. Bud had purchased 'Mike' from the original owner, some rancher I believe Bud told us. Bud had ALL the original paperwork & manuals & log books( (airame & engine)! When we took posession, the flying machine was in better-than-new condition. Gawd, how he babied that machine! Immaculate, inside & out, in absolutely original condition except for paint scheme, and newer [more modern] routine maintenance items such as up-graded battery, brake pads, hoses & lines, stainless steel control cables, etc. It was still fabric covered -- no one had bastardized it by going to all-metal. Original 'heavy-case' 165 hp 'Franklin' engine -- 6 cyl. that ran PERFECTLY, with that distinctive warm-idle sound....... Still had the original 'Sensenich - SkyBlade' wood prop. NOT constant-speed but acutated by a control knob in the cockpit. Oil-controlled, [strictly] two-position (climb/cruise) variable pitch. The second reason we will never e able to duplicate 'Mike' was its performance! The Stinson 108-3 'Flying StationWagon' was considered to be the Cadillac of small, light 'planes from the very start. Huge, extremely comfortable cockpit! Beautiful mahogany-paneled interior. Rear seats and right-front seat removable for [sorta] heavy ops in Utility-category -- we could carry up to a half-ton (1,000 lbs.!) IN THE COCKPIT, while still loading full fuel [50 gal.!] 108-3 owners may be among the biggest liars about performance, so take the following with-a-grain-of-salt: Cruise, at 12,500 ft., cool OAT, 2300 RPM, leaned mixture -- TAS of 130 mph. at max gross wt. THERE IS NOT A 'PLANE THAT WAS EVER BUILT AND/OR NOW EXISTS THAT CAN DUPLICATE THE COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE OF A 'STINSON' 108-3 'FLYING STATIONWAGON' ! ! ! 'Mike' was also THE reason I left one of the finest jobs in the world, flying helicopters offfshore in the Gulf of Mexico for/with PHi, to go back to school for two(!) years of college in order to get my A&P tickets. Were we to win 'THE Lottery, one of the first things I would do would be up to Michigan and buy back 'my' airplane, at any cost...... | |