'Been flying since 1968 starting with gliders auto-towed off dry lakes.
Picked up SEL in an Aeronca 7AC in 73 so I could spend time at both ends of the tow rope (no - that was done with a Citabria, not the Aeronca). Had a blast coming back in opposite takeoff - dropping the rope at the threshold & doing a crop-dusting U-turn to landing that I learned from on old guy in a Stearman. I was young then.
Recently got this '57 180 that had been sitting disassembled in storage for 20 years somewhere in Massachusetts, and had a great little shop in Leander, Tx. rebuild it from the bare metal up.
Lots of nice features, and Joe Sills at Sills Aviation that did the work is an absolute master at this stuff. In spite of starting with pieces (the fuselage had the nose removed when he got it and was no longer even rigid) his jigging was so right-on that the rigging required absolutely no adjustment once it was together & test flown.
As so often happens with such projects, it cost us more than we planned. That plus other factors results in our now having it up for sale - though not for cheap. It's a real unique gem, needing someone who wants an early 180 in pristine shape.
Then I'll pick something else up to get us to & from our place in the desert. Taildragger, of course, and I think with a stick this time around.
If you're interested, there's more details on the 180
at www.ks-ranch.com/N775KS
And I'll be posting an ad here.
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