Annual shows a ‘beautiful’ airplane
The first annual inspection since its restoration is complete and AOPA’s 2015 Sweepstakes 152 was found to be in top condition.
“The work that was done during the restoration is beautiful,” said Bill Ahmann, owner of Twin Cities Aviation in Blaine, Minnesota, who performed the annual inspection. “The paint is still in almost perfect condition. The interior is very nice. And the instrument panel is my favorite part. It’s nice and clean and simple.”
Ahmann is an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization, and he had high praise for the craftsmen at Aviat Aircraft in Afton, Wyoming, who remanufactured N152UC—and several more since then.
N152UC has logged about 200 flight hours since its restoration—and it’s traveled across the United States from Wyoming to Maryland, Florida, California, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
It’s introduced dozens of new students to flying and brought rusty pilots back to general aviation. It’s been to large aviation gatherings including the Light Sport Expo in Sebring, Florida, the annual Sun ’n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, and EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh. Along the way, it’s visited scores of flight schools and flying clubs to show off the virtues of restored aircraft as less costly alternatives to buying new airplanes.
In addition to an eight-employee maintenance facility, Ahmann runs a flight school at Anoka County Airport in Blaine. He said flight schools and their students simply can’t afford new training aircraft.
“They’re simply out of reach,” he said. “We need simple, rugged, reliable airplanes like this one that won’t break the bank.”
Ahmann said he learned to fly in a Cessna 152 and thinks highly of them as trainers, but his fleet is primarily comprised of Cessna 172s because most Minnesotans are too big for the smaller, two-seat airplanes.
Still, he said he was impressed by the durability of N152UC as well as its fit and finish.
“All the mechanics in my shop have had a look at the airplane,” he said, “and we haven’t been able to spot anything other than the normal wear-and-tear items.”
Engine compression on the overhauled Lycoming O-235 cylinders was very solid (76/77/76/76), and oil analysis was normal. A few screws and nut plates were replaced, and the control yoke chain was lubricated and tightened. The nosewheel shimmy damper, a common place for wear, was inspected and shimmed.
The entire annual inspection involved about 18 shop hours.
“Mechanically and cosmetically, the airplane’s in really great shape,” Anmann said. “I’d love to have it on my flight line because it sure draws attention.”
After the AOPA Fly-in at Anoka, N152UC was scheduled to return to Frederick, Maryland. It will be awarded to the AOPA 2015 Sweepstakes winner early next year.
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AOPA Members are automatically entered to win the 2015 You Can Fly Sweepstakes. Members on Automatic Annual Renewal (AAR) receive additional entries.
Dave Hirschman
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