My second announcement

[Ken Stallings]

OK, let's bring folks some more hopefully very good news. If the banks extend me a loan on good terms, then within a few weeks I may add this aircraft to my stable:

It's a 1975 Cessna 310R. This particular aircraft features full de-ice equipment, including de-ice boots, for certified flight into known icing. Of course, this means you just fly it into light icing, preferably of the rime type.

This is sort of my retirement gift to myself so I can put that multi-engine commercial certificate to good use!

Cheers,

Ken

[jmig]

Nice! I have always thought the C-310 was a beautiful airplane. When I was a pimpled faced teenager working at the local airport for flying time, a local doctor had a C-310. I use to wash it for him.

One afternoon he offered to take me up in it. Needless to say, after that flight I walked a foot off the ground for the next couple of days.

[GT182]

Hey Ken, glad to see round these parts. And that is one sweet twin. I've always had a fondness for a 310, that was my very first ride in a twin. I hope it all comes together for ya... good luck.

[Panther_99FS]

Dang Ken....Does the "dark side" pay that much :ques: :d

Congrats though!

[Ken Stallings]

I totally agree with you! I've always lusted for the Cessna 310, especially the later model 310R which this one is. I have always loved those gracefully upturned main fuel tanks.

My high performance hours came in a Baron 55, which is also a wonderful airplane. But the 310R has always had a warm spot in my heart. The fact that this one has the de-ice on it and has the Garmin 530W with XM Weather was the clincher for me! My Skyhawk has the same 530W with XM Weather, so the transition is seamless.

Now I can travel home on vacations in North Carolina and get there in about six hours. Plus in addition to the XM Weather, it also has an onboard color radar set. So, it's really safe to fly cross country and keep away from nasty weather developments.

Ken

[Ken Stallings]

Dang Ken....Does the "dark side" pay that much :ques: :d

Congrats though!

It ain't bad. my friend! It ain't bad!

Ken

[Quicksand]

Hello, Ken.. That is one sharp aircraft.. I hope it works out for you..

[harleyman]

Yea..The 310 is a sweet ride for sure.

[Lionheart]

Very nice choice.. Ive always liked the 310 with wingtanks. They look super clean with gears up, wingtanks aimed up at the wingtips. Also, I like the Me-262 style nose gear, lol..

Nice interior and paint! Hard to believe its that old.



Bill

[djscoo]

You gonna get one of these installed for spying on your neighbors?:mixedsmi:
Attachment 28471

[Ken Stallings]

I know that airplane! That's the Cessna 310 used by the Alabama Air National Guard for counter-drug survelliance missions! I actually have one of my buddies from a previous squadron flying on that aircraft!

Cheers,

Ken

[Henry]

How nany does it seat?
and when you gonna come here?
good to see ya
H

[Ken Stallings]

If you install the third row of seats, and reduce the fuel supply some, it can carry six adults. However, I would not plan on putting that additional row of seats in. Rather, I would just haul my family and enjoy the extra baggage space.

Not sure about ride, Henry. Still got a few moving pieces to get in place. But you never know!

Ken

[Snuffy]

Ummm ... welcome back Ken.

Didn't see the first announcement ...

[lifejogger]

Nice plane, I flew in a 310 once and it was a nice ride.

[cheezyflier]

i remember reading the post about you getting to check out in the baron.
it was a buddies, right? i recall thinking "gee, some folks have it tough"
hahahaha

[Piglet]

I like the Me-262 style nose gear, lol..

Beware, they're almost as bad. 310's are known for tricky-dicky gear systems.
Needs good TLC. Hell, we just rerigged a 310's nosegear. Owner said it keeps going left.

[Ickie]

Is that the one you are going to come to St Pete and get me??
Remember last year...... you promised, lol
I never flown a duel engine and cannot wait.

[Tom Clayton]

If you ever get around the GSO area, drop into W88 and I'll pick you up for a beer!

[grunau_baby]

Sharp looking twin!!! Congrats!!!:ernae:

Glad to see you back around here!

Regards
Alex

[Crusader]

Always ask , Never Assume !

His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight.

He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.

Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger.

He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'.

The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.

Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the fires on the hillsides.'

'Why?' asked the pilot.

'Because I'm a photographer for CNN' , he responded, 'and I need to get some close up shots.'

The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So, what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight instructor?'

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[Willy]

Nice looking twin there Ken. You still have your 172?

[PeteHam]

You've got great taste in aircraft Ken

Always thought the 310 was a sexy looking beast

I've never flown the 310 but logged a wee bit of time in the 320.

Pete.

[Ken Stallings]

Got great news from the bank today!

The loan was approved on very nice terms, which I can easily afford! Spoke with my A&P IA today at the Portales Airport, and he's all set to perform an annual inspection of the aircraft. Since the annual is due by end of March anyway, it made perfect sense to do the few extra steps for an annual, and it's a far superior form of pre-buy inspection.

Plus the current owner agreed to discount the price of the aircraft $1,500 extra to cover the cost of the annual inspection. He's planning to fly it to Portales where my friend (an MEI-I) and I will fly it and that way I can gain my own personal impressions of its flight characteristics, and he can add his own inputs also. He has many hours on 310's so it will be a really good second opinion.

Insurance and the T-hangar are already set up. So, if the annual comes up reasonably clean, I should be the proud owner of this airplane by end of February!

Oh, and Willy, since the Skyhawk is fully paid for, I'm keeping it. So, I'll have the Skyhawk and the 310R. Since the Skyhawk costs about five times less money per flight hour to operate, that will be where I put the bulk of my personal training hours in, including maintaining my instrument rating.

I'll use the 310R primarily for cross country trips. Most frequently this will serve my Grace Flight medical flights. The extra payload of the 310R means I won't have to turn down any of the patients due to too many people coming with them, or too much baggage. Plus, having the de-ice equipment means I'm far less likely to have to cancel the flight in winter time due to poor weather -- something I have had to unfortunately do several times on these medical charity flights in the past with the Skyhawk.

Cheers,

Ken

[Ken Stallings]

i remember reading the post about you getting to check out in the baron.
it was a buddies, right? i recall thinking "gee, some folks have it tough"
hahahaha

True all!

Ken