Grumman AA-1C: will I fit

Posted by Pdbteam@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 8 comments

Hey all. I’m looking at buying a lynx as a starter plane to build my hours but I am not sure if I’ll fit in the cockpit or not. Without physically sitting in one I will not know for sure but does anyone have any experience with these beasts before? If so would you assume a Tall person (6’3) to have trouble fitting? Think I could handle a tight fit, just don’t want my knees rubbing against the panel. Thanks!

Reply to Post

8 Comments

[-]

Handag@reddit

Previous AA1C owner here, 6’3 will be a little tight, I’m 6’1 and I had to duck to close the canopy with my headset on but otherwise fit fine. Keep in mind you will not be able to carry another adult person with you without significantly cutting how much fuel you take. Definitely sit in one before buying it, get a good prebuy, also check the type of oil filter it has too. Mine had a metal screen type that need oil changes every 25 hours, adds up pretty quick if you’re building time.

[-]

Pdbteam@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the info. Not well informed on various oil filters for the plane though. Do you know how many hours other oil filters are good for?

[-]

Anonymous5791@reddit

That’s kind of misleading… older Lycoming engines have a screen that you have to clean when you do an oil change. It’s a two minute process - cut the safety wire, unscrew, rinse in gasoline, reinstall and put a new piece of safety wire on. If you don’t know how to safety wire, get a mechanic to show you. In general, you change the oil here every 25 hours. You can get an STC for a spin on oil filter or some later engines just had them. This is a good thing and extends your change interval to 50 hours. You still have to safety wire the filter in place. The filter picks out finer particles which is why you get to extend the interval. However, the cost differential is mostly eaten up by the fact you have to replace the filter each time, too. Depending on where you by the oil and filter, it basically comes out to the same $$$. You’re not saving anything. I’ve got a screen on one of my planes (o-200). Never had a problem making it past tbo with regular 25 hour changes.

[-]

Handag@reddit

I’m talking the o-235 that was on my AA1C lynx. to clean oil pressure screen you have to remove a few bolts and lock washers, to get to the screen to inspect for metal, and then torque it to whatever was in the service table of limits. My A&P was happy to let me do it and and sign off on it but he argued that I couldn’t do it without A&P supervision , my local FSDO agreed with him when I checked with them. Not saying they were right or wrong, but I went based off what they said. This is why it’s best for OP to check on what type of oil filter is in the plane, and check with his own A&P. Additionally, fletchair does have the spin on STC, however they didn’t recommend it for my aircraft due to the space and some of the other things you mentioned. But I’m 100% agree with you, if he does have a spin on oil filter, no reason to pay an A&P to do it.

[-]

Anonymous5791@reddit

Fun fact: Maybelle Fletcher (who founded Fletchair) was the DPE for my IFR ride many many moons ago out of Hobby Airport :) My A&P said that cleaning the screen was part of my oil change FWIW since it was preventative. But it’s super easy in my plane - does take a new crush washer and a torque wrench and safety wire but it’s pretty easy to get to and not any harder than the spin on filter for the o-200. YMMV. Maybe you got the fsdo on a bad day :(

[-]

Handag@reddit

Usually it’s recommended at 50 hours and for normal paper filters you can change it by yourself. The metal screen type aren’t very fine and are really meant to catch big pieces of metal and require an a&p to do the oil changes. I can’t remember what I was paying for oil changes, but it wasn’t cheap. Keep a lot of AA1C have a 150HP conversation and have normal oil filters, or an STC for a spin on filter, just something to ask about so you’re not caught off guard like I was.

[-]

AWACS_Bandog@reddit

An actual replacement type on most modern Lycomings is 50 hours generally

[-]

UncharacteristicZero@reddit

Id be more worried about how "round" you are not how tall. lol