So You Want a Cessna 195?

[@thomasberthe4324]

Most of my first 300 hours, instrument instruction, first solo, and private checkride were in my fathers 195. Checkride in 1979, I was 17. Dad was exceptionally well qualified to teach in the airplane as engineering test pilot, and had done a tour as an SNJ instructor as well. 300 hours getting beaten black and blue with a rubber hose - but an incredible privilege that was invaluable in my professional career. Was keeping current towing gliders at Waitsfield, VT when Ron Gruner got his 195 - could not have been more impressed with his familiarization process with the ship and his handling of it. Great video - an essential point missed though was the importance of cranking voltage in starting radial engines, particularly Jakes as they have high compression and are hard to turn. Battery condition is essential in precluding induction fires. The loveliest thing about a 195 he left out - that big semi-elliptical wing builds a nice cushion of air under the wing in the landing flare - one of the few airplanes I know that one can make consistent landings that you can't (well mostly) feel the wheels touch. Luscombe, light Wacos, Chipmunk, and the Marquart Charger are the only planes I've flown that build that nice cushion that just bleeds off. Cubs can but has to be just right. Lovely aspect of the 195.Thanks Ron for posting this, and hope your well.

[@Captain_Gruner]

Tom, I just saw this. Thanks for your helpful comments. We are all fine. Still have my 195, now based in Naples, FL where the weather is CAVU nearly every day. Best wishes, Ron

[@thomasberthe4324]

@@Captain_Gruner Best wishes Ron, nice to hear from you. Retired out of Boeing experimental flight test, back in Vermont building up a Rose Parrakeet in great clouds of sawdust and welding sparks (not at the same time, kind of careful about that) and raising a young Irish Wolfhound. Take care, Tom

[@tsmgguy]

I took my private pilot check ride with Larry Bartlett on Christmas day, 1978, logging 1.8 hours. Larry wanted first to see to see a soft field takeoff, followed by a short field landing in Fabens, Texas. Larry was a fixture in aviation in the Southwest US for many years.

[@mikerother7965]

Love to see Butterfly Aviation at KGLD get the love they deserve. Great FBO that continues to be ran by a family with a love for aviation and 195's.

[@kevinmurphy3464]

That is a beautiful aircraft and this gentleman did a fantastic job educating everyone on this Cessna. Super knowledgeable!

[@Captain_Gruner]

Larry Bartlett instructed and promoted aviation for over 50 years. He was respected, and loved, by hundreds of pilots.

[@hotprop92]

Great vid, great info, first time I've seen a frame jig orger than at a manufacturer. Looks like Mr Collette could build you one from a box of parts. Eng rebuilder was full of a lot of info also. THX.

[@darrenhussey5848]

Aside from the radial engines, Cessna Service Manuals or Pilot’s Operating Handbooks also recommend pulling the propeller through at least five revolutions on aircraft with horizontally opposed engines as well prior to start if the airplane has been in flyable storage for about 30 days.

[@seangetsinger5881]

Great little vid. Thanks for sharing

[@JasonRiley276]

What a beautiful machine. I don't think you ever own a 195, you just become the caretaker for a while.

[@gerryortiz7276]

Thanks for posting these videos!

[@jerryryen5700]

Awesome video, reminds me of my Cessna 150 days back in '72, Redlands, CA KREI

[@dabneyoffermein595]

wow, that guy that does the engine rebuilds that was so knowledgeable is probably still rebuilding about one of these a week, just an amazing story and a fabulous engine. I believe his name was Steve.

[@michaelsamson3276]

I will be helping a guy in north Florida repair his 195. It suffered a broken left gear leg. It causes quite a bit of damage. Engine, fuselage etc. I think the suggestion for removing the gear leg for inspection at engine OVHL is a good idea. There is no way to inspect the area that this spring broke without removing it from the aircraft.

[@Captain_Gruner]

As you probably know, the 195 originally came with the "heavy" gear, but switched to the "light" gear a few years later. I'm not sure either is more prone to failure.

[@fettlerjohn3419]

Fantastic 👍🏼 ✨

[@RobertSchelegle]

Hi, this is Robert. I know from experience that 195 will not fly it shop. Like other people think the other points will fly themselves. But the 195 you got to stay with it. All the time, especially on you, take off and Landy's. My dad had suggested 195 I do have a lot of time and reform to many air shows. And also got compliments. You've guys may have heard of it, says no 12214 Lima. The silver sparrowe had comes to cut close calls and my dad. And I also practiced emergency landings a lot without power and gays. I know some gay. Have done that and made seriously mistakes.It is ground loops.Hey, thank you.This is Robert.I'm just saying my advice.I hope all you want 95 lovers.Continue your favorite airplanes

[@skylaneav8r902]

Love the 195s and the Shakey Jake. Nice video. Thanks for posting. Is Mr. Bartlett still around? I figure this video is probably 25+ years old.

[@dhbfastnp]

Larry Bartlett passed away a few years ago. He loved flying and his 195.

[@skylaneav8r902]

@@dhbfastnp Thank you.

[@hotprop92]

This is a general question meant for people using the Jacobsen. Assuming that your Jacobsen still has the battery/distributor ign on the right side, when switching the ign on to fire up the engine do you initially hold the ign switch to R until she revs up a bit or just flip it to BOTH immediately. I would think since the distributor can retard the spark and assuming the mag has no merhod of ign retardation that switching to R initially and then BOTH as the engine finds its revs would be the way to go to prevent an induction backfire and a smoother start.

[@Captain_Gruner]

I had a Cessna 195 for 35 years and always switched from Battery to Both once the engine fired. Never had a problem doing this.

[@hotprop92]

@@Captain_Gruner thanks that question has been sitting in the background for many years I can finally scratch off the bucket list.

[@cha05]

6:05 is that a urinal??

[@garybaldwin1061]

Great video. What year was this produced?

[@Captain_Gruner]

Gary, I believe Larry Bartlett's "So You Want a Cessna 195?" and "Taming the Taildragger" were both produced in the late 1980s. Both are great videos more than three decades later.

[@garybaldwin1061]

@@Captain_Gruner Thanks for the response. I remember reading taming the taildragger 30 yrs ago when I transitioned to a cessna 120, I didn't know he was the author. I found he died in 2017 at 89. He said in the video he was 72.

[@lessharratt8719]

I spit my cold snack out of my nose when I saw the urinal mounted on the door.

[@Jolinator]

Same! Good beer choice :)

[@seangetsinger5881]

I thought that’s what that was. Then I thought..... No, can’t be. Gotta be something else. Lol

[@lessharratt8719]

"It doesn't work the other way" Well that explains a lot.

[@saltywrath8903]

I wonder if there are any really 195 AIs still around

[@rickcee59]

Yes there are. The "Master" is Jeff Pearson in Chino CA

[@shockflyer71]

Nice

[@Sparky241j3]

I was born and raised in the 195 starting at the age of six years old. She came out to Texas on a trailer and two wings from a ground loot. To Michigan city, Indiana. My father fabricated a jig. Him and his friend did their best to put her back together again. Fortunately, no spar damage on the ground loop. My question is of all the videos I have seen and watched the 195 land in person, why is it no one wheel lands the aircraft? My father always did perhaps it was due to his training in the T6 during his Air Force days. My father used to keep the tail up till approximately 30 kn. This helps so much for the visibility and this is how I was trained. Thank you, Douglas Nelson