Retired Corporate guy but First time Aircraft Owner
Hello all,
Great to be here, looking to learn from others on here.
I retired from the corporate jet flying in 2020, I eventually missed the flying, but not the flying around the world for thirty seven years and living out of a suitcase. In 2024 the bug hit again, so I decided to get back into flying with the pipers that I started with in 1973. I went up with an instructor in a rented Cherokee 140, got current and started to rent. Then later in 2024 the search began, I only thought I could stop flying. It took me several years to find the right Piper. I did want a retractable, so that narrowed the search and I was leaning toward the Arrow, it's also what I taught in, back in 1977. I found a 1976 Arrow II. White, with black velvet and inferno red trim. It also came with two Garmin G5s, a Garmin GNS 430W, which I keep the database current since I file IFR everywhere we go. it also has a Garmin GMA 345, a stratus Transponder and I just recently added a CGR-30P Engine monitor, which I love. I do plan on installing a vertical compass and a M800 Davtron clock pretty soon. I have recently just changed the N number, a 6 month process.
I purchased my Arrow in February and have already put 76 hours on it as of last night for my night currency. My wife and I have made several trips together in it to go visit our kids, well... grown kids. The really cool part is we can go have lunch with our daughter who is about 40 minute flight time away in North West Ark and our son who is about 1.5 hours flight time in central Ark. Sine we live in Oklahoma it's a very easy quick flight. A couple weekends ago, I flew down to an airport near our son, to help him work on his Jeep, came back next morning.
I do as much of the maintenance on my airplane as I legally can, I'm based in Tulsa so I have several different A&P's that do my annuals. I've already changed oil, filters and other minor preventive maint items. Absolutely love my 1976 Piper Arrow II. Well so does my wife, she told me last week, "hey we need the airplane to go have Thanksgiving dinner with our son, he's cooking for us". Well..... I only thought I was through with dispatchers. LOL !! Oh well...... at least I leave when I want to and go where my wife says we're going. At least no more 0300 wake ups to fly across an ocean to some horrible place across the world.
Attached are some pics of my 1976 Arrow and my CGR.
Thanks All.
Comments
That's nice looking Arrow. How much was the CGR Engine monitor plus installation if you don't mind saying? I have a 1979 Arrow IV and looking to replace/upgrade my old EDM700 that doesn't really work.
I can't speak to what the OP paid, but the hardware for a CGR-30 is about $4,100 for a primary, and $5,100 for a combo. If you want to get rid of all OEM instruments, you'd need a combo to account for the 6 required primaries-a -30P only shows 5. I quote 40 hours to install a full system in our shop, as a reference.
Tom Jackson
PA28RT-201, N3022U
Tappahannock, VA (KXSA)
A&P/IA, Private Pilot, IR/A
Hughs 757,
Tom is pretty close. The only item I didn't add was the new fuel digital sensor in the fuel tanks. As that obviously required removal of the tanks and adding an additional wire to the CGR-30. However I still have the fuel gage on the CGR30 I just stick the tanks to get an accurate fuel load and put that info into the unit prior to start up. The CGR30 is tied to my GNS 430W. so it knows the time to destination as well as fuel burn per hour which is through the fuel flow transmitter to the CGR. I stick the tanks after I land to compare what I actually have and what the CGR says I have, my las trip which was about a 1.5 hour trip back from Arkansas. there was a .1 gallon difference. I can't even read .1 on the gage anyway so I'd say it's spot on. Now, the other night when I went out and did my night currency it was about 1.5 gallons off, even with the 3 full stop landings and takeoffs, that's still pretty close. Also, I was able to spot a bad oil pressure transmitter as well with the CGR30-P. Oil pressure was bouncing all over the place, checked the transmitter, adjustment nut was broken so I replaced it the transmitter. So now I run a steady 69 to 71 psi in cruise at 23 /2400 at either 5000 or 6000. I also like the leaning markings for more accuracy leaning procedures. For me it was a great investment. So much better than the analog guessing gages.
I believe total labor was around 50.0 hours plus the the unit it's self made the grand total around $9,500. They did allow me to pay half up front and then the remaining after completion and test flight by me.
Thank you for the complement on my Arrow. I love it, it's the perfect airplane for us. Nice being back down at the lower altitudes instead of the nose bleed section of the high 40's.
Thank you Hughs757.
Welcome back to small airplanes. That should be a good bird for many years for you. Carl
50yrs A/P IA DAL A/C inspector. 172N Rotax IRMT 912/914
I hope so Carl , Thank you.
Blue skies to you