I'll bet if Mike could start it I could fly it.

But what about landing it so that it may be immediately re-used?



RAS

But what about landing it so that it may be immediately re-used?



RAS

This is where an instructor must know how far he can let the student go before getting proactive. Obviously this would be unfamiliar territory for myself. You have to let students go to the limits of what you are comfortable (without damage) no matter what airplane.

Mark,
Without knowing the airplane itself, your buddy's qualifications or yours, it's difficult to say what to do. It's a personal decision for you. You originally stated this was to be a tailwheel endorsement flight-- I couldn't think of a worse airplane to check a guy out that never flew tailwheel! A-game required.
If you have flown a Stearman, T6 or the like and had it screeching tires sideways down the runway and got back to the ramp with it unbent then you might be OK. You might fly the 195 and wonder what the big deal is. If it is a good one, it should handle fine. As soon as you get relaxed she will bite though.
Insurance could be another issue, if it gets bent make sure you are covered. Usually will require some time in a 195 to get coverage
Not meant to be preachy-- do what works for you
Ray

A little thread drift, Chuck, I see you own both the 195 and 185. What are your feelings on the two aircraft? As far as comparing the two on ground handling, TO and landing, and wheel or 3 point landings.
Thanks, Ron

Ron,
Much of the difference is in the pages above. You have a 185 so you know how it handles. My 185 is on 8.5x6's. Good for grass and most off road.

Differences, come across the fence faster, basically no flaps unlike the 185, the control on the ground is much easier in the 185. Part of the difference is the linkages and rudders. Part the big round radial and it's prop. Some is the blanking of the rudder when tail is on ground. Majority is the site lines. In the 185 I can see over the cowl and have a 180 degree view of the airport in front of you. The 195 you have a site line of perhaps 50 degrees and no flat surfaces for reference. The wing is above your head and it does not show in your peripheral vision. When the tail comes down you have even less visibility out front.

Not withstanding that with your 185 experience you are a great candidate for a 195. It's a challenge but is well worth it. You will love it. Keep her straight!!

What great input, I really do appreciate this thread. I've never flown a Pitts or a midwing monoplane but I have flown pretty much all the 40s model taildraggers. I know the difference between tame and squirrelly and I'm not one to tempt fate. I do enjoy a challenge when it pits me against a new airplane skill and I think I've found one with the 195. Aubie put me on a gentleman who might actually fly with me one day and see if I can get this itch scratched. I'd like to do my next BFR in the -195. I can tell you for certain that you'll find some great folks when you walk the line of 195s.

You will love it!

I have flown a 195, the one pictured, no more than one hour. I had NOTHING to do with the condition shown in the picture however. I took it off and landed it several times and found nothing "untoward" about it other than, like a Pitts, you simply can't see much. I think Doug pointed out the peculiarity of the angle of the nose cowling/fairing which does make it take some getting used to to know when you are going straight.

The "one pictured" belongs to a very close friend of mine and Aubey's. Aubey found it for him and helped him refurbish it to one of the nicest I've seen including a new engine. As someone cautioned, the gear can be a weak link, but there are upgrades. Just know that the gear on a 195 will break. This happened on roll out after a perfectly normal landing.

The owner is going to have the airplane jigged and repaired which will be quite a task. Aubey's engine quit on him awhile back and he deadsticked it in safely, but it too had to go to the jig. The good news is that the 195 is a very well supported airplane.

I kid Aubey about being a Mississippi State "gadurate", but the boy knows his stuff about airplanes and pretty much all there is to know about the 195. If you are interested in one, DO NOT FAIL TO PUT AUBEY IN YOUR LOOP OF INFO.

Jgreen

I saved your pictures right after you posted them and have showed them to a lot of interested parties. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Mark,

Comments from me on the 195 and gear issues mean little for I know little. Aubey can give the straight scoop on the issue and the fix. I'm pretty sure there is a company making new gears in both steel and titanium. It is certainly not a reason to pass up owning the airplane, just an issue to be addressed.

Jgreen

One must be an educated consumer to caretake one of these nostalgic icons. I'm glad there are those who are interested and share their knowledge so the younger might pass it down. Type clubs are great and I'm sad to see the one I've belonged to for the longest die on the vine.

JGG,

Is that a little corrosion in a crack? Or did it break where it is clamped....from flexing at that point..?

Jeff

If anyone's interested in the history of Cessna 195's in Argentina, I came across an article from an Argentine aviation magazine called "LV" (Lima Victor). I previously translated the article to English - if anyone's interested in that let me know and I can post it here. The article talks about the history of the 6 Cessna 195's that came to Argentina, and where they are today. Here's a pic of the first page:

http://imgur.com/a/F7o9p