Can’t Keep A Good Bird Down

By Gene Yarbrough

One of the benefits of attending the annual Oshkosh pilgrimage is to meet and greet with similar like-minded lunatics. Cessna 177 Cardinal owners are certainly birds that flock together. The Cardinal Flyers Organization held a luncheon at the SOS Brothers food tent just off Wittman Field grounds during OSH22.

The event was attended by several hundred rabid cardinal owners clamoring for fellowship and information regarding their birds. A good time was had by all with plenty of food, discussion, and commiseration of owning an aging aircraft.

Keith Peterson and Paul Milner were the primary Master of Ceremonies and discussed in detail many aspects of owning and operating cardinals. Among the hot topics were such things as D2000/3000 magneto issues, stating that there is at least one fully STC’d electronic replacement option, and one, possibly two, other electronic ignition systems in the works from various vendors. Wingtips were also mentioned as there is a pending STC before the FAA for consolidated wingtips incorporating several lights including nav, position, strobes, wingtip ground lighting to illuminate wingtip position at night, and a logo light to illuminate the cardinal logo on the tail.

The single most controversial topic discussed was the Cessna Service letters regarding center carry thru spar corrosion, loss of a wing, and the potential of an airworthiness directive from the FAA. The spar carry thru issue is a product flowing out of a carry thru spar failure in a single Cessna 210 aircraft. The Cardinal shares a similar design but is a lighter airplane and doesn’t have the same installation issues from the Centurion. Even so Cardinal owners are seeing some corrosion on the carry thru spar, and several have been severe enough to warrant replacing the spar with a used salvaged spar, not an entirely desirable situation. Cardinal owners are very concerned that an AD will be issued and there is no adequate solution to keep their airplanes airworthy.

After enough mass consumption of burgers, brats, and fevered discussion the CFO heads drew tickets for door prizes and the meeting was concluded. The meeting continued informally for another two hours as members milled around showing pictures of their airplanes, or their problems, and chewing the fat. For an airplane that was unfairly maligned in its time the Cardinal still enjoys a fervent and passionate following.

FMI: https://www.cardinalflyers.com/