I couldn’t resist. Art deco style Cessna from the early 1950’s, made by Carenado, and sold at a good price on the Marketplace meant that I just had to pick it up. A review will be forthcoming but in the meantime I wanted to document a fun flight that I undertook with the aircraft. Let’s go!
Van Nuys takeoff
This is my second flight journal piece taking me out from Van Nuys Airport. It’s an airport that I have some scenery for so its always nice to fly from a custom airport. This time I went in a different direction off to the west, weaving my way above Simi Valley, over the peaks of Los Padres National Forest and then in to the scenic Santa Barbara. Here’s how it went.
Applying power carefully but steadily, I was able to direct the Cessna 195 in a relatively straight manner down the runway. With some gusting winds (new in SU10) and low clouds, this was going to be a more moody flight but the Cessna 195 seems to be able to handle that relatively well.
The 195 was used primarily as a business airplane although in the modern day it’s a historic GA airplane that attracts collectors and enthusiasts looking to recapture that moment in history. The Cessna 195 is fitted with a Jacobs R-755 radial engine producing about 300 horsepower so its no slouch and once I was up in the air, we climbed steadily and confidently.
Through the valleys to Santa Barbara
Staying VFR meant working my way through some low clouds and taking advantage of the cuts between ridgelines. This lead me north to Simi Valley and then west.
Beneath me were plenty of suburbs, interstate, and mountain ridges in almost equal measure.
At one point a ridge line came up rather suddenly and I had to take advantage of the 300 hp radial engine to boost me up and over it. On the other side I saw a break in the clouds and some sun filled the area ahead making for stark contrast. Plenty of early morning fog continued to fill the valleys as well.
Eventually I emerged along the coastline and made a beeline for Santa Barbara. ATC confirmed my landing request and vectored me in on a right hand approach to runway 7. My approach was good but my flare came a little soon and the aircraft required some straightening up before the wheels touched down. Note to self: Don’t let the speed bleed off too quickly with this one.
After that, it was a quick taxi over to a parking space and time to shut the engine off, open the doors, and go and find some lunch. A great flight and a good first introduction to the Carenado/Asobo Cessna 195! Review to come.
Stormbirds 
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