Navion N8858H

Description

N8858H has been a dream in the making. The whole plane is so free of corrosion that it looks as if it rolled off the assembly line yesterday. For nearly 30 years the plane sat in a dry hanger in Livingston, Montana and during most of this time I tried to purchase the aircraft, but not until the owners death was this possible. As is true with many aging pilots, he always thought that someday he would get his medical back.

In 2004 I contacted a local A&P mechanic who began restoring the aircraft later that year. The rebuild of N8858H included a complete engine overhaul, a brand new $22,000 Hartzell "variable pitch" prop, an original unmodified instrument panel, new original two-piece windshields, and the refurbishment of many other original components. The restoration also included an entirely new electrical system, replacement of the entire hydraulic system with new lines and modern AN fittings, modern avionics, and cleaning and painting of all wheel wells and accessible interior metal surfaces for future corrosion protection. The goal of the restoration was to update the aircraft systems while still keeping the original equipment and configuration.

Great care was taken to meet this restoration goal. For example, the modern avionics are recessed such that an original Narco "Superhomer" radio faceplate can be placed over them when the aircraft is being displayed. The new circuit breakers are mounted in the instrument panel cutout for the original glovebox, and thus can be covered with the glovebox lid when the aircraft is being displayed. The modern anti-collision strobe even accommodates the original glass dome from the Grimes rotating beacon!

Flying this plane is such a kick. It is like traveling back in time. As you know, once you upgrade a Navion, it is almost impossible to return it back to original. N8858H is certainly one of the most "stock" planes in existence today, and this is very evident with a look through the photo gallery.

I spent well over $100,000 on the restoration. Although N8858H has a good paint job, we took off some of the non-original items like the spinner and associated flashing, and exterior cockpit air intakes. A final paintjob or original polished finish would hide the removal of these non-stock additions.

With the exception of a restoration that is currently ongoing in California, I believe N8858H is one of only three totally original Navions, one of which is at the Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Will consider a trade for a class A diesel motor home less than 36 feet in length.

Avionics

Manufacturer	Model	Description
Bendix/King	KLX 135A	VFR moving-map GPS/COMM
Bendix/King	KT 76A	Mode A/C Transponder with altitude reporting
Flightcom	403mc	Four place intercom, panel mount

Significant Modifications

Modification	Number	Year
Palo Alto Tail	1A741-6	1953

Recent Airframe Maintenance

Date	TTAF	Description
8/2005	2266	Disassembled aircraft, removed engine, wings, instrument panel, and canopy. Throughly cleaned and painted all gear wells, firewall, and interior floors. Removed control cables and pulleys, cleaned and re-greased serviceable pulleys, replaced worn components. Reassembled aircraft, reinstalled and rigged flight controls. Removed all hydraulic and brake system components and tubing. Replaced O-rings in hydraulic actuators and brakes, and cleaned components thoroughly. Installed new hydraulic lines, hoses, and fittings. Disassembled, cleaned, painted and reassembled all landing gear components, replaced nose gear trunnion bearings, replaced all O-rings in nose and main gear struts. Rigged landing gear system, uplocks and uplock release. Installed new tires, brake linings and rotors, and brake return springs. Installed and rigged all new engine controls. Installed used serviceable pressure carburetor, replaced all fuel delivery and return lines. Oil cooler overhauled by Pacific Oil Cooler Service, all oil lines replaced with new units. Replaced all ducting and baffling in engine compartment. Hydraulic regulator and valve unit overhauled, calibrated, and tested by Classic Aero. Cleaned and refurbished all cockpit controls and switches. Installed new aircraft wiring, battery, master relay, starter relay, and circuit breakers. Rebuilt propeller pitch control with new diaphragm and O-rings, repacked main bearing with Hartzell supplied grease, rigged propeller pitch control. Installed new Hartzell HC-D2MV20-7 propeller. All instruments were overhauled by The Gyro House, remarked, and reinstalled in used serviceable panel. Installed all new decals and placards on panel. Installed new vacuum regulator, lines, and filter Installed new interior, headliner, and carpeting

Recent Engine Maintenance

Date	TTAF	Description
8/2005	2266	Engine Disassembled, cleaned and overhauled. New standard bearings installed. Overhauled magnetos installed. Generator and Starter overhauled.