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Guys:
I need some help. I accidentally lost my control wheel gust lock. Please don't make me tell you how ... it's embarrassing and is the kind of story one tells friends ...

... late at night

... over a couple of beers

... at Clinton.

Hint ... it fell out of the airplane on the backside of a loop whilst doors off

(Matthew & Lee ... the "whilst" was for you)

Rats ... I just told ya. Couldn't help myself. It lies out there in the middle of a field in the Okefenokee Swamp. Gawd, I'm embarrassed.

Anyway, looking for a 1976 control wheel gust lock if anybody has one.

Else, I go to the boneyards or direct to Cessna.

Thoughts ????

Danny, Someone on another thread was looking for a wheel gust lock too.

I understand that they are quite expensive and as hard to find as a needle in a field in the Okefenokee Swamp!

I have heard tell that a welding rod bent the correct way will work as a substitute.

You must be itchin' to be Gator-Bait...doing a loop over a swamp the size of the Okeefenokee! Nice practice area!

Check the boneyards across the state.

trailer hitch retain pins with a ribbon attached will work

I always hold at least a little positive g in a loop (my normally aspirated engine thanks me by continuing to run)! Am I doing it wrong?

As of yesterday there were two on E-Bay.

Good to see your using the King's, or should I say Queens English.....


By the way, "Whislt" I know I flew with you with the doors off last year, I didn't take much notice of the performance of those 100 horses you had under the cowling (I was too busy checking out the scenery ) - I've been thinking about a little "Doors off" action myself down here, and just wondering if you noticed any Take-Off, or handling issues with yours in that configuraton

All info appreciated

Cheers

Carl ... yes I was a little sloppy and slacked-off on the top side of the loop. Floated a little. Plus I thought I had everything tied down ... missed buttoning-up the gust lock. My bad.

Matt ... no weird performance issues other than the ol' girl doesn't like to go fast. Lot's of drag and the turbulence inside the cockpit (behind me in the baggage compartment) is noticeable. Remember I don't have any interior plastic so there is nothing to blow-apart or break.

But it is soooo refreshing on a warm day to have the open cockpit and you truly feel "one with the air" ... at least as close as one can get in a Cessna 150.

I would be cautious with flying with both doors off if your airplane has the std.plastic interior, especially concerned with the plastic piece that partitions the back of the baggage compartment with the rear/tail of the fuselage.

I believe that piece of plastic (brittle that it is) would have a tendency to break due to either the pressure differences or the velocity of the air slipping in the door openings. I can hear interference "beat" patterns from the air if I go too fast. My piece is aluminum so there is no structural integrity problem.

Finally, I find she cruises very well @ 70-75 knots with the doors off. Seems to be a sweet-spot. Anything faster (can't really get much faster anyway) just seems to waste fuel and make the flight less enjoyable.

Low, slow with an open cockpit ... nice.

Finally: All, thanks for the notes & help on the gust lock

Danny,
Here's a photo I took of Bill Warner's control gust lock. Looks like he used the original flag mount and made a vertical pin to insert it into the yoke locking hole.

[Linked Image]

It may offer you a different perspective on the final product you choose.

Perfect ... I'm following-up on the e-bay lead.