Anyone Located at KLVN - Airlake in Lakeville MN?

B

Brad from MN

Preflight
If so, I'd like to stop down sometime when you're at the airport and chat. Flying Cloud would be another possibility. I haven't been in one of these planes since I got my private license years ago but I'm looking at buying a Sundowner at some point in the next year or so and I want to make sure the plane is as I remember it. I actually got my license in a Sport and then moved to Archers. I remembered two things about the Archer: 1. How small the cockpit and windshield seemed 2. How fast the plane climbed compared to the Sport. I'm hoping the Sundowner has the best of both. Any of the Musketeer series would be nice to see.

Thanks,
Brad
 
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I will check my records when I get to the office in the morning to see who may have a Sundowner that is closest to you. Off hand, I know of a Sundowner at KANE-Anoka County Airport in northern Minneapolis. It belongs to a flying club. If that is a plane you would like to see and talk to someone about, my son flies freight out of KANE and would be glad to put you in touch with someone at the club. I saw their Sundowner in Oshkosh several weeks ago. Mike Nielsen, North Central Region Director
 
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Hi Brad,

I learned in C172's - I've been in a Cherokee - IMHO - neither come close to a Sundowner... The Beech view out the front is fantastic and for a 6' 5" 218 lbs guy - it's the most comfortable/roomy of the lot... I don't think any of the mice are really known to be a rocket ship on the climb (maybe the Super ?) but I normally see initial climb around 650 to 800 depending on load/weather... LOL - I have noticed that I can make it to pattern altitude in the winter - before the end of the runway on some occasions - which is kind of a hoot... They do have a pretty snappy roll rate - are built like a tank - and - a joy to fly... Personally - I say it all the time - but - I would have great difficulty going back to flying a C172 again...

I did a quick look around the usual sites for Sundowner and there's only two or three available from what I could find - which is a bit unusual...

Best of luck with everything - and - just shout if you need more help - most people would love the opportunity to show off their birds...

Regards,
Scott
 
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Brad, Here's what I have on my records for Sundowners in Minnesota which are somewhat close to you:
Gary Ganfors, 250 W. McArthur St., South St. Paul has a C23 Sundowner
Andy Cherne, ph 763-420-9026, Maple Grove has a C24 Sundowner,
Mike Lilja, 14000 Lawndale Ln N, Dayton has a C23 Sundowner
You could try to send them a P.M. or call them if you can find their phone numbers.
The Sundowner at KANE belongs to the North Star Flying Club. Here is a link to their planes: http://www.northstarflyers.com/planes.html Here is their contact infomation: 14708 YANCY STREET NE
ANOKA, MN 5530414708 YANCY STREET NE ANOKA, MN 55304 Phone: 763-413-3510
I hope this helps. Let me know if I can be of any further service.
P.S. This is a secret, but I am hoping to have an October brat roast fly-in in the Minneapolis-southern MN area in October. Don't tell anyone yet.
 
By the way, Brad there couple of other Muskateers near you if you want to talk to the owners:
Doug Kropelnicki, Cottage Grove has a B24R Sierra
Also, Mike Gaboury of Burnsville, MN is very near you and he has an A24 Super.
 
Thanks Mike and Scott. That is great information. I'll get a hold of one of these guys and see if I can meet up with them. I spent a fair amount of time agonizing over a current production model like the Archer or the roomy and solid Sundowner. I'm pretty well convinced that this is the right decision especially with a wife who thinks 30 seaters are already too small. I'm sure hopping in one of these planes again will seal the deal.

Thanks again,
Brad
 
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