User:Ddking

From Bondline

Hi, I am Dennis King, I live in Sandy, UT. I previously owned Cheetah S/N 18 N9652U for four years. I've been an owner or part-owner of an EZRiser Ultralight, (built by me), a Piper Arrow, a Kitfox, Piper twin Seminole, a "J" V-Tail Bonanza, and now the Cheetah. Cheetahs are by far the most fun airplane I have owned. I flew my first Cheetah coast-to-coast twice with no autopilot. 9652U was not in good shape when I bought her, two annuals by Cliff Hanson and a barrel of money later she is in pretty good shape, but she's still a basic airplane.

Then, as fools will, I mortgaged the house and kids, and bought a second Cheetah in January, 2006. This was Jose Gibert's '77 N9921U S/N 321 down in Vero Beach, FL. It has only 2000 hours, Bob Steward finished up the overhaul a few years ago with the HC mod. It is a great plane, Garmin 430, Stec 30 autopilot. I am flying the buns off it, at least for me. In November of 2007 I installed a Sensich prop, am very happy with it. Climb improved, not sure by how much, due to pulling more RPMs. Cruise improved by a good 5-6 knots at redline, I recently did a very precise speed measurement at 10,000 feet, 5 degrees below standard, using GPS and data at 3 cardinal points, using a digital optical tachometer: 2650 RPM: 126 knots; 2700 RPM 129 knots, Full throttle 2750 134 Knots. The 2700 and 2750 numbers I will not do again, just wanted to know how fast it would go. Anyway, I am very happy with those speeds and plan to regularly cruise at 2650.

I sold 'ol N9652U to Robert Garman of Reno, Nevada, in the summer of 2006.

I have been on the Grumman Gang for a few years, I read it daily but rarely submit. Bondline is a great concept, I wish it was easier to navigate.

If anybody ever wants any advice about mountain flying (normal vs HC 0320 Cheetahs) come talk with me. (Both work well with the proper technique and lots of patience!) Here's a picture of me returning home with 9921U, and another of 9652U on the Bonneville Salt Flats.