• Welcome to the new Commander Owners Group Forums. Please bear with us as the kinks are worked out and things are tweaked. If you have any questions or issues with the new platform, please post them here.

N1340J to SW Virginia

Lechlis

Lechlis

New member
Aircraft Type
Other
Good evening all. As of 07/19/17, I am the new owner of N1340J. This is my first go around with aircraft ownership so this is all new to me. Looking forward to diving into the wealth of knowledge around here. Who all is east coast based? I am based out of KHLX. By the way, I can assure everyone that she is kept inside, I just had it tied down on the ramp following the initial flight home.
 

Attachments

  • IMG951208.jpg
    IMG951208.jpg
    128.4 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG951226.jpg
    IMG951226.jpg
    120.9 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG951222.jpg
    IMG951222.jpg
    136.3 KB · Views: 0
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Wow, good looking bird.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Congratulations Landon. I've stopped for fuel at Twin County in the past - beautiful area.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Congrats Landon. Very unique color scheme. I know you'll enjoy many years of Commander ownership. One question. The jet next to you in picture one. Do you know who was there in N2?

Lechlis said:
I just had it tied down on the ramp following the initial flight home.
Click to expand...
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Congrats Landon.

I too chose a Commander as my first plane to own and somewhat recently.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

ksandrew said:
Wow, good looking bird.
Click to expand...

Now KEN!!
From my time spent in Europe, are you referring to the young lady or the airplane . ..
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Lechlis said:
Good evening all. As of 07/19/17, I am the new owner of N1340J. This is my first go around with aircraft ownership so this is all new to me. Looking forward to diving into the wealth of knowledge around here. Who all is east coast based? I am based out of KHLX. By the way, I can assure everyone that she is kept inside, I just had it tied down on the ramp following the initial flight home.
Click to expand...

Good Morning Landon,
Welcome to the best group of aircraft owners out there. You'll find with the comfort and range of the Cmdr many of us are within a fuel load of each other. It's not uncommon to meet for a mid afternoon cookout or just link-up for the heck of it.
The site has a map showing the owners by state but I haven't used it in years.

Please feel free to ask those 'new owner' questions. Most of us are first time owners and have learned along the way.

Welcome and safe flights, John
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Welcome, Landon. There are a couple of Commanders at KINT Winston-Salem, only 45 NM to the Southeast from Hillsville. :)
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Jamesdub said:
Now KEN!!
From my time spent in Europe, are you referring to the young lady or the airplane . ..
Click to expand...

There was a young lady in the picture? :confused: Man, I must be getting old! ;)
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Stopped into HLX once for fuel. A Beautiful airport in a gorgeous setting. And the "model" posing with your plane wasn't even there that day! I will be flying over back from Wilmington in a few weeks. If I stop in will she model for my plane, too? This could be a tradition!

Welcome to Commanderland, Landon.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Landon,

I was jabbing at Ken above ref the young lady.

Now that you have her home, time to upgrade;
we're all after a bit more speed and the following I've been told will at least give you 5 knots.

1. Dorsal fin NACA vent vice the donut hole.
2. Enclosed anti collision light
3. and I noticed she's less one hubcap on the main's. LoPresti has set of Hub Hub Caps that's got to make her go faster . . .

Have fun!!
John
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Thank you all for the insight. I will try to answer some questions that have been raised.

1. No worries about the lady comments guys. That is my significant other. Yes, I am sure she would love to take some more pictures. Just give me a heads up and if we are around, I would love to meet those who stop in.
2. N2 was up in Leesburg where I made the final transaction last week. I believe it was there to support the temporary tower they have setup there.
3. I appreciate the history lesson. That kind of stuff always interests me. Especially because I was born in 1995. Crazy to think what all has happened in the last 42 years.
4. My Civil Air Patrol squadron is/was based out of the offices across the road from Smith-Reynolds. Lots of good times spent out on the ramp honing our marshaling skills.
5. As far as the speed mods go, do you have a picture of the modified vent and beacon along with the source? The plane came with a new set of hub caps, just need to throw those one evening.
6. I know this isn't the best place to ask these questions, but has any one installed an electronic gear bell? The mechanical one is poor at best. Also, I have been reading about the RCMNormalizing main gear light kit and flap/aileron seal kit. I know there is a thread here, but does anyone have any direct experience with them? The main light kit really appeals to me, but is the seal kit worth the install headache?
7. Does anyone have experience with a Century 1 autopilot? The one installed likes to rock 30 degrees left to 30 degrees right continuously no matter how smooth the air. I have read 20 different threads and received 20 different causes. I need to just take it an avionics shop but just probing a little before I get to that point.
 
Last edited:
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

On the C1... Read the manual and run the pre-flight checks EVERY TIME YOU FLY. The servos tend to get "sticky" if the are not exercised regularly. An A&P friend of mine services many , many Grummans with C1 autopilots, and he even built an "exerciser" to run the servos from one end of their range to the other end and back, continuously. My Grumman Traveler was doing exactly what you describe, until he ran the servo exerciser on it for several hours. After that, it was amazingly good! Absent the exerciser, use the turn knob to do the same thing. And every time you taxi, just turn that knob back and forth... It really makes a difference!
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Hi Landon,

Welcome aboard!

If you decide to install the gap seal kit, call me for some advice ahead of time to avoid complications later. It's not an Aerodyme kit, but we have experience with it.

Jim
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Welcome to the group and congrats on your new purchase!! You will love the bird and it will look great on any ramp.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Landon,

Welcome. This is a great forum and I think we have great planes.

Someone posted a while back on here a process to exercise the servos for your autopilot. You might try that.

Does yours autopilot behave the same no mater what heading source? Is it an HSI or DG issue?

I had an HSI that was continually rocking about 3 degrees and the folks at Tulsa (autopilot central. I think). Did an amazing job for me.

Good luck.

Dean
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

Welcome to the group. Love the plane and hope you have fun with it, I know I have enjoyed mine ever since I purchased it.
 
Re: N1340J to SW Virginia

What oil and air filters are you guys using? I didn't find much when I search for "oil filter" and "oil change". I have the PN (6435683) from the catalog but it doesn't translate into much. Any oil recommendations while we are on the subject?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top