Johnson Bar and Catalina airport AVX

[Jim Peace]

I was just in Catalina AVX last week and between landing and taxiing around at a very slow pace I thought the gear was going to unlatch and collapse.  

 

Has anyone just been there once and said never again in an old Mooney?

 

Also my shocks are about 14 years old..  Would new ones make a little difference?

 

All I kept thinking about is the gear failing and/or the fuel tanks coming apart......

 

 

 

 

[jrwilson]

Been there a few times and it is bumpy, but not as bad as you describe. I've got a 63 C and the last time on older shocks. Just got new shocks but haven't been back since then.

[Bolter]

Catalina is a short hop from my home airport, so I am there often in a J model.  Bumpy, but not jarring or close to damaging anything.   That is before and after new disks.  Of course, you may have let your disks deteriorate more than I did :-)

 

It used to be worse.  It was repaved a few years ago.

 

-dan

[carusoam]

Sounds like you have some unusual fears....

I am unaware of a situation where the gear would unlatch after they were confirmed to be latched....

Most often, worn parts made the pilot think it was latched when in fact it was not. Followed by a gear collapse...

There was a report recently where the j-bar sprung apart...

These statements are based on crusty old memories...

It would be unusual for gear to collapse by taxiing on rough pavement.

Fear of prop strike is what you should be experiencing!

Best regards,

-a-

[Jim Peace]

Fear of prop strike is what you should be experiencing!

Yeah I thought that as well....hence the slow slow slow taxi.....

 

 

[Seth]

I was in there in 2010 in my former 67 F Johnson Bar. Not smooth but not really an issue.

-Seth

[jrwilson]

If your Johnson bar is clanging around too much, lasar makes an improved down lock latch. Yours might be a bit worn inside allowing movement.

[cliffy]

I guess being there in a Lear Jet years ago doesn't count :-)

[MB65E]

Cliff,

It does, just as long as your still here to tell the story... I bet it did fine!

I've had a M20M, B-55 and Huskey out there, fun place.

Do they still do the DC3 flights out of longbeach for the island?

-Matt

[Jim Peace]

If your Johnson bar is clanging around too much, lasar makes an improved down lock latch. Yours might be a bit worn inside allowing movement.

The bar is tight....the fillings in my mouth are just loose from the taxi ways

[cliffy]

Lear, C140 C182 Navajo all made in and out:-)

Don't know about the the DC-3 as I moved out of LA 20 yrs ago. 

BTW, a DC-3 was the first airplane I ever flew.

[stevesm20b]

I flew into Catalina a month ago. I didn't have any problems.