AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2023 - 88

RUDDER & WRENCH
compare landing roll distances. The Super
Cub was way more sensitive to the gusty
wind conditions we had this day, bobbing
around the sky as Webb worked the airplane
down to the runway. The 170-with
its higher wing loading-felt more solid on
approach. Its huge semi-Fowler flaps and
newly installed Sportsman STOL wing cuffs
enabled me to slow way down and focus
on my aim point. Just below 50 mph indicated-the
same airspeed at which the stall
warning horn would have previously been
blaring-I didn't hear a peep. It's comforting
to know we now have a bigger safety margin
at low speeds. Every touchdown felt pretty
smooth whether I bounced it slightly or
not-the 26-inch Alaskan Bushwheels easily
soaked up any remaining vertical kinetic
energy. We both landed within a few feet of
the gravel road, but the Super Cub decelerated
a little quicker than the 170 on rollout.
Our ground rolls were in the 250- to 300foot
range, with the Super Cub consistently
stopping 10 to 15 feet shorter than the 170.
That the Sweepstakes 170 is so close
to a Super Cub's outstanding backcountry
performance is impressive. " It says a lot
about all the improvements that have been
done so far, " said Webb. " And then once we
get vortex generators and everything else
done to it, I think it's going to be incredible.
I think we'll have to do the test again. I
think it might beat the Super Cub by then. "
Let's be clear: The Super Cub is a lot of
propeller compromise here. Both airplanes
have almost identical wing areas.
I set the flaps at 20 degrees, stood
on the brakes while I added full power,
released the brakes while holding slight
up elevator pressure, and let the airplane
fly off in a three-point attitude.
The 170 broke ground at around 200
feet and climbed at an impressive 1,500
fpm. I found myself instinctively wanting
to push forward to lower the pitch
attitude and increase airspeed because a
170 shouldn't be able to climb this steeply.
Every subsequent takeoff for both airplanes
showed the same result: a tie.
On landing, our touchdown point was
a gravel road intersecting the runway at
the 500-foot mark-a perfect reference to
88
AOPA PILOT / July 2023
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fun to fly. The intuitive feeling of a control
stick in your right hand and throttle in your
left is hard to beat, and the tandem seating
provides the best view out of both sides of
the airplane. You feel nowhere is out of the
realm of landing possibilities while flying
this machine.
On the other hand, the Sweeps 170 will
carry up to four people and fly faster than
the Super Cub (we're seeing 135 miles per
hour in cruise compared to perhaps 115
mph), and it's way easier to get into and
out of. However, the ailerons require
more force to move and the roll rate is
less sprightly than that of the Super Cub,
making it feel less nimble. No matter-the
sweet sound and raw power of the engine
puts a huge smile on everyone who flies
this special Cessna 170. Someday, that
could be you. kollin.stagnito@aopa.org
aopa.org/pilot/sweepsflyoff
CHRIS ROSE
http://www.aopa.org/sweeps http://www.aopa.org/sweeps http://www.aopa.org/pilot/sweepsflyoff
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2023

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