Wicked Old Birds Part 2: Singing the Vintage Engine Blues

This Stinson is a nice enough airplane that needs to be returned to the skies, preferably before it's sold.

Sam Weigel

Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Following the author’s second emergency landing with his 1946 Stinson 108 in five months. [Courtesy: Sam Weigel]

Key Takeaways:

The author's 1946 Stinson 108 experienced multiple engine failures on a cross-country flight, requiring an emergency landing and a subsequent precautionary landing.
Troubleshooting revealed a cascade of engine problems, including broken rocker arms, sticky exhaust valves, worn valve guides, and stripped spark plug threads, leading the author to suspect a prior engine overhaul was faulty.
The Stinson remains grounded four months later, awaiting significant engine repairs or replacement, with the author questioning the engine's reliability for future adventures.
During this challenging period, the author also mourned the unexpected death of his trusted aircraft mechanic, Scott Bethke.

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I’ve been writing for FLYING going on 12 years now, and on the whole it’s been a fantastic chapter of my life. Through this column I’ve met some really interesting people and flown some pretty cool airplanes.

There are, however, a few notable downsides to the gig. One is that my words, once unleashed upon the larger pilot population, are permanently out there, and I occasionally find myself eating them. Another is that I write about ongoing flying adventures, and if they subsequently go pear-shaped, my options are fessing up or hoping my sharp-eyed readers don’t notice the sudden radio silence. Fat chance.