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 vintage 1946 Stinson 108 endured two inflight engine failures, necessitating an emergency landing and a precautionary landing, while returning from a cross-country trip.
Extensive troubleshooting uncovered multiple engine deficiencies, including faulty valves and stripped spark plug threads, raising serious doubts about the quality of its last overhaul.
Adding to the difficulties, the author's trusted A&P/IA unexpectedly passed away, leaving the Stinson grounded and his own hangar empty.
The author is now evaluating whether to repair the Stinson or replace it, recognizing it's not his long-term ideal aircraft for planned adventurous flying.

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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.