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Twin Navion owner Troy Welch (left) and author Matthew McDaniel (right) at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (KPHX) after their evaluation flight of N108N. [Cutter Aviation]
prioritized over speed. However, when one considers the 1,200-mile range of the D-16A, a comfortable cabin be- comes a significant plus.
An exterior baggage door eases load- ing of the cavernous space in the aft cabin, rated for 180 lbs. A smaller nose baggage area, rated for 134 lbs., is a breeze to access via the flip-up nose cone. Well-placed steps and handles make climbing onto the not-so-low wing simple. However, entering the cockpit is less so. With the huge canopy slid full aft, step over the fuselage side onto the cabin floor between seat rows.
Sales brochure for the Riley-55 Twin Navion, for which N108N was the prototype. [Provided by Troy Welch]
ever converted to twins, and these machines have all celebrated at least their 70th birthday now. Of the half- dozen or so examples believed to still be airworthy, Serial #TTN-39 is surely one of the most notable.
Originally manufactured by NAA in 1946 as Serial #NAV-4-418, sport- ing a Continental E-185 engine (205hp for takeoff, 185hp continuous), it was purchased by TEMCO in early 1954. After re-registration as N108N, TEMCO soon received approval to begin cer- tification testing it as a twin with one Lycoming O-320 (150hp) and one O-340 (170hp). During testing, the second O-340 was eventually installed, mak- ing this airframe the prototype D-16A. It was flown by TEMCO throughout the rest of the D-16A’s production life, for testing and promotional purposes. Featured in many advertisements and magazine articles during that time, it acted as the poster child for the Riley ‘55.
In 1958, Jack Riley was the regis- tered owner of N108N. Thereafter, it went through a steady sequence of a dozen owners but appears to have stayed relatively active, even win- ning a Best in Class award at Oshkosh AirVenture 2003. In Jan. 2017, it was acquired by its current owner, Troy Welch. A professional corporate pilot, flight instructor, and retired attorney, Welch still flies a Citation X+ in his day job while enjoying a variety of general aviation aircraft for more lei- surely pursuits. His pride in being the caretaker of TTN-39 is obvious.
Getting Acquainted
It’s probably worth noting that prior to my introduction to N108N, I’d never flown any version of a Navion. How- ever, in my experience, most airplanes fly the way they look. Their overall appearance and features give hints as to how they’ll handle. The Twin Navion was no exception.
The T-Nav’s steep wing dihedral and towering tail practically scream, “stability.” Its tall gear and big tires have an uncommonly sturdy look for a light twin. They tell you turf run- ways are no problem for this twin. The broad fuselage and nose imply that cabin comfort and storage space were
The interior centerfold of the 1955 sales brochure for the improved “Riley-55” Twin Navion makes it obvious that N108N was both the prototype and the poster model for the D-16A model. [Provided by Troy Welch]
July 2024 / TWIN & TURBINE • 11