Built in 1950, 346M is equipped with the standard VFR instruments:
airspeed, altimeter, tachometer, oil temperature and pressure, etc. but
also has cylinder head temperature and vacuum (suction) gauges. The
landing gear warning system has both a visual & audio indicator. For
communications it is equipped with a mode-C transponder and a 760-channel
radio. 346M also has an auxiliary fuel tank made and installed by Boyd
Maddox of Houston, Texas who does the maintenance on the plane.
This Mite is powered by the rare Continental A65-12 engine which
differs from the standard A65-8 in that it has
rear case mounting points for an optional starter and generator.
Thomas takes 346M out
as often as he can, usually about four times a month. On one recent flight
he logged 9.75 hours in a single day, arriving back at the stable
at 10 p.m. In his own words: "I enjoy every minute in her." |