Owning A Turbo Normalized Rockwell 112.    				October 1996.

     Call it what you want. Until you own a 112, you can't appreciate it.
I've owned a 112 since 1978, and flown it 2300 hours, from Maine, Trinidad,
Belize, LA, Seattle and all in between. I end every flight with the thought
of what a reliable dream machine 82J has been to me. I know it has limitations,
130 Kts, 10K feet. Amenities in life take place up front, the 112 has them.
I've heard every joke about a 112. Always from misinformed non 112 owners,
Including 114 owners. The controls are light and responsive, seating is comfortable,
2 doors, plenty of room, fuel economy, 6 hours flights are very do-able. Every
ramp you land at, people ask questions. It looks handsome and seems to go fast
just sitting there. I'm always asked what it cruses at. All things considered
you can't get a better value.

     Recently I had a turbo mod done by Robin Miley of RCM Normalizing Inc.,
of Big Piney WY. He has an East coast Rep, located in Upstate NY. I've seen many
claims of after market 112 speed mods, but they all leaked water. Robin's turbo
mod caught my attention. He had owned a 112 for several years and has operated
it from a 7000 ft. elevation strip on a regular basis. Robin had his 112 in
experimental class, operating under test for 3 years. He has operated it in normal
category after STC approval for 5 years. He boasted of true no BS numbers. I went
to Wyoming and flew in his Turbo normalized 112. Well... after 18 years of flying
a 112, I had to have it!  Every  performance number advertised by Robin was there,
in real life! We worked out the logistics and off to Wyoming I went. Robin had no
objection to having the owner (me) there to see and follow what was going on with
the Mod. Knowing the systems in your aircraft will get/keep you out of trouble
someday.

     We started the mod in June 96, it  took 17 days, jjust what we planned.
Big Piney was a fun place to stay and the time went fast. (As a New Yorker,
a 2 week stay at the Marbleton Inn, Marbleton WY was a taste of the West.
Big Piney, Pop 692 & Marbleton Pop 492; elev 6894 boarder each other, separated
my Midway Shopping Center. I got to know some of the locals. They said I talked funny.
UPS & ATT keep this place connected to the rest of the country.)

     The test flight came. I took off carefully from Big Piney Apt.  and got use to
the new turbo control. I put on Oxygen and climbed from 7000 feet to 16200 feet in
just under 10 minutes! I had to stop it from climbing! All it wanted to do is go up!
No overheating or any ill effects at all. I leveled out and trued out at 158 knots
@ 75%. It was more trouble to get down and hold back the air speed. Coming to Big Piney
I had to plan my mea's to under 11,000 feet. If I saw 12000 feet on the chart I had to
go around.
     My first test flight was to Boise ID. I never knew how good it could feel to look
DOWN at the Rockies! I returned home to NY at 15,500 feet looking down at the popcorn
and kept a far eye on the Thunder heads. How about: 1182J cleared Souix City IW direct
Fort Wayne IN, 15.5, GS 192, 12 gph. Not bad...

     I live and fly mostly at sea level. Why Turbo? At first thought it was just a frill.
Remembering that this is only a turbo normalized mod, that little bit of extra power that
you get at sea level (28.5" solid) makes a difference. There's plenty of extra power
if you ever need it in an emergency. Those days of running out of power at 4000 ft
are gone. You get a steady rate of climb right on up. I dare any 114 to keep up with me.

     Bayport LI: 2700 ft grass, 41ft elev. rotate at 1200 ft with 1000+ ft/min and those 50
trees at the end are no factor. Fun Flying in a nutshell!

     If you have a 112, Robin's mod is worth it hands down. If you're looking for a great plane,
reasonably priced, comfortable fun flying, Talk to a 112 owner, better yet,
get a ride in one.

S. Faret N1182J   Plainview, NY.