CONVERSION SPECIALIST SUPREME
Howard Levy reports from Florida on Riley Aeronautics' conversion work in general and the Executive 400 project in particular
WHEN Jack M. Riley, president of Riley Aeronautics Corporation, was asked why he went into the business of re-manufacturing and modifying aircraft, he said: " Things must be made to happen…and we are fulfilling particular needs which the other manufacturers do not seem to be doing."
He started by developing in 1952 the Twin Navion from the popular North American/Ryan single. Some 200 were sold before Riley and his customers decided there was a requirement for something faster and plushier.
Next came the Riley 65 – an updated version of the early Cessna 310 series. Riley's conversion was so extensive that the finished product was re-licensed as a new aircraft.
The airframe was beefed up and epoxy used on the skins to provide a super-smooth finish. New powerplant mountings, underwing jet exhaust augmenters, "and super customized" instrument panel and cabin interior were all part of the conversion.
Some 60 Riley 65s were produced and sold before the project was superseded by the Rocket, similar in concept to the "65" but with de-rated Lycoming IO-540-A1A5 engin…
