Nesmith Cougar Sold
Updated 5/25/2021
I am going to sell the Cougar. I have moved from PA and I cannot get a hangar here in Florida. The Cougar is back in PA. Please look through the links to the left here to see what has been done. This has been a total restoration down to the bare frame that has taken several years. I was in the process of getting the condition inspection done and working through a list of things to complete the inspection, so here's what needs to be done.
The Tiny Tach wire is broken so it needs a new Tiny Tach
The ailerons fit too tight and need to be trimmed for more clearance
The left wing lift strut does not align well so a new flat plate bracket should be made
The engine runs great but doesn't idle well, mag timing should be adjusted
The throttle cable it sticky and should be lubed
Needs a plexiglass cover over the landing light
Needs electrical connectors at wing root for nav lights
To look it's best you should clean up the paint on the leading edges (hangar rash) and some bleed of the paint on the checker boards.
I will be back in PA (based at N96, Bellefonte) to show the airplane in June-August summer. I will get more active about advertising then, but if you have and questions in the meantime please contact me an (814) 769-1941. Malcolm
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I've been looking for a small 2-seat homebuilt airplane to replace our Piper Tripacer. The Tripacer is great, but at around 100 MPH I want something a little faster and more economical. When Beth and I went to the Airventure fly-in in 2015 at Oshkosh, we started looking at Wittman Tailwinds and their knock offs, the Nesmith Cougar. A high powered Tailwind can cruise near 200 mph but lower powered, more economical Cougars will probably go closer to 140-160 MPH. I aquired a Cougar in dire need of restoration. My good friend Tom Pryde accompanied me on the trip from PA to Greensboro, NC and back to bring the project home.
The Cougar fit nicely on my trailer and everything made it home without incident. It turns out that this Cougar was built in 1981 by Glifford Muessig in Plaistow, NH. Plaistow is where my wife and I both went to high school. Small world huh! This project was a complete tear down and rebuild to make sure that everything was safe. Sometimes you are better off building from scratch, but if you get a good rebuild project it can save hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars over starting from scratch.
Above is a shot of it with one of the wings on. This was taken by the previous owner when he bought it.
Looking ahead a couple years, this is what I thought it "might" look like.
And in April 2020 this is what is did look like. Getting close now.
All together at the airport, testing engine.
One more look.
The seats are very comfortable.
Interior sides are padded for sound proofing.
Stay tuned for updates as the restoration continues.