I am a student pilot who owns a 1969 182-M. I am told my plane is a “backcountry” one. P-Ponk w/3 blade prop, Horton STOL Kit w/gap seals, 206 nose gear and 8.50 mains. The main use of the plane is to commute from Park City, Utah (PVU) to Lake Powell (PGA). Lots of rough, canyon country under this route. Both airports are at 4500’ and Page gets over 110 F in the summer. My instructor and I are using performance info from the Cessna POH now, and know we are well within the envelope and safe. We have learned some info on our own, for example stall speed of 47 mph @40 degrees flaps. I think the book says 55 mph. I want more accurate info before I begin flying this route on my own. Anyone have a plane like this with info??
Jim Morgan
[email protected]

When you say stall speed of 47 mph, what weight is that? The book speed of 55 will be at gross at standard conditions, sea level, 59 degrees and 29.92. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Your plane should be a great performer. As a comparison for you my 182 was a 67 with the 470. With myself and 40 gallons(Don't remember what that weight was) at 4500 msl the plane would get airborne in 450 feet. I could land and get stopped in the same 450 feet. With the Pponk and 3 blade you should be able to shave 50-100 feet of my takeoff numbers with the same load.

The day we did that was close to gross. Full fuel, 350 in the seats and 100 lbs in the baggage area.
Jim

Sounds like you have a good 182. Did you recently purchase it? I'm really happy with the performance of my 182. Even found it very easy to learn to fly in it.

Last summer at Caldwell (2430 ft), about 95 degress, full fuel, myself and instructor (430 lbs ), about 50 lbs in the bagage compartment we were off the ground with in 700 feet.

I am afraid I can't help you much, my 182B is pretty much stock, right down to the smaller tires. I have taken 4 passengers, almost full fuel, at 4300 on a hot afternoon, from a dirt field of 1800 ft. I used a lot of the strip but we went flying. It sounds like you have a great set up on your 182. It will get the job done I'm sure. I have a few back country videos on here: www.youtube.com/skybobb I have some of the easy ones, Chamberlin basin, Sulphur Creek, Big Creek, Flying B, Johnson Creek. Enjoy Bob.

that is a fun route, james. i sometimes also use that one when er-route
to az. with #2 daughter now in prescott, i now take the richfield route
then shoot the "dragon" in the vfr corridor of the grand. did many trips
in 182 p, now have newer 182 with same stol kit as yours. flap gap seals
and modified leading edge + v.g.'s help it to stall at under 40...

u might try richfield route as well, as i've found a lot more back-up
landing spots if needed. have camped in the desert close to the grand,
and while damn remote, very peaceful. u can cross the grand at
the dragon, them simply turn left and run to page for some cheap fuel...

sound's like a nice bird u have, and i believe one of the safest if u have
to put it down...put over 500 hrs in my old one, and foud it to be
a great learning platform...good luck...!

You've run smack into one of the problems associated with owning a highly modified aircraft--the fact that there's no reliable performance data available for the modified machine.

Your best bet is to develop at least some of this data yourself, for reference. That can take some time and work, but it's also good practice..

MTV

We are in the process of establishing some baseline data, but it sure would be nice to hear comments from others more experienced with similar planes.
Jim