Just wondering from everyones experience??
Have new 182 on amphibs, flint wing extensions, with T260 hp.
First 182 I have owned. Should I look at Sportsman or wait until I ding the leading edge?
I was around early 185 that had Sportsman and it seemed to help it, was on wheels.
What about VG's, I'm a big fan but have no knowledge on early 182 wing!
Would both be worth the cost? $3500
Just looking to be a little slower at touchdown (as slower is softer) and more control.
Hope to hear from some experience, not just hearsay and conjecture!
Just a note, Left Bishop CA. about 30 degrees, at gross 2950lbs and had 1000' fpm climb out with 30 inches mp held that to 10,000'
Will always be on floats.
Thanks GT

M6RV6 wrote:Have new 182 on amphibs, flint wing extensions, with T260 hp.

Just a note, Left Bishop CA. about 30 degrees, at gross 2950lbs and had 1000' fpm climb out with 30 inches mp held that to 10,000'

FWIW, I put VG's on my '56 182 and was very pleased with the result. They lowered the stall by around 8mph and made slow-speed handling much more crisp (although I also installed aileron gap seals at the same time). What amazed me most, though, was the fact the two mods made the airplane essentially unstallable in the departure configuration and in the approach configuration reduced the stall from a normal "break" to more of a mush. I'm still experimenting with the outer edges of the performance envelope and may see additional impacts down the road. I did the install myself (under supervision of an A&P/IA) in one day, so the whole deal essentially cost me the price of the kit.

M6RV6 wrote:Just a note, Left Bishop CA. about 30 degrees, at gross 2950lbs and had 1000' fpm climb out with 30 inches mp held that to 10,000'

George, just curious... How much fuel were you sucking during all this?

30 inches is 30 inches, right? Turbocharged at 7000 msl or normally aspirated at sea level? Climbing fuel burn should be the same?

Oh and...congrats!

M6RV6 wrote:Just wondering from everyones experience??
Have new 182 on amphibs, flint wing extensions, with T260 hp.
First 182 I have owned. Should I look at Sportsman or wait until I ding the leading edge?
I was around early 185 that had Sportsman and it seemed to help it, was on wheels.
What about VG's, I'm a big fan but have no knowledge on early 182 wing!
Would both be worth the cost? $3500
Just looking to be a little slower at touchdown (as slower is softer) and more control.
Hope to hear from some experience, not just hearsay and conjecture!
Just a note, Left Bishop CA. about 30 degrees, at gross 2950lbs and had 1000' fpm climb out with 30 inches mp held that to 10,000'
Will always be on floats.
Thanks GT

SPORTSMAN YES !

Zane
Lots of gas 15 gph
Thanks GT

I own 3 206s with both the sportsman and wing x installed. I have installed and flown at least 8 other Cessnas with either or both kits installed. All on wheels. You will see a big boost in climb and all around performance on each kit but the gain isnt as great when adding the secound kit. If each kit alone gave you a 15% improvement you wont get 30% after adding the other. You may be able to measure up to a 3-5% increase after adding the secound kit. The Wing x will give you the best climb boost over the stock Cessna wing and the sportsman will give better bottom end slow flight performance. I have seen that it takes pilots time to learn how to fly the Sportsman slow and pull all of the performance out of it. I dont have the VGs. I have talked to Marshal Quackenbush (Original marketer of the Sportsman) about the VGs with the Sportsman and he stated the VGs could be mounted back further on the wing (reducing VG cruise penalty) because the sportsman held the boundry layer air on the wing better. Im sure you would have a great machine that would jump off the water with all 3.

M6RV6, I have a 1980-C185 (new style wing) with Wing X and VG's on Aerocet straight floats. The added length to the wings seem to be a great benefit and I am happy with the handling of the plane. This combination seems to be common here in float country. Your setup is bascially identical to the early 185's, same horse power and cabin width. Should be a great steed. What floats do you have? Steve

I've been contemplating these mods too. For those of you who've flown planes with the Wing-X can you comment on how quick/slow they are on the controls? I've heard that the extra wing length makes them really slow when trying to keep a level wing on a windy approach. Any thoughts?

Ive never noticed a decrease in roll control with the WingX, Now trying to find a T hanger to get them into is another story.

I've never noticed a reduction in roll as well. The only combination I've used them is with the Sportsman which integrates aileron gap seals. Makes for more responsive ailerons.

The combination of the two makes a real performing airplane. The Wing-X added 12sq. feet of wing area to your airplane and a great gross weight increase for the early model 182. If you still have the early metal wingtips and add the Sportsman you will add another 6+square feet of wing area to your airplane. Overall you will app. 19sq. feet of area to the wing with the combination.

With the combination of the Sportsman and the Wing-X I would add VG's only if you felt you lost elevator and rudder authority.

We run a 185 on floats and the airplane has VG's, Wing-X, and Sportsman. It boiled down to the added wing area of the Wing-X and Sportsman really helped it get on step quicker. The addition of the Sportsman really helped on giving you a flying airplane out of the water and not a prop hanger, i.e. one that could begin climbing noticeably quicker than without...

Heya GT, that sounds like a real firebreather.

I know a lot of old school Cessna guys who really work an airplane like you know how to do. They don't like anything but the original wing, mainly I think because they have flown them so much that everything is predictable. I think some of that goes away when we start hanging STOL kits on them.

For me, I like the Sportsman, but I ain't a pro. They have a little different feel for sure, and guys that fly book speeds struggle with them. Have had 2 old 180's with it. Never had either on floats. Had VG's with the Sportsman too, honestly couldn't tell a hell of a lot of difference before and after. I suppose every one of them is different.

gb

Hey George,
Can't speak for the 182, but i've had 2 1956 172's, one with stock wings and the one i have now with the sportsman, flap and aileron gap seals. Huge difference on take off, more like going up in an elevator, especially the first 300-400 feet, even in the Texas summer. I would think that would be helpful for getting off the water. Stall is almost non-issue, more like a mush. The down side is that i can fly slower than i have really good aileron control, it's there, but pretty sluggish.

Chris

The early Cessna wing like yours is the one to which the sportsman makes the most improvement. It significantly lowers the stall and increases the gide ratio. Also allows a slower approach. I have't flown a 182 with it, but have on 170, before and after, and talked to 185 drivers that love them. (floats mostly) The later Cessna wing has a slight cuff on the lead edge so the improvement isn't as great. adding vg's to a sportsman equipped wing apparemtly makes them almost unstallable, but I haven't flown the vg before/after so am going by other reports.
Dollar wise vg's are the most bang for the buck, followed by the sportsman - this according to our local a&p. By the way, aileron gap seals are part of the sportsman kit, and I believe required on all but the 206 wing.
I think that on floats the slower lift off and touchdown would be well worth it.
A sportsman takes 35-40 hrs to install and paint. Depending... of course.

I think the Sportsman kit (including new wingtips) is about $2K, plus the 30-40 hour installation. A Micro VG kit for a 172 & up Cessna is $1450 with a fairly quick (read low-cost) installation. What's the Flint and Wing-X cost? I'm guessing that the Flint tips include LR tanks.
A Micro VG kit for my C150/150TD is a lot cheaper at $695, but I'm still undecided. I've heard widely varying reports from "the greatest thing since sliced bread" to "they didn't do anything". Pretty much unanimous that they're beneficial for Cub wings, but about 50/50 on Cessna wings.

hotrod150 wrote:I think the Sportsman kit (including new wingtips) is about $2K, plus the 30-40 hour installation. A Micro VG kit for a 172 & up Cessna is $1450 with a fairly quick (read low-cost) installation. What's the Flint and Wing-X cost? I'm guessing that the Flint tips include LR tanks.
A Micro VG kit for my C150/150TD is a lot cheaper at $695, but I'm still undecided. I've heard widely varying reports from "the greatest thing since sliced bread" to "they didn't do anything". Pretty much unanimous that they're beneficial for Cub wings, but about 50/50 on Cessna wings.

Best bang for your money IMHO --1.SPORTSMAN STOL - 2 Wing X modification,-Flint Tip tanks go inside last (regular) wing rib on 182.On 206's wing tips add 3 ft. and fuel .182's gain 24 Gallons (22 useful) and take a min. of 40 hrs to add. Wing -X adds approx 3 ft wingspan and 12 more sq. ft. of wing area >at lighter weights give improved performance (wing area vs weight)--understand that the wing X maneuvering speed is lower by a few knots . I don't have or want VG's . VG's will do minimal to SPORTSMAN STOL and add drag. VG's by them selves can get you into a area where you can't get out of -they add NO LIFT -do improve low speed handling (what they were designed for -on twins)

Just flew a Turbo 206 with wingx but no sportsman. Went to rotate and nothing there. Had to wait another 10mph. The flaps 0 feel doesnt get good until 80mph. With the Sportsman you can feel the wing working for you at low airspeeds and high angle of attacks. Base leg at Sportsman speeds I was a little scared.

182 STOL driver wrote:

hotrod150 wrote:I think the Sportsman kit (including new wingtips) is about $2K, plus the 30-40 hour installation. A Micro VG kit for a 172 & up Cessna is $1450 with a fairly quick (read low-cost) installation. What's the Flint and Wing-X cost? I'm guessing that the Flint tips include LR tanks.
A Micro VG kit for my C150/150TD is a lot cheaper at $695, but I'm still undecided. I've heard widely varying reports from "the greatest thing since sliced bread" to "they didn't do anything". Pretty much unanimous that they're beneficial for Cub wings, but about 50/50 on Cessna wings.

Best bang for your money IMHO --1.SPORTSMAN STOL - 2 Wing X modification,-Flint Tip tanks go inside last (regular) wing rib on 182.On 206's wing tips add 3 ft. and fuel .182's gain 24 Gallons (22 useful) and take a min. of 40 hrs to add. Wing -X adds approx 3 ft wingspan and 12 more sq. ft. of wing area >at lighter weights give improved performance (wing area vs weight)--understand that the wing X maneuvering speed is lower by a few knots . I don't have or want VG's . VG's will do minimal to SPORTSMAN STOL and add drag. VG's by them selves can get you into a area where you can't get out of -they add NO LIFT -do improve low speed handling (what they were designed for -on twins)

FWIW, Both the father and son who own Stene Aviation and sell the Sportsman STOL kit have VG's on their personal 185's. At least they did when I stopped by Polson last summer to check out their operation. That should tell you something.

Question for those with the Sportsman STOL and VG's. Are the VG's mounted to the Sportmans STOL or set back? I would like to do both mods eventually but would probably just do VGs in the near future.

Yes the VG's are mounted on the Sportsman skin when the two mod's are combined.