I've been reading some of the 180/185 overhaul threads with great interest, really nice work. We're working at a slower pace; about a mod a year, for 20 years.

This year? A Piatt(Firmin) cargo pod. Nicely constructed, it took roughly a full day to install. About 30 nutplates and rivnuts. It should be an easy 30 minute job for seasonal removal. Side and rear doors; however, 178 CM skis fit in the side door.

It was a bad day for comparison flight testing, 55 degrees in upstate NY. Even with that, the speed loss was only 5-7 knots vs. the flight prior to install(at 15 degrees OAT). I had to use 1/2 cowl flaps. (cowling louvers covered up for the winter)

This seems like a great size pod for a 180, so far very pleased.

Nice aqua!! I just ordered one from bob to. Was it hard getting approval? Might try and get a copy from ya if you don't mind. Maybe make it a little easier. Sweet looking bird man.

As well for me... Been looking at pods. More info on your approval if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks!

Greg-

Hey Greg I think yours is no problem. Just no stc for our older birds. Bobs pods are sweet and he's a really nice guy. So is tony w the aeropod. And his is deeper I you want to haul alot. Bobs is same dimensions, but shallower. Better fit for me. Been missing your other thread to.

Interesting... I will have to call him and see if he in fact has an STC for a 66.

I'm not aware of any STC for this particular pod. Bob provided me with copies several previous field approvals, to aid in getting mine. I'm out of town, PM me and I'll try to get you a copy of mine as soon as possible.

As you may know; the only thing you get is the pod, no hardware or instructions. You can get ahead of the install by moving any antennas in the way. Have an assortment of nutplates and rivnuts on hand.

We used cargo straps to "hang" the pod, two through the doors, one around the fuselage. (this one needs a additional strap running fwd to prevent the strap from slipping off the ever narrowing fueslage) If you have floats fittings, the pod will have to cut there. Start to identify the hole locations; nutplates if possible, but quite a few rivnuts. Sides, then front, then rear. The pod came on and off about 3-4 times. The aft baggage compartment provided easy access, and nutplates were used here to draw the aft section up tight to the fuselage. One of the mechanics assisting had fiberglass experience, and assured us that even if it didn't look perfectly formed to the 50 year old fuselage initially, it would seek that shape over time. After seeing the airplane again a week later, that is the case.

The flange where the screws go through is fairly narrow, and some of the washers needed to be cut down, so as not to stress the fiberglass where it curves down.

The skis pictured are 174, not 178CM, as stated earlier. You could probably put jump skis in throught the rear door.

I have a corgo pod that went with the Cessna 185 that I used to have. Now, it's just taking up space in my hangar. I wouldn't mind selling it if anyone is interested.

aqua wrote:55 degrees in upstate NY. Even with that, the speed loss was only 5-7 knots vs. the flight prior to install(at 15 degrees OAT). I had to use 1/2 cowl flaps. (cowling louvers covered up for the winter)

Thread creep here... Why are you guys using the cowl louvers at temps that warm? By louvers I'm assuming the restrictor plates? Or you talking the louvers on the side of the cowl?

Gump

Nice looking pod by the way.

Good point. Yes,the louvers on the side of the cowl; you can see the covers just ahead of the ski springs. These are no problem in warmer temperatures, as you know the airplane was built without these louvers. They do help in the summer months; some days here in the high 80's, combined with the slower speed on floats.

I stopped using the front, cowl inlet covers, because the temp limit stated 20F OAT(as I recall). This resulted in multiple installation and removal cycles.

Alex wrote:I have a corgo pod that went with the Cessna 185 that I used to have. Now, it's just taking up space in my hangar. I wouldn't mind selling it if anyone is interested.

Sent you a PM

aqua, now that you have had some flying time with the pod, I would be curious to know if you noticed any difference with cooling. Some pods reduce the cowl exit flow and I've seen some large cowl claps installed with C206 pods. Others don't have this problem. Thanks.

Re: Temps. We've flown quite a bit this winter with the pod installed. The airplane has STC'd louvers on the cowling sides. We used to operate all winter with these covered, and the cowl flaps closed. Now we have the covers removed, and often have to use 1/2 cowl flaps. Average temp is around 20F OAT.

So, yes, the airflow change is significant. This pod will be removed for summer floats ops, so higher OAT operations won't affect us.

We're on wheel skis, so some of the higher summer OAT affects would be mitigated by higher airspeed; but If I were to keep it on wheels, I'd consider running the cowl flap adjustment rods out to their max extension. The original Cessna pods(4 inches deeper) apparently had a cowl flap extension mod, or kit, to help with this.

Aqua: what's your speed loss with that pod? We have a Cessna copy on our 180 and reckon its about 6 knots. I'm interested what the loss is on the shallower pod. We definitely have to have cowl flap push rod extensions for summer ops. I like the idea of that shallower pod, esp on a 180. It's easy to overload a 180 with the Cessna size pod, even with 1350 lb useful, and we hardly ever have it jammed full. Ours has a top on the pod and six fixing points with turnbuckles, so it comes off in ten minutes and we only have it on when needed, which is a bonus. Even at 6 knots speed loss with the pod, it equates to only a bit over 2 1/2 minutes an hour, which is not as huge as it may seem. I imagine the speed loss with the shallower pod is less, in which case having the ability to take it on and off quickly and easily is almost redundant.

Jamie G

Jamie, this pod slows the airplane down less than 5 MPH.

Six mounting points sounds nice, with 30 I wouldn't want to install it more than seasonally. There is no top on this one, so you have to remember that the "roof" of the pod is the fuselage.