Hunthard24/7 wrote:Hey guys,
New to the group and dig this site.

I am in my ppl training right now with around 25 hrs of flight in a c 150.

My question is, would a Cessna sky wagon 180 be a good first plane?

I know there are a ton of variables and training hours associated with a tg, but I really like the versatility of the 180/185.

Please share your thoughts and opinions


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Decatur as in DEC? It would be nice to operate out of an airport that you have the option of landing on unpaved if you choose, Skywagons can be a handful at times, those thoughts coming from a mere mortal.

There is always someone telling you that you can't do something.
If everyone listened to that kind of talk man would have never invented or done anything!
Odds of success can be a variable though.

I'm sure there is someone out there who would have the ability to jump in a 180 and be able to teach himself or herself to fly.
Odds of success are probably pretty slim though.

I'm also sure there is someone out there who would wind up dead, injured or with a balled up 180 if they attempted to teach himself or herself to fly in the same aircraft.

If it has been done then that means it can be done!

There are instructors who think they know and then there are instructors who actually know. It can be hard to tell the difference.

Many Instructors have "Instructed" their student on how ball up an airplane.

You need to be the one to decide though. You know best your ability to catch on quickly.

Its the Hero or Zero syndrome. If you get it done you are the Hero if you screw up you are the Zero!

Either way getting advice from some Keyboard Commando may not be the best way to go about making your decision.

Follow your heart. I bought my first plane - C180K, 15 years ago with only 200 hours of Alaska C152/172 time. The first year insurance was steep at $2500 with 100K on the Hull. Next year around $2100 and continued lower every year...until last year as the insurance market hardened. Get a good high time tail wheel instructor and you will be fine. YMMV.

My first plane was a 180 - I think it all comes down to the right instructor. Very important.

My “first” plane was a 185 this past winter, though my company has owned countless nosewheel planes and I have thousands of hours in those. The 185 was a beast coming from nosewheel planes of similar weight and power levels. It was probably harder for me to transition than it was for me to learn to fly from scratch. But I learned tailwheel when all was frozen and had to land on pavement down the runway, so no (more forgiving) grass to practice on.

That said the 185 is an awesome machine, and glad I got one.

I had a similar plan a few years back. People laughed at me and said why don't I start with a 170b. Mostly that was due to costs and the extreme insurance rates out there for low time tailwheel pilots right now.

Now I wish I could afford the 170 lol. A 180 was in grasp back then. If you've got the funds, and can get somebody to ensure you go for it. Based on quotes I've received recently I'm guessing you're going to be 10k/yr

Buy and fly. My first plane was a Super Cub. You don't need any opinion from this forum or any other for that matter. The only thing I will second is you must find a good instructor with lot's of 180/185 time. Leigh Smith in Indiana as a good one.

MW