Hello All,

I'm new to the site, and I've been enjoying and learning from the community and collective knowledge base. This is my first post.

I've got a 1956 model Cessna 172.
I'm in the process of converting it to a tail wheel configuration.
I wanted to put floats on it, but I'm coming up short on info.
This is what I've found on the FAA STC website:

SA650CE Installation of Fleet Model 2500 floats. Reissued 12/06/1989
SA02321AK Installation of EDO 89-2000 floats modified

I called EDO, and the guy I talked to didn't know of an STC for EDO floats.
I can't find anything on Fleet Floats, or the stc holder.

Anyone out there who might have some info for me on this?

This requires an STC because there's no applicability for floats on the original type cert for the '56 172?

Looks like SA02321AK is owned by X-Winds (Crosswinds) STOL up in Alaska. AFAIK they're still selling paper to customers like yourself.

Give them a ring to see if it covers the original 172 and if they'll sell you the STC: http://www.crosswindsstol.com/contact.html

Then, find some Edo 89-2000 with early 172 rigging. That's probably the most important part of all (the proper rigging.)

If your 172 doesn't have a factory float kit you might be looking at a steep road. Dunno. Seems like a common config? I see 170Bs on Edo 2000s.

Then again, there may be other options, like Aquas. IIRC the 2000s may slightly underfloat the 170B and early 172.

I'm as far from a "knowledgeable" source as it get but as long as the original gearboxes are still in place from it's nosedragger days this should be a massive task and a "flat gear" 172 float kit should work I'm guessing. If you required a 170 float kit this will be a much bigger task owing to the structural work required to accomodate the aft float fittings.

Mapleflt wrote:I'm as far from a "knowledgeable" source as it get but as long as the original gearboxes are still in place from it's nosedragger days this should be a massive task and a "flat gear" 172 float kit should work I'm guessing. If you required a 170 float kit this will be a much bigger task owing to the structural work required to accommodate the aft float fittings.

There was a factory float kit for the flat firewall 172's. It wasn't applicable to the 1956, but a float STC if there is one would most likely use this set up.

56172 wrote:Hello All,

I'm new to the site, and I've been enjoying and learning from the community and collective knowledge base. This is my first post.

I've got a 1956 model Cessna 172.
I'm in the process of converting it to a tail wheel configuration.
I wanted to put floats on it, but I'm coming up short on info.
This is what I've found on the FAA STC website:

SA650CE Installation of Fleet Model 2500 floats. Reissued 12/06/1989
SA02321AK Installation of EDO 89-2000 floats modified

I called EDO, and the guy I talked to didn't know of an STC for EDO floats.
I can't find anything on Fleet Floats, or the stc holder.


Anyone out there who might have some info for me on this?

If you want to spend the money there is an STC to put tailwheel converted 172's on Aerocets. It's SA02400AK

Also not sure on the first model of 172's. Having said that, I looked into putting floats on my 1960 172A many years ago. Finding the parts was difficult and extremely expensive. If you're doing the modifications yourself, you'll save a bundle. In the end, it was cheaper for me to buy a smaller floatplane and enjoy flying without the huge down time. If I remember correctly it was going to cost $40K +/- to mount floats on my 172. Then I would still have an underpowered floatplane (172 has an O-300) with limited UL. The Champ I purchased on floats was an awesome plane and I put several hundred hours on it. I actually bought it from another member of this site. Haven't seen him post in several years though. Zane, have you spoken to Russ?

Have a friend that might know where you can acquired the parts needs for the conversion. He is currently installing the necessary parts on a 170B. I know he found a place that had a few sets of the parts and I think he purchased two sets. I'll get in touch with him and see if he can be of any help.

On the float front, I just saw a set of EDO's with early 172 rigging posted for sale. If I can find the posting, I will link it here.

Good Luck!! Floatplane flying is the absolute most fun flying I have ever experienced!!

The ‘56 comes with gear boxes fore and aft from the factory. Subsequent years removed forward gear boxes at factory. Not aware of any STC for floats.

Only 145 built in ‘56 so not a lot of STC love for first model.

skyward II wrote:The ‘56 comes with gear boxes fore and aft from the factory. Subsequent years removed forward gear boxes at factory. Not aware of any STC for floats.

Only 145 built in ‘56 so not a lot of STC love for first model.

There were 1,175 1956 172's built and none of them left the factory with fore and aft gear boxes.

Frankly, this sounds like a nightmare project. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, after all I know a guy who got a 1939 Cessna Airmaster STCd on Wipline amphibious floats.

If you’re REALLY serious about this, find a DER, and start there. It can happen, but my guess is buying a good 180 on floats might be cheaper.

Or not. But you’d better be dedicated…..

MTV

MBpilot88A wrote:

skyward II wrote:The ‘56 comes with gear boxes fore and aft from the factory. Subsequent years removed forward gear boxes at factory. Not aware of any STC for floats.

Only 145 built in ‘56 so not a lot of STC love for first model.

There were 1,175 1956 172's built and none of them left the factory with fore and aft gear boxes.

How do you guys each have such conflicting information? I'm not sure who to believe.

MBpilot88A wrote:

skyward II wrote:The ‘56 comes with gear boxes fore and aft from the factory. Subsequent years removed forward gear boxes at factory. Not aware of any STC for floats.

Only 145 built in ‘56 so not a lot of STC love for first model.

There were 1,175 1956 172's built and none of them left the factory with fore and aft gear boxes.

Oops. I thought the number was 1145 and typo on my end. A fellow pilot asked if I would sell my ‘56 to him. He holds an STC for tail wheel conversion and owns a well restored ‘56 with tail wheel conversion. He is the person that informed me of forward factory gear boxes as the ‘56 172 used remaining 170 fuselages to build the first year nose dragger. I’m not sure I want to accuse him of being a liar as he knows what he built. Sorry.

Maybe he said forward “bulkheads”? I’ll ask him again to clarify.

Back to topic.

MBpilot88A wrote:....There were 1,175 1956 172's built and none of them left the factory with fore and aft gear boxes.

I would go along with this,
early 172's having "forward gear boxes" is an old wives tale.

hotrod180 wrote:

MBpilot88A wrote:....There were 1,175 1956 172's built and none of them left the factory with fore and aft gear boxes.

I would go along with this,
early 172's having "forward gear boxes" is an old wives tale.

Now I’m going to have a hard look at my own ‘56 and report back to this thread.

Stay tuned.

I hope the OP’s float option works out for him.

To learn, one must listen.....

Verify, THEN speak.....

No gear boxes forward on '56 172. Partially similar bulkhead rib structure to my ‘55 170.

Maybe that was the conversation. It was a year ago.

Thanks for sharing some wisdom.

Years ago, I was told by a knowledgeable person that the “prototype” 172 was built from a 55 170B airframe, and thus had two gearboxes, but that all production 172s had only the aft gear box.

I have no idea whether THAT is even true, but it might make sense.

Or not.

MTV

Keep flying your ‘56 172. Buy my ‘58 175 with a hole in the engine case you can put your fist through and start your float plane project with that platform. I’ll let it go quite cheap. Wings are off and ready to ship. PM me if interested.

skyward II wrote:Keep flying your ‘56 172. Buy my ‘58 175 with a hole in the engine case you can put your fist through and start your float plane project with that platform. I’ll let it go quite cheap. Wings are off and ready to ship. PM me if interested.

Floating a 175 can be even uglier, or at least a LOT more expensive. Look into what floats are certified on the 175.

MTV

Something to do with higher gross? I see that as a bonus.

skyward II wrote:Something to do with higher gross? I see that as a bonus.

Partially, yes. The 175 is a 2350 GW. That eliminates the EDO 2000, which may be the most produced float of all time.

I’m not sure what floats have been approved on the 175 in any case, but they will certainly be less common, and likely more expensive.

Then try to find rigging for a 175. Good luck.

Or buy new. Wip Aire has floats approved. Note that those attach to the original main gear gearbox. Will tailwheel conversion cause issues?

I’m any case, bring money, lots of it.

MTV

Hello All, Thank you for all the replies. Sorry I've been in the back country for the last few weeks, and just resurfacing.
I heard the 2000 leaves the plane under floated, but not having float experience as of yet, need to fall back on others experience here. Anyone with time in a 170 on 2000's out there that can say yea or nay on whether this is going to be a major drawback, or manageable.
I know the GW is lower with the '56 model, but I'm trying to build a plane that will service our families needs without getting over the moon on cost (isn't that always the case ).
I will reach out to the outfit in AK and see if they've got anything more to add. -thanks for the lead.
Also, if you can build a bridge to the fella who had the floats and rigging available, I'd be interested in exploring that.

Thanks for all the help guys!