She's a '75 180J, factory floatplane, Texas Skyways O-520, and has a set of EDO 2960's that have been with it since it was new.

Like everyone else I know, I've daydreamed about having a 180, and keep an eye on the classifieds, but I was hesitant to buy an unknown airplane. So.. funny story... I went to Kenai to look at a little cabin I was thinking of buying. I decided to not buy the cabin and was back at the airport talking to a friend of mine when he said, " you know the 180 is for sale?"..... what a coincidence, I had my cabin money still in the bank! I know the airplane, the previous owners, the maintenance history, and most of the mechanics that have worked on it since the 80s. It truly is an airplane with "no damage history". It has never been wrecked. I bought it without an inspection.

I was able to put a few hours on it this past week. Oh my.... what a machine!

Sweet!!!! A huge congratulations!!!! Can't wait to see her in person AND see her on my strip!

Thanks Phil!

I flew over your strip a couple of days ago. I went out early while it was calm and made a landing and takeoff from Soldotna. I didn't want to offend all the neighbors with repeated take-offs so I flew around a bit and came over Scooter's and your place. I was pretty high .... next time I'll come on in and say hello! I would never attempt your strip in my 170 ..... I could land but don't think I could take off that short... but, even with my limited experience in it, the 180 would love it there!

Oh yeah, it has long range tanks and a high gross weight. I can put 80 gals of fuel in it and still load up 800 more pounds, legally. I love the 170 but this is a whole different class of airplane!

Congratulations-- there's nothing like a Skywagon!

Congrats KG! She looks like a great bird for sure!

Congrats Keith. That's awesome.

Does that mean you have a 170 for sale?

Very nice!!!

Zzz wrote:
Does that mean you have a 170 for sale?

Yeah, probably. I would like to keep both but doubt if I can find the time for two. I have a local friend who has inquired about it. If he doesn't buy it I'll get around to marketing it sometime.

Nice!!!!! I even like the paint scheme.

Thanks everybody!

The only thing I think I'll change soon is the shoulder harness. It's the original style, the old "over one shoulder" type that snaps onto a little button on the seat belt buckle. I'm not tall enough to reach everything if I make it tight..... and if I leave it loose enough to reach the flap handle it isn't doing me any good.

It won't matter if I don't wreck it ..... but better pilots than me have died in airplanes due to head injuries.

Sorry Phil, I sorta highjacked your other thread..

The BAS shoulder harnesses are first on my list. I have them in my 170 and I really like them. I don't plan to flip it upside down but if I do, I prefer to not have a hole in my head.

I have to say sorry to Phil also. I posted my comment on his thread thinking it was this thread. By the way, you both have sweet airplanes!

Good on the BAS kit!


Kurt

G44 wrote:I have to say sorry to Phil also. I posted my comment on his thread thinking it was this thread. By the way, you both have sweet airplanes!

Good on the BAS kit!

Kurt

Thanks Kurt!

kg wrote:Sorry Phil, I sorta highjacked your other thread..

The BAS shoulder harnesses are first on my list. I have them in my 170 and I really like them. I don't plan to flip it upside down but if I do, I prefer to not have a hole in my head.

No worries Keith or Kurt, and thanks. Agree that the BAS shoulder harness is a must have mod.

by bigrenna, Copied from Phil's thread

Before you do anything, I would strongly recommend you actually weight the bird to get a good baseline. The most important thing you can try to do on the late model Skywagon is to manage the weight as they are much heavier compared to the early and even the mid. You can really feel it in how they fly. Rather than spend a ton of cash modding it out, I would suggest keeping it as light as possible. You will find that if you fly it right, it will do pretty well on its own. WingX, Sportsman, bushwheels... will just load it up. Stick with 8.5x6, stock camber lift. If your 12v, put the light battery in and Airglas CF extended baggage. Gut that interior, remove old heavy avionics, pull the back seat, (Expensive,) but get some Ti gear on... You could easily pull 75-100lbs out. Your short field perf will really shine.

If you do want to go down the rabbit hole with the mods, the single best thing you can do (first) to a late model 180 is go with the 520. (I know you have one already... ) It really makes a difference.

Congrats on the new bird! It's a whole different game than the 170 for sure!

It was weighed when the 520 was mounted and there hasn't been much done to it since other than float change-overs so I suspect the weight and balance is more accurate than most. I'm sure it is considered heavy in some circles but after being accustomed to the O-300 powered C170, I can't tell that's it too heavy. The performance at this point is ahead of the pilot's skills anyway. I read your other thread indicating $1k per pound removed...

Congrats! It's beautiful!!

So how heavy is it KG?

A1Skinner wrote:So how heavy is it KG?

1898

Performance improvements are relative, of course, but I have flown two C-185s with the later “camber lift” wing, both before and after installation of a Sportsman kit, and in both cases, performance was significantly better after the Sportsman was added.

A Sportsman kit would be at the top of my list of mods for ANY 180/185.

And, by the way, slower stall speed is only one of the Sportsman’s benefits.

MTV

Beautiful machine I like the paint scheme. BTW my 79 180 Pponk 520 with a few mods stock panel LR tanks weighs just about the same as yours.