Hello,

I have a heavy duty 206 nose fork on my 1958 Skylane. I would like to trade my 206 fork for the taller Cherokee (Landes) fork so I can put the bigger 8.50x6 tire on the front (I have 8.50x6's on the mains) (I found another pilot on my field that would trade his Landes fork for my shorter 206 fork).

My question would be, is there anybody out there that would know exactly what would be the appropriate steps on changing out the forks? (STC, or field approvals, etc.) .

Thank you.

I am also considering a nose fork change. I've got the 206 nosegear and currently have 8.00-6 main tires. I've got a set of 8.50-6 tires and I'm not sure if putting them on with the smaller nosewheel will put the prop too close to the ground. Anyone have experience with that setup? Also, I've been pumping my strut so that about 3 inches of it show while sitting level. Is pumping it up more a good idea?

jmtgt, how about posting a picture of your 182 with 29 inch bush wheels? thanks, JG

The Landes fork comes with an STC which approves the airplane (182/206, etc) with 8.50 x 6.00 tires on all three corners. The stc does NOT permit a smaller nosegear tire, such as the 8.00 x 6.00.

I've run a 206 with the Landes fork, and 8.50's on all three, and I can't recommend it. The airplane sits at too high an AOA on the ground, and it's really easy to land nose first or all three at once. I put an 8.00 x 6.00 nose tire on, based on a field approval, and that was a great setup. We ran three 206s that way, and they worked fine.

DO NOT overinflate your nose strut. That strut is there to absorb landing and takeoff loads. The hot ticket is to get a piece of stout rubber hose about the diameter of the nose strut, split it lengthwise, and hose clamp it onto the bottom of the shock strut. The length of hose needs to be about 3 inches. Then inflate the nose strut to the recommended pressure. This piece of hose will prevent the strut from bottoming out, which is hard on everything, and at worst, will bang up that piece of hose, which is easily replaced.

We did this as a minor alteration, and this is a very common practice in Alaska. In fact, to see one of these aircraft WITHOUT this up there is really unusual.

Also, if you are going to the bigger tires, consider attaching a tail spring off a CUb or..... to the underside of the tail just ahead of the tail cone to prevent dragging the tail. Just use the main leaf of the spring.

MTV

patrol guy wrote:jmtgt, how about posting a picture of your 182 with 29 inch bush wheels? thanks, JG

That is a good Idea.... he has been slackin of late.....

Thanks for the advice. I've heard of people overinflating the strut, but it seemed to me that it would be less effective at absorbing bumps with an overfill.

Another question:

I've never flown anything with bigger tires than the 8.00's, and I'm wondering how substantial the improvement is when switching to a bush tire.
Also, how strong is the nosegear? I've heard a lot of tailwheel advocates claiming utter superiority when terrain gets rough, and I have read about buckled firewalls in nosedraggers, but how much of a concern is it REALLY?(assuming good technique). Seems to me like having a big 'Ol fork and tire out there might invite disaster without beefing up the firewall or something.

I cannot think of a listed strip in Oregon, Idaho or Washington that my plane is not capable of. If you try big rocks and long prop flying then a tailwheel plane is a must.

I have seen a few tailwheel folks with just really big tires that never get off the grass. Kind of like the four wheel drive idiots that never get past the car wash. I think that most of the bush wheels sold south of the Canadian border is for looks, not necessity.

That being said, if I end up out of the 182B and into an M4-220, I will probably put fat tires on the plane.

Tim

The 182 has a nosegear attachment that is very expensive to fix if you bend it.

As QMDV says, if you keep your head up and locked, and don't try anything stupid, it should work fine. Land in basketball size rocks, it probably won't.

Learn really good technique, keep the airplane loaded toward the aft, as opposed to forward, and go have fun.

THey are great airplanes, and very capable.

MTV

farmerseth wrote:I am also considering a nose fork change. I've got the 206 nosegear and currently have 8.00-6 main tires. idea?

I have a great idea. Before I changed that fork, I would fugure all the costs associated with it including extra drag. Then spend the money on a Mtn Flying Clinic either in McCall or Chalis Idaho. Then take the extra money to buy fuel and fly down to Moab, Ut. and fly with Lavar Wells into those strips and just practice with the what you have. Way more fullfilling that an extra big fork.

I took the class with 6.00's on all three. Since then I put 7.00's on the mains. Thinking of going back to 6.00 on the mains.

Tim

I have a great idea. Before I changed that fork, I would fugure all the costs associated with it including extra drag. Then spend the money on a Mtn Flying Clinic either in McCall or Chalis Idaho. Then take the extra money to buy fuel and fly down to Moab, Ut. and fly with Lavar Wells into those strips and just practice with the what you have. Way more fullfilling that an extra big fork.

I took the class with 6.00's on all three. Since then I put 7.00's on the mains. Thinking of going back to 6.00 on the mains.

Tim

I appreciate the advice. I've considered getting into a mountain flying course. That would be a blast!
The main reason I would consider larger tires is because there are a couple of places I'd like to land that are fairly rough. No rocks or anything, but pasture that feels bumpy when I drive my PU across it at 45 MPH.
I have a couple of nice 8.50 tires just sitting in the hangar and wondered if I could put them to use. I guess I could sell them and use the $ for fuel...

Hey!!! Aviation is all about passion. Part of that passion is "improving" our aircraft.

I've run up my credit card balance on stuff I didn't really "need", but in fact, I enjoyed the airplane, and the "stuff" was all part and parcel of that experience....

On the other hand, there are few things that will be more rewarding than going flying in my experience.

Best of both worlds: Put the big tires on, AND go flying.

Frankly, the mountain flying clinics seem to have now priced themselves into the "Learjet" community's price range. They are out of my price range, at least.

MTV

Anybody heard of the Bethal Skid in Alaska? Any information on this airstrip? Photo's?

Thanks.

58Skylane wrote:Anybody heard of the Bethal Skid in Alaska? Any information on this airstrip? Photo's?

Thanks.

I lived/flew out of Bethel way more than I wanted to, and I never heard of the Bethel Skid as an airstrip.

Now, all our C207's had a skid on the tail, is that what they're talking about.

Gump

About the only reason I put the 850"s on my 182 was because the tires where given to me free! I already had the heavy duty strut and axles on the plane when I bought it. I did have to buy the Airglas-Landes front fork kit though (ouch, that hurt the pocket book). I think it's worth it to me since I'll be flying in the backcountry this summer. You get a smoother ride on those bumpy airstrip's, too. Also, for what ever reason, I feel a little more confidant about making a sucessful emergancy landing in a pasture or the middle of the desert.

Hi John,

That's a cool looking rig you have. What does it cruise at?

Hey John, put a little air in the front strut. I have the same problem with mine. Always going down especially in the winter.

And I thought I slowed my plane down.



tim

I've told this before, but to reiterate, I flew my tripacer all over Idaho with 6.00 x6's all around and pumped the nose strut up to about 6 inches of piston showing and with good slow flight techniques and staying off the nose gear as long as posible there weren't too many places I couldn't go. Naturally short strips were out of the question, like Dewey Moore and such, cause I lacked the power and also the nerve, but Cabin Creek SHearer, Indian Creek,Thomas creek, and Upper loon along with a bunch others I can't remember at the moment, were all doable and good fishing. Just a couple inches higher in the nose strut were a big plus in saving nicks in the prop. Looked a little strange sitting up that high in the nose but looks don't count in the back country....

so John, Which of those Gems are you flying to the fly in in June....? Must be nice to be a multi owner. Sort of like my Harleys.....Gee which one do I ride today... or in your case....which one do I fly today...?

"where's the beef?"

I know a guy who has an early 182 with a Ponk 520, fitted with fat tires all around. he told me everybody said it'd be slow, but he sees 150 IAS or more all the time. Of course, he runs it at 25 squared.....

zero.one.victor wrote:"where's the beef?"

Of course, he runs it at 25 squared.....

And 15 gph

Tim