I've been contemplating posting this, but with the handful of messages over the last few months from people wondering where I disappeared to, I thought I'd post an update.

I bought an airplane this week!







I've gotten tired of dealing with the Skywagon. That thing has turned into much more of a project than I could have ever imagined. The airplane was shipped out of the ranch in Texas four years ago to go get "restored" and in that time I've been able to fly it one time since I got my insurance checkout. In that time time period I have met multiple IAs who wouldn't touch that airplane with a ten foot stick. It's not good. I started A&P school to fix the airplane myself in January of 2019 and have since made some steady progress on Wagon. With the skins that need to be replaced and the other thousand things that need to be addressed, I'm looking at at least another two or three years until I can think of flying it again. That's a little too long for me to keep renting, so I went out and got something to fly right now. Don't worry, I love the 185 and I will never get rid of that airplane. The Skywagon is my forever airplane, but in the meantime I now have something to fly and enjoy my early 20s in.

So let's talk about the Skylane and my plans for it.



38N is a 1974 Cessna 182P and it has about 3500tt with 600smoh on the O470R. The airplane has an 82" Hartzell Top Prop and it is really slick. I was really disappointed when John at Flight Resources told me that I wouldn't like the MT 3 blade on my 185, so to have a three blade on my new airplane that preforms really well is just fantastic to me. I was seeing book speeds or better while futsing around with the airplane this week and takeoffs have been a blast. The 8068 is an approved propeller on the -50 conversion, so that will get me along until the Trailblazer is approved or if I go on floats, the reversing MT. However I won't be doing that for a while and I have a thousand hours to my next overhaul.

My plans for the airplane are really simple.

Fly the airplane! This is some advice I was given that would have probably saved me many thousands and a lot of heartache with the 185. I took all of that advice and basically ignored it. This second time around, I'm going to use the money for mods on gas and flight hours. I might take the wheel pants off and put bigger tires on it, but we're already getting snowfall today so there isn't much need to do that just yet.

When it gets really cold this winter, I'm planning on installing all of the avionics that were purchased for the 185 into the Skylane. I would like to do instrument instruction with the airplane, so I am trying to determine if I want to install the MVP-50 and keep the G5s or install a G3X Touch with the EIS and sell the MVP-50 to offset the costs. The G3X touch and the GFC500 will make the airplane a Technically Advanced Airplane and I will be able to give people the 10 hours of instruction in a retract or TAA for their commercial certificate. I think I am leaning towards the G3X right now.

When the airplane is in the avionics shop, I might do the Sportsman with the CX Tips and install the VGs while I'm at it. I'd also transfer all of the Aeroleds from the 185 so I can have my LEDs. It's too bad the 185 has the early wing and the 182 has the camber cuff wing, otherwise I'd be able to transfer my CX tips without any hassle.

Following PNW Flyer's 182 Sealane project has really given me some inspiration and with the addition of getting my commercial seaplane rating last month, I really want a seaplane. Now don't get me wrong, I've always wanted one but I just couldn't with the 185 being delivered without a float kit. Luckily for me, Seaplanes West has a kit for my new airplane. Once the 185 is flying again, I might do the installation and find myself a set of 2960s. Who knows, maybe I'll have Aerocet money by then!!



I will update this thread regularly with some of the preventive maintenance and minor fixes that I will be doing over the next few months as I wait for my trip to the avionics shop. First up on my list is getting a new battery box and addressing some minor surface corrosion in the battery box area. I think I'll install the Bogert box & get their low loss cables at the same time. I hope to dig into that project in the next few weeks once I have the hangar cleaned out a little bit and can organize my workspace.


Thanks for following along!

Ryan,

I'm not in the mode of offering advice on creating an Uber panel.....BUT,

The first thing I'd do, especially with winter coming, is get rid of those wheel pants. Those wheels and tires are fine, but wheel pants in colder weather, especially warm/cold transitions is they can build up ice, etc.

MTV

mtv wrote:Ryan,

I'm not in the mode of offering advice on creating an Uber panel.....BUT,

The first thing I'd do, especially with winter coming, is get rid of those wheel pants. Those wheels and tires are fine, but wheel pants in colder weather, especially warm/cold transitions is they can build up ice, etc.

MTV

X2. Slushy snow/ice and wheel pants don't mix well.

Ryan,
Why dont you do us all a favor and name the guys who screwed up your 185 so badly, it just might save someone else some hardship.

Congratulations on the 182, fly the snot out of it and slow down on all the mods. Enjoy the airplane for what it is. I agree with MTV, remove the pants but the last thing that thing needs is bigger tires. Cruising around airport to airport all bigger tires do is slow you down, match the mods to the mission. The LED lights swap is a great idea. I would not put the Sportsman on that airplane until it goes on floats, not needed airport to airport.

Kurt

You know what guys, that’s some great advice!! I haven’t had wheel pants before, so I haven’t had any first hand experience with the particulars of wheel pants and winter flying. That’ll be a great first project for me.

Kurt, the guys who did the 185 have retired from aviation maintenance and are no longer in Idaho. There’s no need to flame people in a public forum. My only advice to people contemplating a major project like what I went through with the 185, is to do more research and be more knowledgeable with what proper maintenance should look like.

Kurt I’m also with you on the Sportsman too. I really don’t need it! The only reason why I’d do it earlier is to use the CX lighted tips. If I can put my NSPs on the stock tips without much work, I’ll skip all the STOL stuff till I’m ready for floats. The camber cuff wing flies pretty good as is.

“John at Flight Resources told me that I wouldn't like the MT 3 blade on my 185”

Ryan, what was the justification for this?

slow18 wrote:Ryan, what was the justification for this?

The underpowered IO470F that was never replaced with an IO520 for reasons unbeknownst to me. Their reasoning is that the three blade was going to be a dog on it as it was designed for an engine that made 280 or more horsepower. I fell twenty short with the 470.

They were more than happy to sell me a 3 blade since it was approved for my engine and airframe combo, but didn’t want me to be unhappy with it until I built myself a bigger engine. I am a customer for life and will definitely be coming back for another prop in the future.

pilotryan wrote:You know what guys, that’s some great advice!! I haven’t had wheel pants before, so I haven’t had any first hand experience with the particulars of wheel pants and winter flying. That’ll be a great first project for me.

Kurt, the guys who did the 185 have retired from aviation maintenance and are no longer in Idaho. There’s no need to flame people in a public forum. My only advice to people contemplating a major project like what I went through with the 185, is to do more research and be more knowledgeable with what proper maintenance should look like.

Kurt I’m also with you on the Sportsman too. I really don’t need it! The only reason why I’d do it earlier is to use the CX lighted tips. If I can put my NSPs on the stock tips without much work, I’ll skip all the STOL stuff till I’m ready for floats. The camber cuff wing flies pretty good as is.

Ok, understand on the retired maintenance guys.

The wing on your 182 flys great, I would suggest only put the Sportsman on if you really need it. My dad had a Sportsman kit on his 172, it reduced the stall speed and increased shortfield performance a bit but it did not fly nearly as nice as a stock 1976 wing flys. I have experienced the same in 185’s as well as a small speed reduction in cruise. YMMV but for me, no Sportsman or any STOL kit is going on my Cessna unless I need it for the type of flying I do. I know I am stirring up a hornets nest here but that is how I feel about STOL kits as well as some other modifications. Do the mods that you need and that make sense, skip the others until or unless needed for the mission. Buy gas and have fun! You now have a SWEET airplane! Congratulations! Now go fly and post some trip reports.

Kurt

BAS harness’s if not already installed and installing the LED landing lights would be a great start. Also, the fresh air wing root vents that Sporty’s sells are a fantastic addition, worth every cent. A fuel computer is a great useful addition. These are some great easy to do worth while mods to get ya going.

A Reiff engine heater may be in order also.

Kurt

https://www.sportys.com/precise-flow-air-vent-kit.html

From a serial revoker of airworthiness...tread carefully. If you want to fly, just fly. Resist your turd polishing urges.

I've pulled so many threads on airplanes until the sweater totally came apart. It's a syndrome.

Congrats on the new airplane that flies! [emoji1360]

Nice, another P model! I agree with Kurt, no need for Sportsman or vg’s. With practice you will be surprised how slow you can get when landing. Our P models have a great wing.
First mods I did were the BAS harnesses and all Aeroleds. I had no problem adding the Pulsar NS to the stock wing tips.
Have fun. Cheers!

Doug

G44 wrote:.....Congratulations on the 182, fly the snot out of it and slow down on all the mods. Enjoy the airplane for what it is. I agree with MTV, remove the pants but the last thing that thing needs is bigger tires. Cruising around airport to airport all bigger tires do is slow you down, match the mods to the mission. .....

What he said.
I would hate to see you start down the same road you went with the 185.
Just pull off your pants and fly the shit out of that airplane.
And make a vow to not do any mods until you've owned it for 12 months.
"My name is Ryan, and I am a mod-aholic...."

With all due respect my fellow aviator, I read one paragraph where quite simply you said:

My plans for the airplane are really simple.

Fly the airplane!

The subsequent paragraphs then detail all the things you want to do to the airplane.

Don't get me wrong, it's good to dream and it's good to have a plan, but don't forget your original reason for buying the airplane; to fly it.

My suggestion is to prioritize your mods and check them off over time. For instance, BAS inertial shoulder reels are good investment in safety, and can be installed relatively easily at an annual while the headliner is already opened up. (Don't take the airplane out of service any longer than you have to.)

As things break that you need to replace, upgrade them. For instance, when an incandescent strobe power supply fails, replace them with LEDs, but not before what you have fails.

That avionics upgrade is a nice plan, and it helps that you have some equipment purchased already, but don't minimize the invasiveness an avionics job brings with it. It's a big project and if you do it yourself, but you're still paying, albeit with your time . Your precious flying time (or the time you could be using to work on the Skywagon).

Have a shop do it and there goes your 100LL funds.

Take the wheel pants off because that will be an operational necessity in short order, and it won't cost you any time without your airplane. Over time you'll figure out what else you need to do.

Appreciate the replies guys!

I’d like to clarify that my plans & goals listed earlier are not short term plans but are things that I’d like to accomplish throughout my stewardship of the airplane. My main goal is to take delivery next week once the annual is done and start flying. I have a couple nice trips planned and I’m really looking forward to buzzing around the US in the coming months!! Trip reports to follow

The big thing I really want to do is get my panel upgrade done. I’ve been waiting for four years to do my install in the 185 and now I finally have the funds, the plane and the equipment all at once. My hope is to get scheduled into the shop when it’s stupid cold next year (Jan-Feb). I’m originally from Arizona, so this -20 crap is not my cup of tea!! I’d much rather be in the avionics shop’s heated hangar helping run wires and learning about something that I’m interested in than the alternative. That’s not to say that I’m not interested in flying, but I’d really like to learn more about the aspects of being an avionics technician and what better way than to work on your own bird with a pro?

The BAS shoulder harness is really high on my list of needs. My prebuy inspection turned into an annual inspection, so the timing didn’t work out that well to get that done. The color of the belts I had in the 185 actually perfectly matches the belts that are in the 182 currently. I’m wondering if I’d be able to transfer the STC, use my old belts and purchase the necessary items for the difference in headliner. While I’m up there, the skylights need replacement...

I Ryan Anderson, revoker of airworthiness, mod addict and turds polisher will not snowball this plane into an unflyable project. And I’m serious about that guys! I’m done with the whole poser pilot shit. I’ve already wasted two years of my life futsing with the 185 trying to get it good enough to pass an annual. I’m not going down that rabbit hole again!


I hope this clarifies where I stand on things. I really missed flying and posting here about the 185. I’m really excited to have something to fly and post about again. This thread isn’t going to be glamorous like Greg’s restorations, however, I’m looking forward to sharing with you guys the little improvements that I’ll be making along the way. I think first up is to either pull the pants off or transfer my Precise Flow air vents to the Skylane. I might try and do that when I bring the airplane in for the pitot-static check. Gotta start easy right?

Zzz wrote:From a serial revoker of airworthiness...tread carefully. If you want to fly, just fly. Resist your turd polishing urges.

I've pulled so many threads on airplanes until the sweater totally came apart. It's a syndrome.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Ryan,

Good luck on the new 182. They are a fine rugged airplane that does not need any mods to perform very well. Learn to fly it as is and try and get good at it. You didn't mention what the panel has in it now. An engine heater is a must as well as the BAS seatbelts, everything else, like has already been said, should go to 100LL for a while.
Tom

I finally took delivery of the Skylane today after a really extensive annual. All in all, 38N got a new carb, intake hoses and the 91.411 & 413 sign offs. A fresh bill of health!

I got some parts for the BAS shoulder harnesses in the mail this week too. Crystal at BAS was really helpful and got my STC transfer squared away. I also pulled the precise flow vents from the 185 and will get those installed ASAP. It’s starting to get cold up here and the old leaky vents are old & leaky.

I noticed that the airplane flys hands off with the yoke cocked a few degrees to the right and I also noticed that the left aileron does not line up with the flap. However the right aileron does line up with its flap when the yoke is neutral. If it’s worth anything, when the yokes are centered, the hole on the control lock lines up. The airplane doesn’t make book speeds either. I’m only a few miles per hour off (less than 5mph), but it’s still worth noting. The wings don’t have any wrinkles, the tips are about the same height off the ground and the airframe appears straight at first glance. I’ll dive more into this when I get back home next week. Hopefully I’ll have a new temp airman certificate then too!


Pictures to come!

Congrats on your new airplane! I hope you enjoy FLYING it!

BAS seatbelts are really a great safety enhancement to the plane.
The Sportsman STOL kit too, even if you are not planning to go to very short challenging places where you might needed, it reduces your stall speed dramatically and can make an emergency landing a lot more survivable.

I am pro mods, the MT prop (2 blade) the Sportsman the VGs, they do work.
Just my 2 cents, have fun with your project.