Matt & Katie
X2 on all the comments, will see you at Caveman? Happy Holidays

My goodness, thank you for the overwhelming response.

I will have to add here, that my wonderful wife Katie has been VERY supportive through this entire process and she is a large reason I have the retro wagon. She knew I wanted a Cessna 180 and encouraged me to wait till the right one came along. I'm very thankful for that.

Let me detail my mission:
1) Needs to be able to carry 2 adults and camping gear over the Continental Divide (14,000ft) in the summer temps.
2) Must go faster than 100kts (for family travel)
3) 4 seats
4) Bushwheel capable
5) Needs to be fairly economical
6) Needs to be fairly STOL worthy
7) Must be fun and something that makes me smile when I open the hangar door.

So the question has come up a few times now, and this should be a great time to address it; "why did you buy a 180?"

Well, at first I didn't. I really enjoyed the Stinson and I had thoughts of rebuilding it, but since I'm not an A&P, it would have been a long and costly project. I simply didn't want to have more into it than I would ever get out. I''m very glad Tadpole (an A&P) bought it, he should have a great, low budget plane when he's done.

On my short list were the basic 6: Maules, Stinsons, Pacers, and Cessna 170's, 180's and 182's.

In Aug, I made a decision to go look at/buy a Stinson 108-3 in MI. It appeared to be a sweet little bird, and the -3 was a bit of an improvement in range and gross over my -2 (and it had a PZL Franklin 220, so I was planning to keep my engine and have a spare.). Well, after several trips to MI, and many hours searching the logs/plane, things didn't add up and I walked (for many reasons). I ended up losing a deposit and a fair amount of travel expenses, but it was the right decision.



By late Sept I was back in the market. From that point on, I gave up on Stinson's (not many with big motors on the market). I started to looking heavily into Maules and talked many times with "learntolandshort". It became very apparent that all Maules are not created equal. I have flown with many Maules, and the M5/M6/M7-235 versions were always impressive (But, an M7 is well outside my price range). I searched the market pretty good, and found out Maules in general were holding their values very well. Many of the "good" ones with newer fabric and time left on the motor were 60k+. On rare occasion a M5-235 would pop up, but by the time I called it had a deposit on it (and after the Stinson fiasco, I was hesitant to do that again!). And for high CO density alt. the long wing M6 and M7 were what I preferred. After being let down by emails, calls and leads, I put the Maule on the back burner. The higher insurance premiums were always in the back of my mind too.

I briefly looked into Pacers. I just didn't feel the Pacer had enough power and speed for my mission, so I abandoned that.

Cessna 170's are great, but I feel I would have needed more than the O-300 to fit my mission. And the 180HP conversions cost about the same as 180's. I would flip flop back and forth, and 170's were always very tempting.

Cessna 182's are also great. They indeed fit my mission, but it was point # 7 that kept me from pulling the trigger on a 182. I know a few people that went the 182 route and in the end they weren't happy with it's limitations. I also know many who are happy, but the thought of giving up the little back wheel just didn't sit well with me. I love to frequent rougher CO strips, and lacking confidence in the nose wheel would have limited my flying.

I thought the 180's were well outside my range too. But the more I looked, the more the light started to shine. I emailed and called everyone I knew asking for advice and any leads. I called and emailed about twenty 180's on Barnstormers, Trade-A-Plane and GPS. After getting a chance to fly in an early 180, I came down with a serious case of 180 fever. I was a fanatic and spent many days trying to find a solution to this problem. I had the Cessna 180 yearly changes guide memorized (http://www.allboutaircraft.com/skywagon.html)

I found out that once one starts asking the right questions, they can really weed out the fair planes from the junk. (With my price range, a fair plane was all I expected.) The retro wagon was a local plane, so that made it nice. The owner was also very, very thoughtful (retired Untied Captain) and I enjoyed spending my time driving up to see him and the 180. I traveled out of state to look at several modded 53's, but the more I looked the more I liked the retro wagon. And, I really like the features that the 57-59 180's had (higher gross, larger tanks, O-470K, forward gear, baggage door, etc).

I was set on the retro wagon for the last month. I was ready and willing with cash in hand. BUT, the owner was really hesitant to sell (and after 24 years of owning and caring for a plane, I completely understand why). It became a patience game, one that I about gave up on. But in the end, the owner let me have it. It has taken me a few flights and a few weeks to realize that this dream is reality. I not only have a great plane, but a great friend in the previous owner. A long sequence of events has led me to this point, and I couldn't be more grateful for it all.

Things I have learned:
1) BUY INSURANCE!!!
2) Mistakes and lack of judgement happens to the best of us. One must use the experience to learn from. (I will share my experience in more detail when the time is right, not quite yet.)
3) Emergency gear is important, so be prepared.
4) BCP and flying friends are my extended family. They're there when you need them.

MM

Very nice 180, love those early models. I'll bet he didn't want to part with it, after that long it was part of the family. I had a creampuff 54 that I lost in one of the big windstorms that hit Jeffco. Was returning from Nebraska to my home field in Breckenridge, Co back in 1975 and couldn't get to Breck, poor weather. Turned around and parked it at Jeffco, bad mistake. Loved that light on controls 180. Had it in the Idaho backcountry several times in the late 1960's, early seventies, and what a performer. Replaced with a 185 in 1976 that I still own, and it's part of our family after 36 years. Wife and you will have a lot of fun with that 180, enjoy.
Ron

Good for you for developing a mission profile list and finding the right plane. After reading your 7 mission requirements, why on earth would you have to answer the question, "why did you buy a 180?"

That is the perfect plane! I can't imagine how beautiful that must look in your hangar. There isn't a more beautiful sight than a skywagon sitting clean and dry in a hangar ready for the next flight.

Sick, brah!!!!

Good writeup. Stoked for you.

MM

Glad you found one that fits you.... And that one looks way nicer than the one you talked to me about..... Congratulations....

Excellent looking 180 congrats to you and your family it will be great to see you back in the air! Look forward to some good videos and following you on your adventures. Merry Christmas!

Sweet bird, my all time favorite! Im jealous right now but one day I will join the ranks of the 180 drivers again!

Great comments, keep them coming!

Now, I'm not saying this was installed on the retro wagon, but if anyone is looking for a like new Pioneer 8 Track player and audio control. Please let me know! (Non-TSO/PMA.)

Matt, that looks like a very nice Stinson in your pic.
While I'm very content with my C181, there is something about a Stinson...

I think I still have a C.W. McCall 8-track that would work perfect in there. I'll send it out to you...

Yeah, Matt. I'd leave that bad boy in. I've got a Love Unlimited Orchestra 8-track from my childhood that would be perfect for those romantic sunset flights.

As I recall Katie is not large better be careful what u say just flew the 180 after the Sportsman install

How did you like it Russ?

Congrats pal...that is an awesome one eh! I say it calls for exactly what you bought it for...a trip in the North West and by that I mean B.C., Yukon & AK! With all the folks on here, you will get free room and board all along, hangar space, A&P's, car to bum around, etc.. a win win deal if you ask. See you this fall...we're goin sheep huntin! BCT

robw56 wrote:How did you like it Russ?

Very nice, perfect install, I found an anal metal man here at KRIR dedicated to perfection. At gross yesterday (2550) 65* 30.00" merc. maybe 3 mph wind down the (grass) runway, 750' msl came off the runway at 50 mph in about 425' landed and stopped in 350'. Used an approach speed of 65 and touched down at 50. In cruse I might have lost 3-4 mph TAS was seeing 146 TAS Before with the Horner tips used to see more like 150.

I put on the wingtips with the lights in them looks really sharp. Matt resist the temptation of sneaking Katies wedding ring down to the pawn shop Forgive the thread drift but Rob egged me.

Maybe Matt will make another of those Katie surprise videos. How I got my Sportsman STOL kit

I've already had a few "warnings" from my wife.

I've convinced her that shoulder harnesses are a must, but STOL kits, radios, new interior, propellers, extended baggage, firewall battery mount, etc must all enter a indefinite holding pattern.

I did tell her that "all I want for Christmas is AVGAS". (She then reminds me we just bought a plane.)



PS - Gotta love C.W. McCall.

Glidergeek wrote:

robw56 wrote:How did you like it Russ?

Very nice, perfect install, I found an anal metal man here at KRIR dedicated to perfection. At gross yesterday (2550) 65* 30.00" merc. maybe 3 mph wind down the (grass) runway, 750' msl came off the runway at 50 mph in about 425' landed and stopped in 350'. Used an approach speed of 65 and touched down at 50. In cruse I might have lost 3-4 mph TAS was seeing 146 TAS Before with the Horner tips used to see more like 150.

I put on the wingtips with the lights in them looks really sharp. Matt resist the temptation of sneaking Katies wedding ring down to the pawn shop Forgive the thread drift but Rob egged me.

Russ, is that the guy that works for UPS and Tim Orchard? If so, talk about perfection! We've had some parts for a race bikes made by him. Some of the most beautiful parts for our bikes have come from that shop. Nothing comes out of Tim's shop unless it's perfect.

Russ, is that the guy that works for UPS and Tim Orchard? If so, talk about perfection!

No his name is Doug Turner, Not anal at all just kidding but did a excellent job.