Superdave. How much difference in speed did you notice with your snider gear fairings? I have a '59 c180 with 8.50x6's and am curious if the speed increase is enough to justify the cost.

Thanks.

I put the Snider on with Maple Leaf wheel pants. At the same time I got rid of the rotating beacon and a bunch of antenni. It used to look like a porcupine. It did go faster but now with 8.50x6 no pants it's a solid 140 knot plane. Like most speed mods, the claims are there but there is no hard data. If my speed mods all worked as claimed I'd be supersonic. It might be worth 5kt. 2500 is 500 a kt. Also you can't jack the plane by the main gear, wheel and brake maintanance is a royal PIA and after a few years it cracks. I would not do it again.

Thanks for the real world experience... you just saved me $2500.

Its too bad Superdave didn't get the same results as some other 180/185 owners, is it possible he is looking at indicated and not calculating TAS???

I have a 55 180 with 8.50/6.00's and I put the Snider speed kit on, (no wheelpants) after I put in a PPonk O-520. I flew it without the kit for about 50 hours. I gained 10 knots with the engine alone, 150 knots TRUE up high, not to mention the increadable climb rate.

The speed kit gave me another 10 knots,....BUT I also was a little disapointed at first. I was flying home at 4500' and only saw 5 mph indicated. But you must remember the advertised airspeed increases are TRUE AIRSPEED, NOT INDICATED. I climbed to 7500' standard OAT, and saw 160 knots, TRUE AIRSPEED. I calculated it 3 times thinking I screwed up my math. Nope, 160 TAS, throttle wide open, 2500rpm, 14gph.

Flying back from LA at 10,500 a C-182RG was only 5 knots faster in trail!

I have since put about 150 hours on it and I consisently have to power back early in a descent. I always check my true airspeed and it is consistent. The higher you go the more you will notice the difference it makes to clean up the gear.

Would I do it again???? Hell yes!!!! The best $2500 I spent just behind the engine.

Rich