I thought this was an interesting thread - "The best ways I lightened my airplane were......." and it made me think of things that people purposefully add to their planes because the advantage outweighs the additional weight.

For me:
Extended baggage Selkirk Panels (nice protection of the metal skins back there)
29" bushwheels (way slower than 8.50s, but landing on fluffy pillows is worth the weight and speed loss)
Baby bushwheel (no more tiller trenches)
3 bladed prop (I love the smoothness even though it is heavier and less efficient)

I would have all of these again despite the added weight and efficiency loss

Anyone else have any favorite must-have extra weight?

40 pound bug out bag in the cargo area. Better balance flying solo and peace of mind flying across the Frank Church.

I love that I've been flying for 27 years and I had not heard of a bug out bag. Had to look it up and I feel more educated now about a type of survival gear with a more specific intent than my own survival gear. I will incorporate some of these concepts into my own "bug out bag". Thanks.

15lbs for a Sportsman STOL kit, worth the extra weight hands down.

The sportsman STOL kit carries its own weight and really improves the Cessna's wing characteristics on the low end. Although not a permanent installation, the iPad with foreflight and a compatable gps is a very powerful tool for the weight. Bushwheels if you operate off of rough stuff. Shoulder harnesses. Survival pack. I was a skinny boy for a long time, but that's impossible to maintain indefinitely, so I decided to add ten pounds to the pilot.

Hands down it is our three kids!

Other than that, I'll second the iPad. Also 8.00s, C310 nose fork, and trip saver kit...which also helps with the CG. The previous owner had added a center console. I thought it would be one of the first things I yanked, but I love it!

Airglas GLH 3000-SG skis. Love the extended ski season.
31" AWB's - pillows are good!
Both hurt speed, but worth it!
Spidertracks - Doesn't weigh diddly squat, but won't fly without it.
Flint tip tanks - nice to skip the gas cans in the plane.

akgreg wrote:Airglas GLH 3000-SG skis. Love the extended ski season.
31" AWB's - pillows are good!
Wipline 2100's - summer toys
All hurt speed, but worth it!
Spidertracks - Doesn't weigh diddly squat, but won't fly without it.
Flint tip tanks - nice to skip the gas cans in the plane.

AKG, What does it cost U for the tracks for a year?
Thanks

M6RV6,

Check out Spidertracks website - it lists all the different plans. There are many options and you can change which plan you have if you find the one you select isn't working for you, but only if it's a more expensive plan.
I have had mine for a couple of years now and they aren't quite as flexible on changing the plan as they used to be. It's not cheap, but it really is a great product and provides a great piece of mine.

I have a tool bag I keep in the baggage compartment. 90% of the tools I need to do an annual are in it. Weighs about 10 lbs or so.

Case of beer........

dudestickle wrote:Case of beer........

I think we have a winner

Sportsman STOL , extended baggage ,Cleveland Double puck brakes and big wheels ,cargo net , kenmore 206 middle row removable seats and of course firewall mounted battery .With all this I'm still at 1507 lbs empty weight .= 1043 useful .

JPInstruments fuel computer. A few ounces. Really nice to have when fuel is an issue, and incredibly accurate right out of the box.

MTV

mtv wrote:JPInstruments fuel computer. A few ounces. Really nice to have when fuel is an issue, and incredibly accurate right out of the box.

MTV

+1 for fuel computer and/or multi-point engine monitor; depending on how much poorer you wanted to be.

What MTV said.

I will also add, shoulder harnesses too.

Kurt

I really don't think much about the effect of weight; I just have added those things that make my flying more comfortable and enjoyable and safer. Going through my incredible long list of improvements I've made, some which seem "mo' betta" are these relative permanent additions:

Alpha Systems AOA indicator
APU receptacle
406 ELT
BAS shoulder harnesses
EI fuel flow meter
430W GPS
Flap gap seals
Oregon Aero pilot seat comfort modifications
HID landing/taxi lights
Reiff engine heater
Rosen sun visors
Ventubes
Steve's gascolator
iPad Mini with Stratus II ADS-B in

In addition to the relatively permanent items, I carry

a small tool kit, which has proved useful;
jumper cables for the APU receptacle, which has saved a trip or two;
complete survival kit (in the winter I add snow shoes and a sleeping bag);
2 406 PLBs;
handheld tranceiver;
22 cu.ft. oxygen set.

I think I'll have to add the case of beer next time.

Cary

The best weight I have ever added was more gas and the piece of mind my sat phone gives me.