My old 66 H Model weighed close to 1635 once I stripped 25 years accumulation of old wires, and other irrelevant stuff out of it.

The H models have some really nice features over early airplanes. For one thing, most of them had R or L model engines, if you're not planning an engine upgrade soon, these are best of breed.

The H has center stack radios and later style (lower mounted) yokes. Nice to have that center stack if you ever do IFR, and even if you don't...more panel room.

Fuselages are all same length, I believe. Interiors were lengthened in later ones to accommodate baggage and eventually, the kiddie seat. The H has extended baggage compartment, so no need to add that.

Most H models have 84 gallons useable...try that with an early one, where you're either always hunting gas or add tankage....

If I were in the market for a 180, the H models would be high on my list.

You'll see a lot of early ones with folks bragging about how light they are, but by the time they get them "the way they want them" they weigh just as much as later ones......and the useful load may not match either.

MTV

Scolopax wrote:Good information. Thanks!
I must admit that the space in the cabin of a 6-window with light fiberglass interior panels feels much larger than the earlier models, which I am pretty in to. How much larger are the fuselages between early and late?

The late model fuselages are approximately 3 1/2" taller at the station just aft of the wings. Everything else fuselage / size wise is the same. There have been early models that have been converted to the 3 window configuration, although I can't imagine for the life of me why you'd do that...

And at the risk of derailing Kevin's thread even more, I will say I agree with most of what MTV had to say, except to point out that even he suggested that the 1600# mark takes a little work to get to in an H model. I really, really, like the H's and they undoubtedly do many things better than the early ones. What they won't do is get lighter than an equally set up early one However little or big that weight difference is may not make a difference to you. You just don't get bigger tanks, bigger panels,more plexi, heavier seats and door latches, longer thicker gear legs, a larger stinger, a beefed up saddle for the stinger, and on & on for free... it all adds up!

A real good analogy to this would be the comparison of a CC Top Cub vs. a CC Carbon cub... There are things each will do that the other will never....

I routinely hear people argue that they're not concerned with weight because they didn't buy a 180/185 to fly around empty I don't get that argument
In my way of thinking, the guy who is constantly packing a load should be more concerned with empty weight.

In the end, the vast majority of these airplanes turn out to be far more capable than their pilots so get the model you like the best, and if you are really concerned with how accurate the weight is, bring a set of scales to the pre buy. You could just leave it three pointed and do a quick total in a few minutes to determine how accurate the weight is. This number will be useless for CG purposes, but it will give you the real deal empty weight. If you like what you see, level it up drain the gas and weigh it correctly.

Good luck on the airplane purchase!
Take care, Rob

Thanks for all of the advice. Very valuable.

Hey Kevin, I've been enjoying watching this thread unfold- all good stuff. Could you tell me the new wingspan with the Wing-X? I'd like to know if one would fit in my hangar
Cheers

40' almost exact...My hanger is 44' wide thankfully

On another note, the WingX did my good this weekend. Flew to the desert at full gross! 2950... She preformed like a dream. Hands down the most weight I have ever carried in her. 3 - 200lb people, 50 gallons fuel, all camping gear, coolers, firewood, camera gear and 10 pumpkins...

AKT

aktahoe1 wrote:Flew to the desert at full gross! 2950... She preformed like a dream. Hands down the most weight I have ever carried in her. 3 - 200lb people, 50 gallons fuel, all camping gear, coolers, firewood, camera gear and 10 pumpkins...AKT

hmmmm...to reference another thread: "you can't carry that in a Maule...legally..."

That is a beautiful bird. I love the shot with the old Jeep. Very nostalgic.

Inspired by Bigrenna and AKTahoe I've been working on my '58 180A (Float kitted, ex-Alaska Fish&Game bird). It came with a Sportsman kit installed, monarch mains/aux, Atlee Dodge rear seats, Extended baggage, FS-450 Fuel Flow. I've put in an entirely new interior, SL-30/GTX-327/ KLN-89B (for the /G capability), JPI EGT/CHT, rearranged the panel. The paint is not inspiring (but on my short list)..... today I just got 29/11x10 ABW mains, yesterday finished installing the ABW Baby bush wheel.... gotta find some dirt soon!

Gunny

Baby Bushwheel


Hot off the Fedex truck 29's next to 800x6.00