I am looking at buying a Cessna 172L project. I found a few conversion STC's for a taildragger, but can't find a phone number or website for them. Just wondering if I could get a list of conversions with there phone numbers and websites? Also I didn't know if there is a certain year that you can't do it to 172's anymore?
Thanks

A square tail (1956 thru 1959) conversion is fine and rock solid. A swept tail 172 conversion is not, unless you put a square tail on it. You just simply do not have enough rudder and it's cross wind capabilities are not near as good. How do I know? Been there and done that.....won't do it again either. A photo of the buzzard is in my photo albumn..... black 1960 C172A TD, 180 hp. lyc, with 8.50's.

Hey Jacob
Ditto on what AGrouch said.

In addition to that, if you have to pay someone to do it, check on the cost of installation. I have a buddy that did it to an early model C-175 w/220 Franklin/CSP. He did it himself. Quite abit of work, Might be cheaper/easier to buy one done that someone dod a good job on.

I'm only aware of one guy selling a kit. Nice guy to talk with, good quality, complete kit. Although, did not come all at once. Veeeeerrrrryyyy slooooow getting the kit, and even sslllloooooooooower geting the final parts. I think the kit was around $7500 a few years ago.

FWIW Gary

I helped a friend convert a square tail 182 to a tail dragger. It was a "massive" amount of work. I would never consider doing that. Either buy it done, or buy a C170.

A friend had a Texas Taildragger conversion on a C152. Very heavy on the tailwheel. Not enough rudder due to the swept design. Speaking of which, the old "round tail" Cessnas were sure prettier.

I have one of these perverted C172s. I have had it for several months and I have found it to be a real great plane. I have gradually immersed myself into off-field work with this plane and as I live along the NC coast, I have mastered crosswind landings too (here we have a lot of wind, all the time).

I have heard the arguments that others have made and I can't say I agree on all accounts. The rudder issue has not proven to be aweful for my flying style (yet). I recently attended a Mountain flying/Bushpilot coarse in AK and I have been agressively flying/landing and taking off from short strips (made for ultralights). The plane is absolutely no substitute for a 180 and there are many limitations (as most bush planes have). However, if you have resonable expectaions and exibit some good flying skill, its a managable off-field rig for low altitude/density altitude operations like east coast and a lot of Alaska.

Mine is equiped with a Horton STOl kit and a climb prop. I force the tail up and roll with about 20 deg of flap and the plane takes off in 300 to 500 feet depending on Density altitude and load. The STOL kit moves the center of lift forward on the plane and makes three point landings easier. Mine has a failrly low hp engine (0320 150 hp) so I don't get the P factor that others get with the 0360 (180 hp) which diminshes right rudder effectiveness. It's a trade-off. The plane is slow and it can become squirly, but all my tailwheel and off field experience prior to this airplane have been with a Pacer. After flying a Pacer (owned two with sevral hunded hours logged), i find the ground handling manners of this converted C172 to be pretty good.

I got mine for under $45k and it was already totally modified and packed with radios. I would not ever consider modifying a normal 172. It would be a monumental effort with mediocre results.