I have been thinking (dreaming) about my next plane which I plan to move up to in the next year or so, and I have decide on either a 180 or a 185.
My question is, is the 185 worth the extra money?
I would like to carry two adults, a child, and a dog into most of the strips in Idaho.

I bet you have, but have you thought about a straight tail 182? Last I looked, lots of good deals out there. But then again, I think the 180/185's have a bit more cabin space.

Yep, I like them, but I just love tail wheel aircraft.
If it was up to the wife we would have a Mooney or Bonanza,she just want's to get there fast.

A C-180, especially the older/lighter mid '50's versions, are sweet, smooth, well mannered ladies who will do everything you ask of them with utmost class and dignity.

A C-185 is a noisy, vibrating, 100LL burning four-wheel drive pickup truck that will go anywhere most sane Cub drivers will go.

Room is an issue with both. Weight is extremely critical in the C-180. A heavy C-180 does not fly like a heavy C-185.

Gump

Let me be the first.

Why don't you just buy a Maule?



gb

Before I bought the last 182B I was dreaming of a 180 or 185. The insurance on the 185 was astronmical. 180 was kind of high too. Make a list of all the Idaho stips that a strait tail 182 cannot get into that a 180 can.

What makes the strait tail 182's so nice (also the 60 and 61 models) is the trimable horizontal stabilizer (same as on the 180 and 185) Very light on the controles.

Tim

I have some time in a Maule and I don't like having the yoke on my knees.
I am 6'3" 250 and I look like a fool trying to climb in a Maule.

Mongo wrote:I am 6'3" 250 and I look like a fool trying to climb in a Maule.

Short people have said that too....

Gump

There is a saweeet early model(lighter)'56 180 on Barnstormers with a lot of backcountry mods low times, and a big engine. Should do everything you want, and more.

It should outperform the 185 because it is significantly lighter, with nearly as much horsepower.

Gary

I kind of tried looking for it, but didn't Bmurrish have his 180 for sale?? It's a really nice looking 180 for a reasonable price. High time on the engine if I remember.

It will be a year before I will be in the market for one, I want to finish my commercial rating first,but keep the suggestions coming

I would also like some opinions on a Helio Courier, but their rarity does scare me a bit.

Mongo wrote:I would also like some opinions on a Helio Courier, but their rarity does scare me a bit.

There is a thread about this aircraft on here (BCP.org) somewhere. Might want to do a search for it. If I remember there's some really cool video's to watch, too. I think it would be a cool plane to heve. But yeah, rarity might come with a price and headaches. I dunno....

My 180 does what I want 90% of the time in my personal mission profile.

Family of 5 - Six place interior, back two for little kids or short trips with big kids.

Wife travels with lots of shit - Extended baggage

Me and a buddy goin' for a day shred in the woods - I can get it back to 12.5 gallons or so if I want and tach 4 hours with short range (65 gallons for me) playin'.

Goin' to meet the boys for a "hunting trip" - take out all but the pilots seat, fill 'er to the roof, gets in and out of anything longer than 1,000 feet below 2,500 msl and about 1,500 from 2,500 to 5,500 msl. We're talking comfy camping gear too, Outfitter tent, wood stove, shower tent, cots, chainsaw, stoves, tables, fishing gear, guns, clothes, chairs and LOTS of food and BEER! I can also snake a bottle of Crown or Pendelton down between something at the end of loading.

Cross country - No wind, home to Seattle non-stop 3:15, home to St. George,UT 3:00. Happy going about 3:40 if need be. Don't like going longer without wizzin' anyhow. Headwinds can definetly slow you down a bit but do in anything.

Airport pickup at BOI, TWF or SLC - Radio, transponder, 100 kts to the short final.

It's been into Mile High, Dewey Moore, Vines, Lower Loon, landed on dry lakebeds, gravel roads and just out in the desert.

'73 180J standard O-470 swingin' an 88" blade
NOTHING in the panel other than the leagl guages and an old turn and bank except a King Com, King transponder and a Garmin 296 with Air Gizmos panel mount.
AKBushwheels 29"x10 with the baby bushwheel bringin' up the rear
Six place interior
Extended baggage
Kenmore 206 removable center seats (individual removal is nice for matching the mission)
Horton STOL kit
set of EDO 2960's in Seattle for later playing

Wants:
electric backup artificial horizon to go in place of the T&B (in case I got busted and had to go through a thin layer)
Skis (for playin' with Mattie and Chad)
P-Ponk 270 H.P. (maybe, it would be tight sometimes with the added fuel burn with the small tanks)

Oh yeah, that other 10 percent of time. 5%, wish I was a 185 with a belly pod or T-206. 5%, wish I was an Aerostar, Duke, or the like.

BUT maintenace is simple, I can burn auto fuel if need be out in the nether regions and she's an honest ride for me anyway. They just seem to fit ag pilots, must be why I've got a few friends that I run with that are just as happy with theirs.
Good luck shoppin', market's good for buyin' now!

You won't go wrong with either a 180 or a 185. Horsepower is all about the 185. It is a "manly" airplane, and takes a bit of wrestling to make it work, but work it does. Gross weight is 3350 or higher with the wing extensions. Frankly, my ultimate would be an early 185 converted to an IO-550. THAT is a fire breathing load hauler. A three bladed prop is essential to smooth the beast out.

As to the 180, the 1966 180 that I once owned had a slightly higher useful load on floats than the brand new (at the time) 1985 Cessna 185. The size of the floats had something to do with that. That said, many models of the 180 can be increased to a GW of 3190, and with a big engine, those airplanes will be lighter overall, with similar useful load to a comparable 185.

Condition is probably going to be the deciding factor, actually. Most 185's have been working airplanes. Many 180's have also been working airplanes. Any working airplane of this ilk will have been used hard and put up wet, and may need a lot of TLC. More 180's have been bought by recreational flyers than have 185's, but it all depends on how much TLC has been lavished on the plane before you get there.

I wouldn't shy away from either, and I'd look hard at both types. Both are great airplanes, and both have a lot of potential benefits. Frankly, there just aren't many airplanes around that can match a well equipped and maintained 180/185 for performance, which is why they've been a favorite for many decades of the folks who WORK airplanes in the back country. Look around at working airplane outfits.
MTV

Get a Helio if you can,,,Just don't blink too long while landing.I had a 185 before and now have a 180. I like the 180's fuel burn, I liked the extra room of the 185.180 seems to leave the ground a bit quicker than my 185 did.Have a good time looking and all the fun stuff that goes with it.Airplanes are cool

Hey G, going for a shred out near Winnemuccaaa in the am whats up?

GumpAir wrote:A C-185 is a noisy, vibrating, 100LL burning four-wheel drive pickup truck that will go anywhere most sane Cub drivers will go.
Gump

If you leave the front hubs unlocked, it doesn't vibrate to bad.
I usually lock mine in at the last fuel stop prior to entering the back country.

As a friend and 185 owner puts it,
Not to many planes can be filled up with fuel, filled up with people/gear, takeoff and land in less that 1000 feet, and fly for over five hours.
Hell, your wife/girlfriend might like all that vibrating
And all that noise means you can't hear your wife/girlfriend
A lot of Upside here.

SkyTruck
'80 A185F

Lowflyin G3
Don't let the fuel burn of the pponk bother ya. I frequently fly at 9-10gph at 15-16 inches. At the same speed as a 470, I will have about the same burn, but I have the "more power(grin)" option when I want it, and that's worth an extra couple of gallons.

Gary

10-4 on that Shortfielder. That is my general thought process as well. We'll probably go that way, got another year or year and a half before it's time.

58Skylane wrote:I kind of tried looking for it, but didn't Bmurrish have his 180 for sale?? It's a really nice looking 180 for a reasonable price. High time on the engine if I remember.

Oh boy where do I start??? I so wanted to sell my 180 to buy a Super Cub for backcountry stuff, that was until I started flying my skywagon backcountry. Skywagons kick ass! I do not plan on selling mine anywhere in the near future. Don't get me wrong, super cubs rock and if I could afford both I would have one of each. If you want to carry a heavy load (I have crammed mine) and get there fast, the skywagon is the way to go. Now back to the original question of 180 or 185. I would go for a 185 if I could afford it. Lots more money, but faster and more useful load.