I'm looking for pictures or brochures of genuine original factory paint schemes for the 1976 A185F. Watching Ryan's 185 restoration thread has me contemplating how I'd paint my airplane.

The airplane as in my avatar was painted in 1990. I don't think the scheme is correct for the year.

I'm pretty much settled on the factory scheme, but with colours inverted. Inverting the colours for visibility in snow was common for airplanes that were ordered and built for the Canadian market. Also likely for the Alaska market. I really don't like white, so this will reduce the amount on the airplane. I'd go with silver, but I need to tie into my white gel coated Aerocet floats. They'll stay white with some painted accents.

Many internet searches have not revealed a reliable depiction. Even on Stancil Aviation's website, where many factory brochures were posted, 1976 was missing. In any event, I think that page has been taken down.

Is this something that can be obtained from Cessna at a reasonable cost?

The airplane isn't handy, and I don't have the data from the paint and trim placard. I'll post it after I see the airplane again.

Thanks for participating!

Here is the 1976 paint scheme:



This is the source:



Great book with lots of details. There are some specs they have that are not correct, but for the most part, they are. Book is still available brand new from Jones Publishing. I believe they are on the 3rd edition. I found the 2nd edition and paid way too much. I did some searching after the fact and contacted the publisher direct and spend 1/3. It's the same company that publishes the Cessna and Pipers Owners magazines.

Glad to help with the inspiration. If you are a member of the 180/185 club they have a club manual in the doc section that has a scheme from every year. There are some interesting schemes in there for sure!

Thanks gentlemen. I'll look for a copy of the book. I've done a search, and you're right! Some copies are very expensive!

You've confirmed that my current scheme isn't correct for the year. For the inverted colours, I like the correct model year scheme best.

Pinecone,

You may know this already now, but yours looks like a 1980 scheme. FWIW.

59SC

akgreg wrote:....Great book with lots of details. There are some specs they have that are not correct,....

I hope the photos of particular year paint schemes are more accurate than the specs.
In the 180 section, after the initial 1953, they say "no significant changes" for the next several years,
Basic performance specs were pretty much the same, but IMHO there were a number of changes worth noting:
J and K engine, baggage door, gear leg changes, exhaust system changes, etc etc.

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