I want to add a couple windows to my Cessna 180 - looking for recommendation on a Airframe specialists in California. It kinda of scares the crap out of me to have someone cutting large holes in my fuselage...

Nick at West Coast Wings did awesome repairs on multiple of our aircraft. He is honest enough to say if he can do the job or not. They are located in Ukiah.

I can certainly vouch for Nick at West Coast Wings.
He also did some fuselage changes on a friends 180
Fixed a bunch of parts during my rebuild.

The Shop (Vern Miller) where I spent two years rebuilding N4650C
Sent all his work to Nick: Have hauled whole planes up there.
Hardest working man I know.

There is another fuselage shop near the Bay Area
but would have to make a call or two.

Chris C

Calaveras Airplane company . Calaveras co. Airport in San Andreas ca . NorCal near Sonora.

If SoCal is within your parameters, Alan Quackenbush at California City, CA, (Q Aviation I believe ) is a good solid option at a reasonable price.

corefile wrote:I want to add a couple windows to my Cessna 180 - looking for recommendation on a Airframe specialists in California. It kinda of scares the crap out of me to have someone cutting large holes in my fuselage...

Are you adding 3rd windows or skylights?

robw56 wrote:

corefile wrote:I want to add a couple windows to my Cessna 180 - looking for recommendation on a Airframe specialists in California. It kinda of scares the crap out of me to have someone cutting large holes in my fuselage...

Are you adding 3rd windows or skylights?

the 3rd windows

Another vote for Nick: his work is superb. He didn't work on my plane but he worked on warbirds of my instructor.

If you don't want a perfectionist, you should stay away.

Despite what he might forecast, work won't be done until it is which can be frustrating. (I believe his 1st priority is keeping fire service planes at Ukiah in the air.)

AND he knows all the best places for lunch
and every person that works there and or
eats there.

Translation - Nice guy too.

Wannabe seeing him again.

Do you need a field approval to add the 3rd windows or is it just a log book entry since they were standard on later model 180s? I wouldn't mind adding them to my 57. Also, I'm guessing you'd have to change (what will become the) middle window also. It's a different shape on the 3 window airplanes, more of a square.

robw56 wrote:Do you need a field approval to add the 3rd windows or is it just a log book entry since they were standard on later model 180s? I wouldn't mind adding them to my 57. Also, I'm guessing you'd have to change (what will become the) middle window also. It's a different shape on the 3 window airplanes, more of a square.

Its a field approval - and yes it also includes changing what would become the middle window to a larger size that is squared off. I'm not sure about the 57 feasibility. Starting with the 1960 model C they Increased headroom in the third and fourth seats due to a redesigned bulkhead and skin on top of fuselage. Its my understanding those design changes starting in 1960 are required for the 3rd window, which Cessna started adding with the 64 model. That is pretty much the basis of the 337 - that the fuselage of the 1960-63 are the same as the 1964 when Cessna started adding them. But I'm no AI. If you are going to be at Columbia for the 180 fly in there will be a 1962 that has done the 3rd windows

The owner of Krueger Aviation at Yuba County Airport added the third windows to his own 180, a 1956.

(Plus lots of other neat mods)

--Bill

c180bill wrote:The owner of Krueger Aviation at Yuba County Airport added the third windows to his own 180, a 1956.

(Plus lots of other neat mods)

--Bill

Ahh ok well there you go - guess it does not matter what year. I'll give a call to Eric at Krueger aviation since it sounds like he is familiar with this mod.