Hey everyone!

I've been trying to gain some knowledge on purchasing an aircraft, more specifically a c206u (or h). However I've never owned a plane before so I'm not too sure what to look for. The reasoning for this type of Cessna is purely for the ability to add floats (which will be done at some point, or if it already has them) and for the 6 seats as well as the cargo doors.

Now I've done some research and I think what has been recommended in the past is something along the lines of a 1980 or so, but again I'm new so I could be completely wrong. As for the type of flying, it would be for flying up north for maybe a day's fishing trip, taking the family along and possibly flying from Ontario to Alberta every so often. So I dont think a turbo is necessary, but I hear it can really help out.

What are your thoughts? Any bit of info is helpful, thanks!

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

If you are wanting to put the airplane on floats, AND you're looking at a U-206 F or G model, or for that matter, any 206 model BEFORE the H model, be sure it has a float kit installed prior to purchase. The big difference is a very different tail, and those are expensive.

If you're buying an H model 206, and it hasn't been mounted on floats yet, you're going to have to buy the bigger tail. Bring $$$$$. There are a couple other more minor things that'll need to be modified, but the tail is the big one. Also, there are fewer floats approved on the later model airplanes (the H models).

The TU 206 I would stay away from, particularly if you're going to operate on floats. The performance will be better in high density altitudes, but your maintenance bills will also be higher. Cooling is often an issue on turbo charged float planes as well. If you're primarily out in the flat country, I'd stick with normally aspirated.

Remember that the 206 is technically a six seat airplane, but unless several of the occupants are pretty small, it's not at all realistic to think a 206 ON FLOATS will carry six. Also, emergency egress with six aboard on floats is going to be REALLY tough. Someone is very apt not to make it out.

The 206 is a great airplane, period. It will take you places others may choose to stay away from. You'll find that it'll treat you well. They are fairly expensive to maintain, by the way, but not outrageous, assuming you buy a good, normally aspirated one to start.

Desirable options:

Wing X STOL wing extensions.....increases GW to 3800 pounds, and significantly improves takeoff performance on floats.
Right Side passenger door....Made by Wipaire. Very desirable on a seaplane.
Flint Tip tanks.....Increases fuel quantity, and increases gross weight in some models.
Bigger Engine.....IO 550 Continentals make these things really grunt. Good engine
Floats, of course. Several flavors to choose from.
Propellers.....the early three blade props that came on these airplanes sucked performance wise, and these are the props that unfairly gave three bladed props a bad reputation. There are some great three blade propellers out there now, though, and you definitely want one of those.

MTV

Wow, okay that's lots of useful information there, thanks!

Remember that the 206 is technically a six seat airplane, but unless several of the occupants are pretty small, it's not at all realistic to think a 206 ON FLOATS will carry six. Also, emergency egress with six aboard on floats is going to be REALLY tough. Someone is very apt not to make it out.

This made me wonder, what sort of amphibian aircraft would you suggest that would be able to safely carry five or six occupants as well as some luggage? Or am I thinking way to big now?

I would almost say a Beaver, but when you put on the amphibs your chew up a lot of your useful load. Not sure how deep your pockets are but what your describing, you might need a caravan?

or Possibly a Quest Kodiak

Yeah I think a caravan is a bit much, but that quest seems a bit more viable!

In a more general sense, what would be a decent age/hour of a plane? In comparison, would an aircraft lets say 15 years older then the other, be better then that newer one that however has double the hours?

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

Turbine Otter... We flew one out of Gustavus with 7 guys, our gear and about 75 lbs of fish each. This would get the job done very well. Bring along a really big check though to add all the 0 at the end.



A Kodiak would fit the bill incredibly well also but again you need a huge check.

InfraPulse wrote:Wow, okay that's lots of useful information there, thanks!

Remember that the 206 is technically a six seat airplane, but unless several of the occupants are pretty small, it's not at all realistic to think a 206 ON FLOATS will carry six. Also, emergency egress with six aboard on floats is going to be REALLY tough. Someone is very apt not to make it out.

This made me wonder, what sort of amphibian aircraft would you suggest that would be able to safely carry five or six occupants as well as some luggage? Or am I thinking way to big now?

The DHC 2 Beaver can carry that many on amphibious floats, assuming its had one of the GW increase mods done and assuming you don't need to fly really long legs with that load.

Hell, if that's your mission, find a good Grumman Goose.....that'll haul your load.

Mtv

The Wing-X· "Cessna 206 series gross takeoff weight 3,600 lbs. There is no gross weight increase available for the 206 series." , Whipaier can give you a GW increase with floats (3500#) to the 3600# by installing the their IO-550. Turbo F and G 206s have the 3600# GW on Floats. The Flint tip tanks will give you the GW increase to 3800#.

Better have a couple of miles of water if you expect to haul much in an amphib 206. 185 does a little better. Amphibs are performance killers, but can be overcome by generous amounts of jet fuel...in a Turbo Otter. An Aviat Husky handles them pretty well too...if you can live with 2 seats.

Skydive206 wrote:The Wing-X· "Cessna 206 series gross takeoff weight 3,600 lbs. There is no gross weight increase available for the 206 series." , Whipaier can give you a GW increase with floats (3500#) to the 3600# by installing the their IO-550. Turbo F and G 206s have the 3600# GW on Floats. The Flint tip tanks will give you the GW increase to 3800#.

Sorry, I'd forgot the GW increase doesn't apply to the wing x 206.

But ALL f and g model 206 (not just the turbo) have a 3600 lb GW, in my experience, assuming you choose the right floats, of course.

Great airplanes, and as noted the 550 really makes them snort, but six occupants is a LOT, don't plan on carrying any gas.

For several years, I flew a F model with a 550 and that airplane , on wip straight floats would launch (at 3800 lbs) in nearly the same distance as a C 185 at 3350 GW. At the same time I flew a similar 206 on wip 3450 amphibs occasionally and it did as well or a bit better than the straight float equipped airplane, though with less cabin load due to the weight of the amphibs...

But it's not a six seat airplane in any case, realistically.

MTV

I realize that I've been thinking too unrealistically, I'd probably only be taking a maximum of two or three people with me (total maximum of four) anyways. Back to a simple C206U/H with floats; if I were to have any selection of that specific plane, what should I look for? I'm not really talking about mods as MTV already listed some (thanks btw!)

mtv wrote:Desirable options:

Wing X STOL wing extensions.....increases GW to 3800 pounds, and significantly improves takeoff performance on floats.
Right Side passenger door....Made by Wipaire. Very desirable on a seaplane.
Flint Tip tanks.....Increases fuel quantity, and increases gross weight in some models.
Bigger Engine.....IO 550 Continentals make these things really grunt. Good engine
Floats, of course. Several flavors to choose from.
Propellers.....the early three blade props that came on these airplanes sucked performance wise, and these are the props that unfairly gave three bladed props a bad reputation. There are some great three blade propellers out there now, though, and you definitely want one of those.

But if any other should be listed that'd be very helpful aha.

Anyways, I'm more so curious about year/hours/condition. I've heard things like 'look for one that wasn't by the coast a lot due to the corrosive salt water/air', but I guess I'm not too sure about anything really. I've looked up prop overhaul times, and from what I remember they were saying that you can get high hour props, but if you only fly a couple hundred hours a year, you probably shouldn't trust a 10 year old prop that's still not technically at its final hours. I guess I'll just list some questions to make things easier.

Whats too many hours on a C206, engine, prop, air frame?
Whats too old of a model year to be looking at?
Would a 15 year older plane that has 2000 less hours be better then a newer one while at the same price?
Whats the average overhaul requirement for a C206? (how often?)
Whats the average price of maintenance and overhauls?

In your opinion, what would be a decent C206? (year, hours(engine, air frame, prop), price, etc.)


I really do appreciate all of you who have and/or will help me out. Thanks so much!

If you are going to have the plane registered in Canada, I believe that you have to overhaul the prop every 5 or 10 years, regardless of how many hours are on it. Something you may want to double check.
David

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2