A 185 Crashed on Takeoff with skydivers near Buffalow NY. I have time in and wrenching on the narrow body 182s, and own 3 Cessna 206s. My question is can someone here tell me the main differences of the 180 - 185? o470 to the io50. What about the flaps, Wings, how do they get the GW increase? Thanks, Van

Pretty much the same other than as you said, 180/O-470, 185/IO-470 (early) or IO-520. 185 is a bit beefier in the tail, larger dorsal fin (unless 180J seaplane or 180K) and I believe beefier struts. 185's have that little scoop on the belly at the back of the cowl for the electric fuel pump cooling. The gear is a bit heavier than on the earlier 180's as well.
Kenmore Air Harbor has the increase gross kit for the 180's to 3190 and all it calls for is the large dorsal and they rivet a small strap on the horizontal.
Hadn't heard about the crash yet, I used to know a guy that flew there occasionally. I met him when he flew for Fayard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfy-tJV69XU

Amazing anybody lived.

Frontier has a pretty good rep.

You see some real scotch tape and bailing wire planes around jump zones.
Pretty bad when the plane scares ya worse than the jump.

New Hanover in the 80's pilot told us "If we're above 1000 ft when it quits, just jump right away. Don't wait, cause I'll already be gone."

To get 6 people in a 185 is a real chore. These people must have been jockeys, and lucky ones.

I see how the larger Dorsal fin would counter the torque of more HP but how did they get stall speeds in? The 206 we have those 7 ft flaps to slow down the 3600lbs.

Ive seen the Cessna ads with 6 in the pictures. Pilot and 5 skydivers in a narrow body. It had better climb fast or they will want out soon..

A stipped 185, 1650lbs empty? 6 people with parachutes 1200lbs, = 3250 and havent added fuel. My 206s get loaded to 3600lbs but I have those flaps, Sportsman, and Wing X. I still wouldnt be happy bouncing through the trees with all that meat in it.