As the title of the thread indicates, over the past year in A&P school I’ve had some dumb ideas.

Anyone ever put a 206 wing on a 185? Anyone ever put slats on a 206 wing? Anyone ever retrofit a double slotted fowler flap on a 206 wing that’s been installed on a 185?

Anyone ever decide to abandon the dream of flying as a commercial pilot to go work as a mechanic at a major airline? (Probably my dumbest idea yet!)

Pilotryan,

Its good to hear from you again.
I gather your Grandad's 185 is done.
Have no idea about the wing thing.
Not sure what your flying time and rating are but this is probably the best time in the past 50 years to get a job with the airlines as a pilot.
There is a huge demand right now with a limited supply.
PM me if you want.

Tom

If you want to be a commercial pilot (airline pilot I assume) what are you doing in A&P school? Seniority is everything, getting in ASAP makes for better seniority. If you want to be an airline pilot then spend every waking hour and every penny on flying so you can get in sooner rather than later. A&P school is a great thing but do that after you get hired by what ever airline you want to fly for. Now, if flying for an airline is not your desire then disregard what I just said.

Kurt

Best coaching I ever got was from G44 above just over 30 years ago.

Kurt:
“Did you take your written yet?”

Me:
“No.”

Kurt
“Why not?! Seniority, Kent!”

He was right. And I made it to my dream job, 5 minutes (no exaggeration) before the door slammed shut for another 5 years.

I was at the bottom of the list for those 5 years, but I knew we’d be hiring again and I’d have many more below me. There are now 10,000 are junior to me.

Thanks Kurt!

a3holerman wrote:Pilotryan,

Its good to hear from you again.
I gather your Grandad's 185 is done.
Have no idea about the wing thing.
Not sure what your flying time and rating are but this is probably the best time in the past 50 years to get a job with the airlines as a pilot.
There is a huge demand right now with a limited supply.
PM me if you want.

Tom

I’ll send a PM once I land in San Juan tonight.

There’s a lot of tom foolery still going on with the 185. I still haven’t found an inspector brave enough to sign off an annual inspection. Really unfortunate especially after the money spent on it. I feel as if I flushed a hundred+ thousand down a toilet with it. It’s the main reason why I’m in A&P school.

I had my dreams crushed recently. I haven’t been able to find a twin engine airplane that I’m able to fit in, this is especially bad considering there aren’t many schools selling twin time for the rating. Incase you guys aren’t aware, I’m 6’7 and I’m not getting any shorter anytime soon. This feeling was exacerbated recently as we did a hangar tour for one of the regional airlines on the field. It took about twenty minutes to squeeze myself into the cockpit of a CRJ200. Once I was seated in the first officers seat, there was just no way it’s going to work. I am unable to move the control wheel without hitting my legs. And forget being able to use the rudder.

At least I’ve been able to find some joy working on airplanes.

Have a look at Envoy, they are the regional for American Airlines operating the ERJ 175 (sorry I know not a bush plane). I've seen a couple of guys fitting your build in both the left and right seat without any operating issues. They seem to have what looks like a continuously running initial GS at the crew hotel in KDFW, new faces every time I stay there,

I believe Doug Keller was working on fitting 206 wings and tail onto a 185. He also has plenty of experience with double slotted fowler flaps. He'd be a great shop to work for if you want to gain experience working on experimental R&D projects.

You may have to suffer in a multi-piston to knock out your multi commercial ticket, but you can make it to the airlines without getting into an RJ. B1900 will accommodate someone your size and from there Alaska will put you in the Airbus or Southern Air into the 777. Anything is attainable in this industry if you are willing to find the right path and push forward.

pilotryan wrote:...
There’s a lot of tom foolery still going on with the 185. I still haven’t found an inspector brave enough to sign off an annual inspection. Really unfortunate especially after the money spent on it. I feel as if I flushed a hundred+ thousand down a toilet with it. ...

That is astounding...just astounding. The things that money could have done for you...

Good luck with the commercial pilot pursuit...don't give up just because there are some aircraft you can't fit. FWIW I know a few commercial airline pilots who absolutely hate their jobs. Hard to imagine given how little they work and how much they make, but despite what you think now it might not actually be YOUR dream job.

Regardless of what you end up doing for work, I'd highly recommend you hire a competent financial advisor and scrupulously heed their advice. The day you realize just how hard it is to save the money you spent on that airplane is going to be a very, very bitter day.

Kent wrote:Best coaching I ever got was from G44 above just over 30 years ago.

Kurt:
“Did you take your written yet?”

Me:
“No.”

Kurt
“Why not?! Seniority, Kent!”

He was right. And I made it to my dream job, 5 minutes (no exaggeration) before the door slammed shut for another 5 years.

I was at the bottom of the list for those 5 years, but I knew we’d be hiring again and I’d have many more below me. There are now 10,000 are junior to me.

Thanks Kurt!

You bet Kent! You were actually one of the few who actually listened.

Kurt

Ryan,

I had no idea how tall you were. Although that may present challenges it is still possible to fly commercially. That being said, if you find you like the maintenance aspect better then by all means pursue that avenue. What ever you decide to do, give it you absolute best effort, strive for excellence and most of all enjoy what you are doing. Good luck to you in the future, it breaks my heart to hear about the nightmare you went thru with grandpa’s 185. Look forward to better days ahead.

Kurt

TradeCraft wrote:I believe Doug Keller was working on fitting 206 wings and tail onto a 185. He also has plenty of experience with double slotted fowler flaps. He'd be a great shop to work for if you want to gain experience working on experimental R&D

Thanks for the info! I’ve been so inspired by the knowledge and the ability that some of the builders have shown recently. I know I was completely blown away watching Mike put Draco together. What a cool machine!

I absolutely have no idea where to find a twin to get my rating in that’ll fit me. We have a Merlin, a Queen Air and a Cessna 411 that are just complete nopes trying to get in. I wish Harry didn’t have to be 6’9!! I could build a twin engine home built from scratch. I have the materials and the time... Introducing the Stolskito...

I’ve really been enjoying my time in A&P school. We are colocated with Delta and it’s so cool to watch people work on airliners in between class. I haven’t seen one mechanic yet who doesn’t love working there. It’s somewhere I think I would enjoy with the benefit that it would also fund my ongoing 185 shenanigans.

Speaking of 185 shenanigans, you guys were right and I was wrong. I don’t want to keep talking about it. That’s why I haven’t posted about it or anything during the last year. My last flight was in September of 18’ and you all remember what a shit show that was. I’ll get it fixed properly myself, it’s just going to take a while, which gives me time to meet some folks in the sheetmetal shop. I’ll post about it when it’s all said and done so I don’t look like the village idiot (again).

Edit: double post. Fix your shit Zzz

Just kidding, love you dude!

Don't run away, I've found there is lots of good guidance to be had from the BCP community no need to be shy but it is good to hear & listen.

pilotryan wrote:

TradeCraft wrote:I believe Doug Keller was working on fitting 206 wings and tail onto a 185. He also has plenty of experience with double slotted fowler flaps. He'd be a great shop to work for if you want to gain experience working on experimental R&D

Thanks for the info! I’ve been so inspired by the knowledge and the ability that some of the builders have shown recently. I know I was completely blown away watching Mike put Draco together. What a cool machine!

I absolutely have no idea where to find a twin to get my rating in that’ll fit me. We have a Merlin, a Queen Air and a Cessna 411 that are just complete nopes trying to get in. I wish Harry didn’t have to be 6’9!! I could build a twin engine home built from scratch. I have the materials and the time... Introducing the Stolskito...

I’ve really been enjoying my time in A&P school. We are colocated with Delta and it’s so cool to watch people work on airliners in between class. I haven’t seen one mechanic yet who doesn’t love working there. It’s somewhere I think I would enjoy with the benefit that it would also fund my ongoing 185 shenanigans.

Speaking of 185 shenanigans, you guys were right and I was wrong. I don’t want to keep talking about it. That’s why I haven’t posted about it or anything during the last year. My last flight was in September of 18’ and you all remember what a shit show that was. I’ll get it fixed properly myself, it’s just going to take a while, which gives me time to meet some folks in the sheetmetal shop. I’ll post about it when it’s all said and done so I don’t look like the village idiot (again).

Enjoying the maintenance is a noble pursuit. It keeps the pilot seats open for people like myself . I wish I had an A&P along with my pilot certs, but can't see how I'd fit it in my plans.

I am 6'4" and 240, long legs, gorilla arms. I realize those extra 3" are the difference between upper edge of the envelope and 3" past the edge of the envelope, but don't give up hope. I did my twin rating in a Baron and found it luxuriously roomy. Bonanza and Baron pedals are adjustable as well as the seat, so there is a lot of room. Also knees are out of the way of controls. Just something to think about. The navajo I fly at work is even more so. Seats are on rails as long as Cessna's, and have vertical adjustment. Tall pilots dream.

I've always found ways to make airplanes work. The only plane I turned down flying due to size was a Taylorcraft a kid wanted to solo in and needed my signature. I could've made it work but I didn't really want to so my size was a great excuse.

asa wrote:Enjoying the maintenance is a noble pursuit. It keeps the pilot seats open for people like myself . I wish I had an A&P along with my pilot certs, but can't see how I'd fit it in my plans.

I am 6'4" and 240, long legs, gorilla arms. I realize those extra 3" are the difference between upper edge of the envelope and 3" past the edge of the envelope, but don't give up hope. I did my twin rating in a Baron and found it luxuriously roomy. Bonanza and Baron pedals are adjustable as well as the seat, so there is a lot of room. Also knees are out of the way of controls. Just something to think about. The navajo I fly at work is even more so. Seats are on rails as long as Cessna's, and have vertical adjustment. Tall pilots dream.

I've always found ways to make airplanes work. The only plane I turned down flying due to size was a Taylorcraft a kid wanted to solo in and needed my signature. I could've made it work but I didn't really want to so my size was a great excuse.

I’ll have to check out a Barron then! I remember getting my tailwheel endorsement. What a hassle! I had to have my foot on the left pedal at a 45 degree angle. This meant that there were no brakes. Thankfully I didn’t have to solo that airplane.

Anyways, back to my dumb mod ideas.

It would be interesting to see the capabilities of a 185 that had a custom wing i.e. had slots/slats with the wingspan of wing x with flaperons that went to the wingtip and big chonky double spotted fowler flaps. It would also be interesting to see if anyone would buy it if an STC were developed.

I don't think you look like the village idiot Ryan. I think you look like a ernest young man who was allowed (or even encouraged) to take on a massive project for which you were completely unprepared, without any oversight or restraint or direction.

PilotRyan, haven't you been far enough down this road already. Your enthusiasm is refreshing now let's get on point so it doesn't leave another mark on you.

Only 5-10 but I do remember I had to adjust the seat forward to fly an Aztec, so maybe try an Apache or an Aztec.

Tim

Too tall? is that serious or are you trolling? Ive flown with a few tall pilots, and seen a few others.

Rumor mills years ago spoke of a 185 with 206 wings, but I've never seen it. I think you may have to stick with electric flaps or add a foot to the johnson bar. There are some other issues that I've though of to make it work. I don't really want to share them since I have this goofy idea on my to-do list and I'm greedy with some knowledge, it isn't a bolt on mod...

pilotryan wrote:Anyways, back to my dumb mod ideas.

It would be interesting to see the capabilities of a 185 that had a custom wing i.e. had slots/slats with the wingspan of wing x with flaperons that went to the wingtip and big chonky double spotted fowler flaps. It would also be interesting to see if anyone would buy it if an STC were developed.

Haha...know what would be even more interesting and much more likely to sell? A stock 185 that's actually airworthy...