Hi everyone. Wanting some advice from the group. Thinking of buying and/or trading up to a 210/Bonanza maybe even Twinco or Baron for better payload and speed. Interested in a traveling machine, 160kts or better would be great. The other possibility is a later 182 with the big engine. According to Air Plains web page a late model 182 with the IO550 would be in the 150-160ish range. My question to you is:
1. Does anyone have this setup??
2. What are the performance numbers in the real world?
I’m usually in the 8-10k altitudes and just plan for 100kts GS before winds. It’s fine locally, but when traveling more than about 100 miles it can get monotonous, especially when I’m in my busy work season. Thanks for the help and I really enjoy the site!
Luke

The only one in the bunch that will give you noticeably more perf on a couple hr flight will be the Baron. And as they say in the collectible car world Baron operating cost compared to a 182 will be “reassuringly expensive”

If you’re REALLY looking for a true traveling machine, I’d be focused on something with de/anti ice capability, and maybe turbo charged.

Depends some where you’re at and where you’re going, but…..

MTV

When very young, I flew many IFR hours in the twin Comanche with my Dad's pardner on 2 hr plus trips. It was very comfortable and he liked it better than the Cessna 180 for that kind of flying. Because of a good deal on a Aztec, we flew that a couple of years. But he said the operating expense made the Comanche necessary. I got a six to eight hour two day round trip every month or so with him. Negotiating golf course work, he flew a lot.

I doubt if you will see 150kt from a 182 with that engine. A friend has anew turbo Skylane and it will almost due that up high. I have owned a very well rigged and cleaned up Twin Comanche - 168kts, a B55 Baron - 185kts, a Bonanza S35 well rigged, gap seals, few antennas, and a well built and modified IO520 - 180kts with full fuel and just me in it. Put 1700 hrs on that one. Best traveling plane of the bunch. Now I’m down to a Tcraft on float and skis just for fun.

Jim

Last December I did the Airplains io-conversion on my 66 182j. Love it btw!
My setup: mccauley 401 3b, sportsman stol, Vgs, wing x, 6:00 on the nose, 8:00s on the mains. No wheel pants.
Flying it back from Kansas to eastern Washington, including the first 25hrs, I flew it how they wanted for break in…75% power, full rich. I saw an average of around 150kt ground speed, at around 20-21gph if I remember right. Now that she’s broke in, I fly it around 60-65% power around 140-142kts, 15-15.5gph rop, at around 7-9,000ft.

If the setup is smaller tires, speed type wheel pants, and don’t mind burning more fuel, 150kts seems pretty doable….160 would be a push without a lot more fuel burn. Keep in mind you’ll be well into the yellow arc at those speeds…..

Hope this helps

I have a ‘73P model with a 2 blade MT prop and 8.50 mains/7.00 nose wheel. I don’t have a 550 but I do have a pponk conversion and I’m seeing 145-147kts true at 75% power.

Thanks for all the info everyone. I’ll be kicking things around for a bit, but always glad to hear real world feedback.

mtnaflyer wrote:I have a ‘73P model with a 2 blade MT prop and 8.50 mains/7.00 nose wheel. I don’t have a 550 but I do have a pponk conversion and I’m seeing 145-147kts true at 75% power.

Impressive numbers. @75% power, what altitude and fuel burn? Looking to do a similar set up.. 182P model and all. (sorry for the slight thread detour OP!)

I’ve seen those numbers around 3500 feet with a 17.5 GPH fuel burn. I’ve only flown it up high at 10k once since the engine rebuild but was around 145 true up there as well - don’t remember the fuel burn though. I want to say it was around 14 GPH but I’m not completely sure.

I was able to coax 146 knots true at 6,000 ft in an IO-550 powered 182 we painted recently. This was with wheel pants and pushing the engine pretty hard at 24 square and 20gph.

Consider an SR22 for a traveling machine if you are mainly staying on pavement. 170 knots on 14 gph and basic de ice.

Contrary to popular belief the are generally pretty cheap to own. Probably no more than my 185.

A Turbo Cirrus with flight into known ice is a better traveling machine, but useful load is poor unless you go with a newer one for big $$.

I should add the above 182 report was with a Mac 401 seaplane prop which doesn’t seem to be known for speed

I think the nose wheel creates a lot of drag for the C182 slowing it down compared to the C180/185. I have a freshly overhauled O520 with 6 brand new superior cylinders and am cruising above 150 KTAS now at 9K burning 13.3 gph - (19 inches/2400 RPM) on 8.5 X 6s (10 inch tailwheel), Sportsman cuff, Snider speed kit, and 50 lbs of survival gear in the rear. The new cylinders increased the speed by about 4-5 knots. You say you flight plan for 100 knots - that seems slow for 470'd 182 are you flying it super pulled back to extend range ? I think the cost of the IO550 makes it not worth the upgrade for practical reasons - not just due to the cost of the engine. I believe the install is around 150-160 hours. Certainly worth it if you have the money and love the plane. Your climb rate and take off distance will be dramatically improved but unless you want to run size 6 tires with wheel pants - it will be hard to get 160 knots.

If i were looking for a good all around cross country airplane that could still go to some relatively rougher strips - I would consider a late 60s/early 70s S35 - with an IO550. The Bonanza gear is very strong and the prop clearance is really pretty impressive. I believe it is possible to cruise at 180 knots ROP - 170+ LOP. An F33 would also work and you wouldn't have the potential ruddervator issue but not as cool looking - if that matters. Range is close to 600+ nm with IFR reserves longer if you install tip tanks. I think the Bonanzas are well built nice flying airplanes that offer great speed, range, and some backcountry capabilities. Watch some videos of Scott Newpower fly his S35 on some of the RAF videos. He flies that airplane incredibly well. Lands it shorter than many Skywagons and Supercubs. He is on this site from time to time.



Josh

I agree with the nose wheel slowing you down vs. the 180. I think on my setup the large tires, wing cuff, VG’s etc all work together to slow it down. I do run it pulled back. I’ve done a little testing and lightly loaded it’ll do about 112kts at the very most, but most of the time it’s pretty much fully loaded, so I just run it at lower power. An S-35 would be nice and is at the top of my list if I do anything different. There are quite few V-tails and 210’s running around the Idaho BC and would work pretty well for a lot of the flying I need to do. I wouldn’t do the big engine on my ‘56, but I would be interested on a P/Q model as I could really use the better useful load.

Already a nose heavy airplane. Cruise speed mostly about airframe. We have bone stock Q 2 blade good for 143 kt. It does everything well, nothing perfect. I would keep stock engine to give you option of car gas. Do the knots 2 U wheel pants, fancy wing tips, and 2 blade MT(take some weight off the nose). This should put you in the high 140s on 14 gal/hour and do everything you want. Bonanza finest traveling single piston ever made IMO. Took a 66 V35 to Idaho and gear toughness is not the problem. However, was only comfortable going to a few places lightly loaded and can't look down with a low wing. 550 gonna be thirsty. Probably best for floats.

Hey blindpilot, apparently go to the same painter, my J model…

My twin! Looking good!!

I know! Wish I had your mods, esp. big motor..

For a serious traveling machine, I'd look at a Tornado Alley twin turbo A36 Bonanza. My friend trues out at just shy of 200 knots at altitude at 17.5 gph lean of peak. You'd want oxygen to take full advantage of it, but that's some serious speed. He routinely does long trips that I consider multi-day trips for my 135 knot airplane. That speed really helps when the weather is changing. The gear is tough enough to take on moderate strips, and it carries a ton of stuff. Whenever the jealousy threatens to overwhelm me, I look at my videos at Cabin Creek and Wilson Bar. But still . . . .