So here's the story of my new plane. She's a '73 that cessna owned and used as a test platform for 5 years. In that time as near as the records show she flew from the factory and seemed to get updated with new equipment. Sold in '79 by cessna identical to the 185's coming of the line that year. 28v system, modern t-panel, etc.

From then it was all over the place mostly working on floats. Also sat a few years.

Bought by its previous owner in 2003 still pretty low time, 1500 hrs or so. He made it into a pretty good back-country plane. Horton stol, bas belts, etc. He took good care of it and kept making it better untill... May of last year he was landing on a few dirt strips in Utah, and it seems he hit a rut on one landing and without realizing it bent one of the gear legs back. Then he landed at Noki Dome and flipped it on its back. Many of you will recall the thread
"Cessna 185 Flipped Over at Nokai Dome Airstrip??" from may of last year. Here's where our story gets sad. Chris (the owner) had good insurance and the company totalled the plane, he bought it back and had Beegles in Greeley rebuild it, sparing no expense, open checkbook. In the process he dropped of lots of extra parts p-ponk gear, cleveland brakes, its a long list of goodies. About then Chris was diagnosed with cancer, and by the time he knew about it it was pretty far along. Chris died a month ago and the family contemplated selling the plane.

Thats when I came along. I've bought the plane, the family has cut me a check for the remaining Beegles bill and they promise me it will look and fly like new. With Beegles reputation 'round these parts I have no reason to doubt them. Its 90% a new plane, new wings, new control surfaces, fresh engine, new 86" 3 blade prop, and the list goes on for a few pages.

So its low time, but with a pretty big damage history, but I think its a great deal. I've had my eye on the market for awhile and I've seen lesser planes go for more money.

I've got pics but I'm not sure how to attach them, help?

I've got my check out from Dave Younkin under my belt, again the best taildragger instructor I know of, and now its gonna be a few weeks until we can start test flying. I've reserved N185BS . BS is my initials, hopefully not to irreverant for a beautifull plane.

When I figure it out you all will start seeing me around the patch.

I'll post pics when I figure out how. Gotta be in a thread around here somewhere...

-Brad

Sad to hear about the former owner.
Congrats on the new airplane. When you can, fly on down to Aztec (N19). Love to see the bird! Take Care
Pete

Good Luck, Brad! We'll look for that "BS" in the backcountry! Keep the little wheel in the back

Congrats--I look forward to the day I can upgrade my 180 to a 185. I already reserved an N number, 185LF. Now I need the Plane. I can't wait to see some pictures.

DR:

You can't go wrong with Beagles. They do good work!

Congratulations on the 185. You won't regret it. 180s and 185s are hard to beat. I have 3 boys and when we load up, there isn't any unused space, but it still gets off quickly.

If you want to stretch your legs, come down E98 way (Los Lunas, NM). There is a good breakfast spot at Belen I hit most Saturday mornings. See if you can drag Shortfielder along.

Congratulations!!

Larry

Congrats, sounds like a great wagon. With beegles doing the work shw will be better than new. We have an 80 185 and really enjoy it. Really hard to beat a wagon for all around utility. It will feel like a big supercub after 10 to 15 hours. They feel a little truck like in the control dept, but i have really gotten to enjoy flying her. If you practice enough you will be surprised just where she will go. Best of luck.

Glad you found your plane. The Wagon I mentioned to you in "Concrete" is still there but not sure when he is going to get serious about selling it. You probably got a better deal. Enjoy. Wish I could have one.

Sounds like a great machine, congratulations.

I don't wish to rain on the Beegle's parade, but I recently looked at a U206 in CA that had major damage done in 2004 to the chin, tunnel, and nosewheel after being run out of fuel and wrecked at the Vail airport. The aircraft was fully disassembled from stem to stern for repairs. It was all repaired at Beegles. The log entries were impeccable and all new parts were used. The work looked very good, but upon closer inspection there was so much audible and visual oil - canning going on up front behind the nosewheel and where the tunnel attaches to the firewall that I was truly shocked. There was so much corrosion in the wings and more importantly in the spar carry through that I was amazed that anyone would sign it off as airworthy much less a premier shop like Beegle. This was a dry country aircraft, so it was not corrosion that just happened in the 5 years since the repair. I was very, very disappointed, and will now be very cautious of any work performed there.

This might have been a one time deal, and I hope it was. Just make sure you look at that thing for yourself real good when it's completed. Everyone gets one out the door occasionally that they shouldn't be proud of.

gb

Piling on, congrats, Beegles do nice work. Last summer I was in the shop whilst they were "getting close" to finishing George Mandes' C-185, and OH MY! What nice work. And of course Dave "Honkin" Younkin is the best for checks.

Thanks, eh? cubscout

Yeah, thanks. I really can't say enough good stuff about Dave Younkin. My only regret is that I didn't take my rebel to him 5 years ago. It would have changed my learning curve considerably, and maybe have saved me from the ground loop I did with my other instructor in the plane. (I've already told that story)

And as for the shoddy Beegles work on that 206, I am curious to see what comes up about that. I passed the link onto Scott at Beegles and he seems interested to get to the bottom of it. I'd hate to think that anything second rate leaves their shop, and in doing my research everyone seems to be thrilled with the quality of workmanship there.

Still a few weeks off from flying, my bird should be in the paint shop this week. Going with white and blue with a red accent stripe.


-Brad

I'm with you Brad. A guy I know had a 185 here in AK (UT in the winter) that was rebuilt by Beegle that was better than new. I was totally pumped up about this 206 when I had heard that they rebuilt it. Was I ever shocked when I started looking it over! I feel bad for the owner, he's going have that one for a good long time unless someone buys it without inspection.

This particular aircraft is still listed for sale at Stancil's in Placerville, CA, N71933 if they really want to know.

gb

Brad, just curious. What do they charge to paint one of our birds at Beegles?

What I hear is that they only paint as part of a re-build, so I'll ask Scott when I talk to him next week, but I think thats the deal.

-Brad

I did my high school internship at Beegles. They were up here in Alaska at the Aviation Trade Show as well. Good company.

Oh boy! That's all we need, more BS in the back country. Just kidding it sounds like you will have yourself a great plane that will last you a long time. I have wished I had a 180 instead of my 182, mainly for prop clearance. But I manage to get around to the back country ok with my 182, so I guess I will be satisfied. Bob

Local guy here painted a 185 couple of years ago. Imron paint, 2 color yellow and blue stripe, just under 9K.
PM me if you want his number, all he does now is paint jobs.

Brian

Check out this thread on Beegles from Supercub.org:
http://www.supercub.org/phpbb2/viewtopi ... eegles+185