Ya'll need to remember the guidance that uncle Zane has tried to bestow. From the "Conduct" section of the Orientation Guide:

BCP Orientation Guide wrote:Most people have a good idea of what is appropriate conduct in a real-world social setting. The Internet should be no different, but it often is due to the luxury of anonymity. BackcountryPilot.org is unique in that its members often meet in person, and many members are aquainted outside the site. Do your best to consider members as real people, and exercise politeness and discretion.

I often need to remind myself of it too. One faux pas of decorum shouldn't beget another... Be nice.

Thanks.
Z

Nice find Phil, you’ll be glad to be back in a 185!! Look forward to watching the progress.

What a machine! Congratulations.

Lycon 550...

I've seen that on barnstormers and trade a plane throughout the years. Its a beautiful airplane. Have fun with it!!

Today's mod was a Baby Bushwheel. I'll be hanging onto the small tailwheel assembly for speed runs down south. The locking tailwheel steering mechanism had already been replaced with a water rudder mechanism so I won't miss it on the Baby Bushwheel. Removing the water rudder mechanism and what's left of the tail wheel locking mechanism will occur soon. Baby Bushwheel weighs more, not sure how much yet, but empty she's nose heavy so the little additional weight in the back will be welcome. I'll put her on a diet elsewhere.

What’s on the to do list for this one Phil?

TxAgfisher wrote:What’s on the to do list for this one Phil?

TJ, here is the list I've put together. Of course removing stuff is a big part of it. I'm starting with the necessities (like bush wheels) and lower hanging fruit. She already has a number of mods I would have done such as VGs, Brackett Air Filter, Gamijectors, Door Stewards, 406 ELT

iPad mount On the v-brace for now, until I do the new panel.
inReach mount Same location as before
Extended baggage cargo net As much as I'd like to do another flat floor extended baggage I don't believe I will this time since it's a 24v plane.
Lemo plugs
24v accessory plugs Same location as before
Tail pulls
Tanis heater
EDM 900 I'll start be moving the EDM 730 from the co-pilot side to the pilot side after I remove all the IFR related stuff
Dynon something Need to research what the TCDS and POH require this plane to have before I chose which Dynon
New panel
New radio
Sportsman STOL I won't be adding WingX Extensions since this is a RSTOL. I don't want to lessen the aileron authority. This plane already has Micro VGs on the wings, but nothing to energize the tail. So I'll be adding VGs to the vertical and horizontal. Or I might pull the existing VGs off and put on BLR VGs and Delta Wings. Haven't decided yet. Need to do additional research
LED tail strobe
LED wing tip nav/strobes
Remove rotating beacon
Titanium gear legs
Utility interior
Electronic ignition
Cowl louvers with block off plates
Move 406 ELT to under the extended baggage

She has bubble windows. I'll fly with them for awhile and see how much I use/like them (if at all). If I don't find them valuable I'll replace them with flat windows to get some more cruise speed.

I may put in skylights as well. Need to check out a 185 that has them first.

And I'd dearly love to change out the Cessna seats and rails, but I have yet to find any replacements. At the very least I'll replace the articulating pilot seat with a non-articulating one to save some weight as I keep the seat at its lowest position.

What's a Lemo plug?

Had a 180 with bubble windows. The extra shoulder room was nice.

hotrod180 wrote:What's a Lemo plug?

It’s a single plug for audio, microphone, and power so you don’t have to worry about batteries for your ANR headset.

Barnstormer wrote:Electronic ignition

I may put in skylights as well. Need to check out a 185 that has them first.

And I'd dearly love to change out the Cessna seats and rails, but I have yet to find any replacements.

Phil, stay away from Electro Air. I have experience with one install and was not impressed at all. I had bought one for my bird, but returned it after the customer install. Its almost a quarter of the price, half the weight, and has way less parts. That said Halestorm here has had good experience with the unit on a Kenmore 172 and has just installed one on his 182. He may have more insight.

Keep an eye out for Surefly. They should be approved for the 185 by OSH-ish. Super simple system all consolidated inside the mag unlike the Electro Air. I think the best combo is a Shower of Sparks on one mag, and the Surefly on the other. https://www.surefly.net/ I have a unit on order for my Wagon.

RE: skylights. I've done 3 birds now. Fantastic mod. I love em in the back also. Personally I would just do the 4 and not the 5 allowed for by the Cubcrafters STC. (I think you can just install them in the front as they were options for your year bird) Just note that all 4 is a pretty labor intensive job. At least 40 hrs for the rears alone. The parts are unGodly expensive now, and will leave the shoulder with about 100 unpainted rivets. I sent Sean H all the plans if you want to touch baser with him to look it over.

RE: seatrails, they are readily available from McFarlane.

Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system. Either works okay, but I prefer the cylinder bands to heat the cylinders better than the Tanis bayonets. Tanis claims theirs is better, of course.

Both good companies and good products. The way we rigged them, we installed a recessed plug in the side of the boot cowl, just behind where the engine cover goes. Also mounted there we installed a small guide light. So, at night all you have to do is take a quick look and if you see the light, you'll know it's got electricity. Also, that setup allows you to come home, park and install the engine cover, but not plug in. Next Wednesday, you decide the next day is going to be a good flying day, so you walk out, plug the extension cord into the cowl plug, look for the light, and go back to the house.

I HATE having to run an extension cord in through a cowl door, then clamp that cowl door down with the engine cover. The described setup makes it REALLY neat and simple.

Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?), and connect it up front to the engine heat connector. All in one plug. That battery heat cable adds a bit of weight, but saves a LOT of thrashing around. Two types of battery heaters I've seen: An insulated "jacket" that goes around the side of the battery, and a small silicone heat pad that the battery rests on. Helps to wrap the battery in either case, at least in winter.

MTV

Greg, thanks for the heads up on Surefly, I was unaware of their company.

I should have been more clear on my statement about the seats and rails. Mine has new rails, I just wish there was another alternative entirely, you know, something from this century.

And thanks for your thoughts on the skylights. If I do those they will be the last mod I do, when it's time to repaint the plane.

mtv wrote:Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system....Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?)

Uh, yea, battery heater, uh of course (forgot I live in Alaska now).

I considered Reiff but was concerned that the cylinder bands would restrict the cooling fins where they mount. Have you never seen an issue, even in the heat of down south?

Barnstormer wrote:

mtv wrote:Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system....Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?)

Uh, yea, battery heater, uh of course (forgot I live in Alaska now).

I considered Reiff but was concerned that the cylinder bands would restrict the cooling fins where they mount. Have you never seen an issue, even in the heat of down south?

My bands are right up against the base of the cylinders well away from the cooling fins. I can’t see it being an issue.

I prefer the Reiff as well. With Tanis, if you plan to do 6 point CHTs, you end up replacing a bolt on th intake with thir heater bayonet/bolt. I'm not a big fan of that setup. The bands are nicer IMO. Re: electroair, I have a customer that has it on his 206 and it works great. I didn't do he install, but the guy I work with did and he didnt mention it being terrible. Not under cutting Greg. Maybe they changed something. Surely looks like a great option as well.

One addition to MTV's sound advice about wiring for the engine heater: you can also add a short electrical cord inside the cabin, for plugging in a portable heater such as a Little Buddy. Like you I am tied down at ambient temperatures, and it takes some chill out of the cabin on cold mornings. More importantly, I can aim the Little Buddy up under my center stack to coax the avionics up from -20F, or whatever.
Reiff and Tanis will both have booths at the trade show in a couple weeks.
-DP

Looks like a great airplane, and getting even better.

Seats: To my knowledge-if you have the fully articulating(infinitely adjustable type with two cranks up front) seats all the way down, that is the lowest seat available. I'm 6'4 and that's the only one I find acceptable.

Next lowest-partially articulating(one crank for up and down, lever for 4(?) position recline.

Highest-fixed height seat, with or without recline.

+1 on Reiff preheaters

Also, Great Lakes makes bubble windows in 2, 4, and 6".

We went from 6" to 2". Less drag, still allows more cabin space. I never stuck my head in the 6"ers to look straight down anyway.

AK_Logan wrote:

Barnstormer wrote:

mtv wrote:Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system....Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?)

Uh, yea, battery heater, uh of course (forgot I live in Alaska now).

I considered Reiff but was concerned that the cylinder bands would restrict the cooling fins where they mount. Have you never seen an issue, even in the heat of down south?

My bands are right up against the base of the cylinders well away from the cooling fins. I can’t see it being an issue.

Yep, what he said....

MTV