Anything pro or con about a Cessna 180/185 with the stretcher door that a guy should know about? I have seen a couple that have been for sale for a while with that option.

Thanks,
Dave

If the plane has a stretcher door it means that it has no factory float kit. If thats ok with you the stretcher door is a good option.

I had one once and loved it! Especially because it made so many who saw it jealous! It is very cool.

Seems like they'd have to beef up the opening and that might rule out being able to keep the airplane real light. Otherwise pretty cool. I know a guy who used to have one & he used to sleep in the litter bay instead of pitching a tent at fly-ins.

So can a 185 with Stretcher door be used on floats or not?

This plane shows the stretcher door, I think. It looks marvelous to me as far a loading.

www.5859j.blogspot.com

Thanks for the input, from what I have gathered if you have the float kit, you can't have the stretcher door. And vice versa. Makes sense, just thought I'd run it up the flagpole and see what sticks. Or is it throw it at the wall and see what folks say? Damn, my perplexia is kicking in now.

Dave

To the best of my knowledge...........The stretcher door was never offered with the float plane option. Aircraft have been modified after production with stretcher doors. I have seen a photo of a 185 on floats with a stretcher door. Although unique, I see only negatives to the stretcher door. My opinion on the stretcher door is that it adds weight, bad, it is another seal and door latch to maintain, bad. It's another door to let cold air in, bad. It GREATLY reduces the structure of the airframe at a very crucial point, very bad. I have an extended baggage and can reach to the back of it through the standard baggage door. I think the stretcher door devalues the aircraft. It's much easier to load long bulky items by removing the passenger door and seat, this take me about a minute. If I was hauling stuff that required the stretcher door, I would be much happier with a turbo 206, much more comfortable to sleep in too. If you want a cargo haulin' 185, search for info about the Alcor Cargo Door.

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I have a picture of the "Alcor Door" but don't have the time now to figure out how to post it.

wingnut185 wrote:....... It GREATLY reduces the structure of the airframe at a very crucial point, very bad. .....

After some though, I agree. The weakening of the structure is a BIG deduct. Unless you need to haul a litter, the only plus's I see are 1) easy to get on for sleeping purposes, and 2) eye-catcher due to unusual-ness.

When I was looking, before buying my current 185, I was told a Skywagon with a stretcher door would not be fit to put on floats. A big loading hatch door would be nice at times, for loading an outboard or what ever, but as was mentioned, if it is that important for ease of loading, just get a 206. I would think the market would be limited for a Skywagon with the stretcher door and might even lessen it's value. As a side note, I just purchased a folding outboard motor and can now stow it in my float compartment, no more gas smell inside the cabin, makes the cargo door size, less of an issue. Steve

If you are looking at a 185 with a stretcher door and that is what you want fine. But there is also a cargo door known as the casket door and it is much larger and it does not have any windows behind the pilot window. Larger = weaker in my humble opinion.
If i was looking for a larger baggage door the stretcher door would be a better way to go than the casket door. But no floats. So if the aircraft is priced properly with the down side and your happy ...go for it... Its still a Skywagon!



GuyWagon