After 24 years of flying my 1955 170B, I traded it for a 1961 182D.

Bye bye 1955 170B “Fo-Fo Charlie”



Hello 1961 182D “Too-Fi Xray”



Yes, it’s a dorky nose dragger but as soon as it lifts off it flies just like a 180...at least this is what I’m telling myself.

Johnson bar flaps are mandatory so this fits that bill nicely. The baggage door is a luxury I’ve never had too. 1100 hours TT on the airframe.

The 3rd window is nice, the fuselage for this year is identical to the 185. Also this year Skylane sits 4” lower than the 1960 model. Not exactly good for prop clearance or a candidate for some big tires so I’m gonna throw the stock wheel pants on it and enjoy the speed.

The primary mission is a cross country family hauler for a 500 mile radius to our home airport. Trips to Tahoe are going to be a lot more feasible now as well.

After suffering with the O-300 and a fixed pitch prop in the 170B, the O-470 with the constant speed prop is just heaven. This thing pins you in the seat when you advance the throttle on take off roll and climbs out wonderfully even after bringing the throttle and prop back after takeoff. It lands just as slow and short as the 170B, except it’s a whole lot easier in gusty crosswinds with the tricycle gear and extra wing loading.

Here is what the plane looked like just before the trade.

Birds hammered the engine



Original 1961 interior doesn’t look that bad in these pics but apparently it was shot and smelly.



Tail feathers came off and lots of 60 year old crud.





20 aviation units bought a new interior, prop, governor, mags, etc...

And after tons of labor, it turned into a pretty nice bird:









Compare these pics to the ones above :wow:





BAS inertial reel shoulder harnesses and belts







The 170B definitely wins the beauty contest on the ramp, but the 182 beats it in every other way for me.

It flies wonderfully hands off and I’m seeing ground speed numbers that are astounding. I don’t care how much gas it burns. Gas is cheap.

After decades of flying taildraggers, I have no ego or anything to prove...and can handle looking like a nerd for a few minutes on the ramp before takeoff and after landing.

Something about it looks nicer to me than the newer 182s. The fastback fuselage, old style nose bowl, and the fact that it’s a 57 year old classic is cool in my book.

Sweet bird!

Just out of curiosity, why a 182 vice 180?

My reading comprehension sucks. Xwinds. Got it!

Paddles wrote:Sweet bird!

Just out of curiosity, why a 182 vice 180?

Thanks. A 180 would have been preferable, but this 182 was purchased for $6k before the restoration. I don’t think a 180 in the same derelict condition would have sold that cheaply.

Paddles wrote:My reading comprehension sucks. Xwinds. Got it!

Nah, that’s not the reason...I’ve landed my 170B in crosswinds that we’re so powerful, the hairball landing was doable but taxiing was impossible. I’m still waiting for my inevitable ground loop. I’m sure it’s coming someday in the future.

When the wind is howling and gusty at a large angle to the runway, any tricycle gear is way easier than any taildragger, but that’s not the reason for a 182 over a 180 in this case. The 182 was just a lucky buy and we didn’t have a choice of gear configuration. You get what you get when the opportunity of the century pops up.

If anyone is interested in trading their 180 with 1100 hours TT straight across for this 182, I’m all ears.

Not likely since the nosedragger is worth about half of the taildragger value in my experience (similarly equipped and condition wise).

I can always dream...

Maybe I can paint the nosewheel with some kind of camouflage paint to hide it? LOL

I think that is a particularly good looking model of 182, plus all the advantages you have described.

Looks great, I’m impressed with how well the paint cleaned up. I also have no qualms about flying my 182, I haven’t been anywhere I thought I needed a 180, and I get all my ego stroking out while flying a tail dragger for work

Congrats. The only time you'll miss the 170 is when you're walking away from the airplane, looking back at it. Big tires can help this feeling

Thanks guys.

I keep looking at this picture and I’m starting to think it’s not a terrible idea.

Looks good. That kind of total time is sure a plus. She’s not even broke in yet[emoji1]

You will not regret having a 182 flipped my 170 taxiing in mud switched to my 182 and have not regretted it good choice
Ron

Aryana wrote:...as soon as it lifts off it flies just like a 180...at least this is what I’m telling myself.

Moss farmer wrote:flipped my 170 taxiing in mud

Whoah now, Ron. I think we need to hear more about this. Was there an out-of-control tractor involved?

I too would like to know just how fast you need to be "taxiing" to flip an airplane and if the tail was off the ground before you ran into the mud.

Tim

Sen it done more than once with a hard stab of the brakes.
Dont know why a mudhole wouldnt be just as bad.

Congratulations the 182C/D have nice lines and a variable incident tailplane - with the 185 fuselage and absence of trim tab they are supposed to have the best real life TAS of the type.

Great value aircraft.

Thanks.

That’s very neat info. I’m not very familiar with all the changes made over the years so I appreciate the education.

Sounds pretty positive so far for the ‘61 182D. I know every airplane has its quirks but I have yet to learn about any big negatives on this one.

It was February 24th after a heavy rain. Landed at "the Claw" with water standing on the runway way adjacent to the runway. Where i live the water table is very close to the surface in the winter. I landed and taxied about 1,000 feet. As i was turning off the partially flooded runway I missed the gravelled taxiway by about 3 feet. The tire sank into the standing water and mud. The week before I took the ak bush wheels off and replaced them with 650x6 tires. That was the wrong thing to do especially in the winter
Ron

Aryana wrote:Thanks guys.

I keep looking at this picture and I’m starting to think it’s not a terrible idea.

image1.jpeg

Do it! Congrats... You can't go wrong with that bird. Much more useable airplane! Good trade!

Where'd that 170 go?