Hi guys,

My plane is in the shop finishing up the panel and it is the perfect time to do v-brace and one piece windshield. I should have ordered this months ago but I didn't. The lead time is 4 weeks and I'm supposed to be flying the plane to central america the end of January. Does anyone have a lead on one of these? I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks!

The V-brace usually entails a little bit of structural beefing up under the panel and is an excellent mod. It's best to do it before you install the instruments and radios since there is some drilling and metal chips involved. Never the less its a good thing to do either way.
I'm pretty sure all 180 windshields are one piece, however, if you can live with that center strip, it does add a LOT of structural integrity to the fuselage, especially for a backcountry plane. So many owners get rid of them not realizing how important they are. It plays a BIG part in helping those skinny little front door posts hold up that 600 lb. engine, prop and cowling while you bang around over the bumps.

Yup, I am going to do the V brace and windshield at the same time. Ive had that setup on a 182 before and it was solid. My current 2 piece windshield and no v brace is pretty horrible in anything rough. My fuselage is sawing through the windshield while taxiing so much that my significant other asked what that horrible noise was while she was wearing noise canceling bose. Anyway, V brace is great. Thanks A Dodge

...besides you're just looking for a windshield, not an opinion. Sorry for rambling on with an opinion.

Have you tried Cee Bailey? End of January is enough time, is it not?. Takes 4 hours to install.

Not what you asked for, but another opinion worth considering. Keep your lighter and stronger windscreen, and install flying wires instead of a see brace. They are not what all the cool kids have, but I'd argue they're stronger, and that's the whole point.

I put a new windscreen in when I painted, and really wish I'd just left the strap. I also did the wires then, and would od that again in a heart beat

Take care, Rob

Rob wrote:....I put a new windscreen in when I painted, and really wish I'd just left the strap......

My C180 has the strap, as did my old C170, and it doesn't bother me at all.
A handy place to mount the compass, if nothing else.
The thicker windshields are said to be quieter though.
The "one piece" windshields, for the 170 anyways, seem to have a bow to them,
whereas the "two piece" seems flatter in profile-- much better looking IMHO.

Interesting. I kind of forgot about the wires. If I remember from my past research they are superior but more difficult to install? I already own the brace but it is a good thought.

With four week lead time I was just worried about them having enough time to do the install and the rest of the panel after. They can’t really start putting things back together until it’s done.

I’ll check on cables…