Some of you followed Johnny Green's journey with this 180. I bought it from him last March and just haven't flown it as much as I wanted to for several reasons. I have decided to sell it. You can follow his journey here:

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=197653&hilit=psychobilly

Since I bought it from Johnny last March, I have put over $15K in it not including my labor.

I have installed:

2 new door stewards
12 fine wire plugs
new mixture/throttle and cabin heat control cables
New oil quick drain
both wing fuel quick drains
l/h forward new Air form baffle that was cracked
all new Lord motor mounts and hardware
tailwheel tire and tube
McFarlane QMI metal trim wheel kit ($2000)
sent both Monarch fuel caps to factory fo be overhauled
removed Tempest oil filter adapter and installed remote AirWolf oil filter adapter
new McFarlane fuel selector valve ($4000)
brake discs and pads

4125TT, 100 hours on factory rebuilt engine installed December 2020
stretcher door, no float kit
fuselage was factory chromated and wings were just treated with Corrosion X a couple of months ago
Just finished the annual inspection in March
Tail AD was done 7-15-2024. Del had all the tail surfaces off 5 years prior and it all still looks like new pretty much

PMA 8000 BT audio panel
GNC355 GPS/COM
SL-30 Garmin back up nav/com
GFC500 auto pilot
GTX345 transponder
Aspen 1000 "Max" PFD
G5
JPI 900 engine monitor
Garmin 796 gizmo mounted on r/h side that talks to the GNC355
406 ELT

Empty weight 1708.6
Useful Load 1091.94
Empty weight CG 36.40

It is on 850 x 6 tires now but he gave me a set of 800 X 6 tires and the wheel pants

Now the bad news, Johnny misplaced the first airframe log book but of course all the stuff Del Lehman did to it is documented along with all the 337's since new. Airframe log book starts 1991, 34 years of documentation. I was hoping Johnny would find the missing log book but my hopes have dwindled. He said he had it when he bought it and misplaced it at his place somewhere. This airplane went from the factory straight to Mexico and returned 4 years later (1974) It was damaged before returned and the 337 shows a spar repair. It has flown 51 years since and of course Del looked it all over so it wasn't an issue for me.

$255,000 firm If I can't sell it I will keep it now that I have it dialed in. I am considering getting a Citabria or something smaller as we just don't travel like we used to.

Grant Metsger
gmetsger@gmail.com
(214) 632-6593
Airplane located at 0TX1, Pecan Plantation Granbury, TX

Beautiful Plane, and it just keeps getting better

Thanks Sidney, I tried to make an already nice airplane even better.

Beautiful airplane. My 180 and yours share the same history of having gone straight from the factory to Mexico.
I've never met a Skywagon driver who doesn't rue the day he sold his.
Best regards,

Tom

Do you accept IOUs? Gosh that’s beautiful, although I think I may end up with a divorce if I come home with another plane.

Hmm,
I love me Citabria
Kinda sometimes ready for next airplane though.

What engine is in this 180

Hi Tom,
I "may" end up with another 185. I had one for 12 years and I miss it. I love the 180 but it just isn't a 185. I know it is two extremes but if I sell the 180, I am going to decide whether to go the 185 route for a few years or just downsize. I wlll cross that bridge if I get to it"

Thanks for the nice comments!
Grant

Good morning Brad,

It is the O470-S

I am off to the dentist so I will be away from my computer until late morning.

Grant

Sorry about the thread drift, but once a Skywagon type, always one..
Psychobilly will sell soon, to a knowledgeable individual who will benefit tenfold from the initial investment. In my opinion, it is a bargain.
I attach a copy of my "Official Mexican Pilot's License", crafted from a Pacifico beer label during one of our many escapades to Baja with the "Delta Force"many years ago. As a bunch of notorious 180/185 types, we managed to not get thrown in the calaboose due to our antics.
Now leading a somewhat more respectable existence, we remain with the Skywagon.
As yours was, mine has been brought back to its former glory by the masters at Mountain Airframe, in Mena, Arkansas.

TN

Cool post Tom, thanks. I am definitely leaning towards another 185 if I can find one "if" Psychobilly sells. When I had my Cessna dealership back in the day I picked up several 180's and 185's from the factory and have been a HUGE fan ever since. I sold our 1984 185 just under 10 years ago and have regretted it ever since. Scratched the Baron itch for a couple of years and loved it but the 185 more meets my desires as I turn final on my aviation journey.

I read this with a smile. My father owned two different 180´s at different times in his life. He raved about them. Eventually he owned a B58 which he loved deeply. But for his final plane, he chose a 185. Maybe its a common route amongst pilots?

Mr Green´s comments and experience with Del´s shop repairing his 180 led me to fly the 185 from a distance for what I thought was a rigging job. It turned out to be a major project and now the plane flies like Cessna intended.

Eventually I sold the engine on the plane and replaced it with a 550. I was never convinced with the 520 it had. Ohhh boy! , now I understand the fan base for the 185! It is truly a standout performer. Mine just needed "rigging" and a fresh engine.

Rgs,
Patrick.

Nice story Patrick, no doubt once Del puts his hands on it it is a better machine. It sounds like you have your 185 dialed in as well.

Thanks for sharing that