So let's pretend for a minute I can afford to buy a weekend airplane for flying around with the kids. I want 4 seats and a tail dragger. I live in colorado so performance needs to be pretty good given high DA.

Used 185s appear to be able to be had for reasonable amounts. I have virtually zero tail dragger time. Any one have any experience with them and want to share?

I have 200 hours in 185s, flying jumpers, 3 landings per hour. I also used to be chief pilot of the parachute club and would check out new pilots.

It's a perfect airplane to be your first tail dragger. It's about an honest an airplane as I've ever flown.

Start out on grass at first if you can. Get a good instructor. Never stop flying it, even while taxiing.

How many hours a year will you fly it? How many landings per year? You can figure in 100 to 200 hours until you wear it. If you can stay current and get to the point where you wear it...go for it.

Tim

Anthony,

Very doable. 185's are awesome airplanes. If you get your tail wheel endorsement in a 185 please take the time to spend 6-10'hours just taxiing around the airport. When done with that time it will be a breeze to take off and land. Ask me how I know...

Keep us posted. Love my 185.

I'm going to go the other way on this thread. Spring steel gear cessnas are among the most schizophrenic of tailwheel aircraft. The 185 is one of the most expensive models out there. I'd suggest starting with something more tame like a champ or citabria. After a year or so, you'd be in a much better position to handle the big Cessna. That first 100 hours is worth a lot.

A 140 or 120 would also make a good initial choice since they share the same basic platform as the 185. They aren't that much easier to fly but they are certainly much cheaper to ground loop.

Since you live at high elevation, the citabria will probably be the easiest one to find with a big engine. The others mentioned have upgraded examples out there but in much smaller numbers.

Well--- I probably have 1000 hours in 185, and currently have a 53 180, Use to operate in the bush in AK for many years. My first comment is great airplane. With 5K + in tail wheels from cubs to otters. you don't want to be complacent when flying 185, ( and as the one guy said spring steel gear Cessna's, will bite. I am always on my toes when I fly 185 or 180. Get a good instructor as noted, and get lots of practice.
Points I tell any one in a tail wheel plane: breaks and tires are very cheep do what ever it takes to keep it absolutely straight. Better to over correct than under correct. every split secant it is getting off straight is compounding your problem. IF you over correct you have more time to salvage that, if you undercurrent, well you may not be able to. and you know how that story goes.
( I would yell and scream at some one waisting tires in other planes, but not tail wheel)
It sure might be good to get some time renting or such, to make sure you love flying to landing the tail wheel ac. IF you find you love the fun of a tail wheel go for it! if not, you sure won't get into trouble with a 206. feel free to call or email if you want some more input. Idaho has wonderful playground for back country. I keep the cub and 180 there for playing hard, and use the s35 to get back and forth. check out Backcountry.org and Idaho aviation Association. feel free to call or email me if you want to talk a lot about them. David

If you like flying the 185 will be the best decision you can make. It has 4 honest seats with a 1500 lb useful load at 140kts, and will get in and out of short strips with all four people. Start out flying it with lighter loads and it will be easier to handle. I bought mine with only 50 hrs tail wheel time and had to learn how to fly all over again. I now have 350 hrs in it and this is the best plane I have ever had, and I've had several singles and twins.

Is that backcountrypilot.org?

Only one rule for any taildragger; keep it straight down the runway.

Yes, it is Backcountrypilot.org, the Idaho aviation assosiation has good data on all the back country strips, many very easy, but it rates them all. 4 or 5, excellent camp ground strips, irrigated, clean mens and women showers hot water, free fire wood. great operations they have up there for having fun. some reasonable strips for the bonanzas as well.

Yes, it is Backcountrypilot.org, the Idaho aviation assosiation has good data on all the back country strips, many very easy, but it rates them all. 4 or 5, excellent camp ground strips, irrigated, clean mens and women showers hot water, free fire wood. great operations they have up there for having fun. some reasonable strips for the bonanzas as well.

Here is an idea...get a 185 with Amphibs and you have twice the fun with half the effort. Oh wait...you live in Colorado. No float planes allowed. Never mind.

185s for reasonable amounts? I thought 185s were commanding premium prices unless they were workhorses? A quick search on tradeaplane shows them starting around $95k, and those that look like that they've been well maintained and/or upgraded fetching close to $200k.

"Reasonable" has no specific dollar amount.

I had a 185, enjoyed it. It is a great work horse. Often had take off rolls of under 300'.
Downside, they are loud, they shake, a little expensive for a toy, too slow for much cross country.
Plus side you usually make money on resale.
I bought mine for 25k, sold for 45k after a couple of years, now worth over 100k