I bought a Skylane!

This was part of the plan when I bought a cabin in the Beech Talk Compound in Idaho (Cascade). Having visited the area several times, I want to spend some time flying into the backcountry airstrips maintained by the state.

So, I've been on the lookout. There is a fully-ready 182A in VT, and Kevin Mc. looked at it for me. Nice, but I passed.

Beechtalker Jim S. has a TN-A36, a 58P, and he had this lonely 182 that wasn't getting flown. So, with reluctance, he sold it to me.

Cosmetically challenged, to be sure. It's fugly, plain and simple.

But, it's a '67 model (wider cabin), with fewer than 2,400 hours TT and under 100 hours on the P-Ponk engine and Scimitar prop. More horsepower and a prop to turn it into thrust. Now we're talking!

Jim flew it from Boston to south Louisiana. Sort of a farewell flight.

My first flight in it had me grinning like a moron. The SOB climbs like a rocket. Steve G. (mechanic on the field and a BTer) was watching, as were others, and they all commented on the near vertical takeoff.

I had it out this morning, working on spot (ish) landings. With half fuel and just me, ground roll on takeoff is 400 feet.

The windshield is milky (original, I think). It's coming out in a week. Steve said it would be easier to do the glareshield while the windshield is out, so ... might as well.

When it gets to Cascade, I'm putting on an Airglas (big) nose gear fork, 8.00 an 8.50 tires, folding jump seats to replace the rear seat, and extended baggage kit.

Yes, it could use paint. That can wait. I'll fly it this season, to get to know it.

New interior and paint would make it a new plane. I don't want it to get fancy, but I do like a nice-looking plane.

As to whether to add the Sportsman STOL kit ... I'll see if this summer's flying leaves me wanting shorter takeoffs and landings.

I'm keeping the Baron (for now). Different missions.

After doing the PPonk and prop, it made me grin on every takeoff, for sure.

Have fun with it!

I forgot to tell you what the vacuum light is. That's a low vac indicator (it has a wet pump, so unlikely to fail, but still...) I believe the airplane still has an emergency vac system in it, similar to the SVS but automatic. ( http://www.thevacsource.com/svs.php ) If the pump dies, you can reduce to partial throttle and I believe the manifold pressure tap will keep the gyro spinning. (In practice, you'd use the electric turn coordinator and Stec autopilot both of which work without vac, so....)

The vac light is a good "turn off the master, dummy" reminder...

I have a feeling that is going to become your favorite airplane in short order.

Lookin' good. On the 67 182 I had with standard 470, two blade prop, VG's and 8.00's on the mains with a 6.00 nose, with just myself and a half tank, I could take off and land in 450 feet at a 5000 DA. So I bet with some more practice you can do a little better there at sea level.
What does yours weigh? Mine was 1726 with just the front two seats in.

Latest W&B shows 1826 pounds. That's with the rear seat.

Congrats, that looks good! All you need to do is paint the cowl to match, that's it

Latest W&B shows 1826 pounds. That's with the rear seat.

I agree, Paul. Contrary to usual advice, it might be wise to have it weighed.

With all those avionics (is that an old 30lb ADF I see to the right of the co-pilot yoke?) that sounds ball park to me. My 69 is about that, tho I have an Stec A/P also but no ADF!

Post 70 (or 71?) got some changes that bumped the MGTOW up and lowered the empty weight frequently, biggest being a change from solid rectangular steel main gear legs to tubular legs. That alone saved weight and upped the MGTOW.

I do covet the PPonk, tho I intend to put on a 2 blade MT when I do mine - that saves 25+ lbs over the 3 blade....

RAS

There are no such things as fugly Skylanes; they're all beautiful - in varying degrees. PPONKS are the bomb. And they get along with Barons very nicely.

Congrats Tom

That is a pretty plane. No need for paint. Looks great for backcountry uses.

I suspect I am witnessing the aviation equivalent of when my wife and I take in a rescue pup. The pup doesn't know it, but it just hit the lottery.



Then again, we tend to hold on to the the pup for its whole life...



Great ship. This will be fun to watch. Most of my early time was in a 182Q.

Congrats! The 1964 C-182 that's been in my hangar for the past couple of years sold this morning to a couple out of Sacramento, Ca. Enjoy your new bush whomper.

Dave

Tom, if you change the nose, you'll lose the charm.....I keep that, even with a repaint........

Fugly is as fugly does. It's beautiful in all the right places.