As I was hauling Christmas boxes to the airport dumpster this morning, I saw a beautiful Cessna 207 with what looked like new paint, a belly cargo pod and a really nice interior. I peaked in the window and saw a pretty nice panel to go along with it.

As I pondered the practicality of it's pulchritudinous appearance, I had to wonder, why did Cessna not restart the production line of such a utilitarian monster? Every 207 I've seen for sale has more than 10,000 hours of hard use--so obviously these beasts get used daily...? It seems there would be demand for these workhorses, no?

Yes, I know the 206 is almost as good, and the 208 fills an obvious niche, but the 207... Ahh, it's so ugly, it's beautiful. I wish I had use for one.

I have some hours in the sled, great aircraft, load her up and as long as the tail ain’t touching you’re good to go

I’m not sure why Cessna and Piper don’t bring back some of their older stuff that people loved

207 is one

With the “bush flying” trend it’s also odd they don’t bring back the 185, and the really odd one is Piper, everyone and their uncle is making a clone of the PA18 except the inventor of the thing, Cessna and Piper make flops like the skycatcher and the sport cruiser, but the tried and true and loved designs they won’t relaunch. I’m sure there is some reason, but I’ve scratched my head on that one myself

A friend of mine had a T207 that spent it's early-life in Japan, it had the factory camera hole. When it came back it was a Grand Canyon tour airplane until that particular business when TU. He bought it and sent it to Western Skyways to be the prototype TNIO-550 conversion.

If the stock engine was still making 300HP, this thing had to have been making 330+. I never had it loaded up but it was a joy to fly for as big as it was. The CG was very flexible and I believe it had a 1600lb useful load. With a co-pilot door and the cargo doors being behind the flaps, it was a better arrangement than a U206.

I think the answer is they probably make a better margin % on 208s. Where best to use resources.

When it's really cold (-20F) you had to be gentle pushing the mixture in. The cold soaked nose baggage area between the preheated engine and cockpit with a heater could be a problem and the cables could get frozen. Pilots trying to jam them in would expand the cables in the housing and the only fix was a new cable. Newer teflon lined McFarlane cables may help.

Loaded 207 can fall on its tail until the pilot is seated. A extra person to hold the tail up "helping" people climb in the back door works. Then after the pilot is seated and engine starts wander away.

Nice big long airplane. Would be nice if they relofted the fuselage and kept the same wings and tail to make a bit nicer lines but it worked for many many hours and years.

Robair repair makes some nice products to help keep them flying. https://robairrepair.com

I’m confused- did you see something beautiful, or did you see a 207? It can’t be both.