I fly two different Cessnas; a 210 NA and a 185. Different animals, I know but with the same IO 520 285 hp engine (300 HP on takeoff). I have always had the feeling that my 185 is on the slow side with an indication problem. And I know this particular 210
Is a speedster. It’s amazing that at the same MP & RPM and altitide the 210 is a solid 20-25 kts faster than the 185. Could struts, gear legs and bubble windows make such a difference?

Rgs
Patrick

I believe that the shape of the later 210 Wing has less drag at speed compared to the other Cessna wings but doesn’t work as well at slow speed. I base that off observations between my 1960 210 and the 1975 T210L that I had. I could be wrong.

Yep. Esp if the 185 lacks wheel fairings

absolutely.

For comparison , look at the 182 vs early 210's; both with struts and both with the 470 engine. one carbureted, one injected. 230 vs 260 hp. speeds differ by 25-30.

Gear hanging out means a lot of drag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNO3bZtZ4tY

Start watching about 2:30

The 185 isn't a speed demon. I have always marveled at the fact my stock 182Q is the same speed as my 550-powered 185...

I figured it was partly due to the 185 basically remaining unchanged over the years where the 182 received the benefit of a redesigned cowl and other aerodynamic clean-ups as the years went by.

Jeff

Yours is horribly slow. I have a buddy with a 185. When the 520 needed to be replaced he went with the 550, I don't know what STC he used. He has 6.00's on the mains and no wheel pants. Trying to go fast as he can as if gas was no object he can get about 155 knots true at about 5000 MSL. If you have a stock 182 that goes as fast as a 550 powered 185 then your 185 is busted.

Yours is horribly slow. I have a buddy with a 185. When the 520 needed to be replaced he went with the 550, I don't know what STC he used. He has 6.00's on the mains and no wheel pants. Trying to go fast as he can as if gas was no object he can get about 155 knots true at about 5000 MSL. If you have a stock 182 that goes as fast as a 550 powered 185 then your 185 is busted.

Yep,

Ten for the wing , ten for the gear.

Set the 210 up in cruise with the gear down, mark the speed. Then retract the gear and mark the speed. That will tell you how much of a factor the gear is. The rest is in the airfoil, and other airframe cleanup.

I flew a T210 for 9 years. Fly a 185 IO550 now. 145 kt on 6:00-6. (small tires because the ground is frozen when I’m on wheels, and I’m hard on tires as I learn to fly taildragger, so I may as well fly the cheap ones for now!) 125 kt on Aerocet amphibs.

The 185 doesn’t have strut cuffs, or any other aerodynamic refinements. It doesn’t slip through the ether, it smashes its way through by burning lots of fuel. It’s spartan, utilitarian, a Swiss Army Knife of airplanes, and I like it, or I’d still have the T210.

Depends how much fuel you want to burn, I can get 150 kts easily with mine on 800 tires / 550 engine with lots of drags from the floats and skis fitting if I push the fuel to 18-20 Gph ROP.








Yours is horribly slow. I have a buddy with a 185. When the 520 needed to be replaced he went with the 550, I don't know what STC he used. He has 6.00's on the mains and no wheel pants. Trying to go fast as he can as if gas was no object he can get about 155 knots true at about 5000 MSL. If you have a stock 182 that goes as fast as a 550 powered 185 then your 185 is busted.

My 185 / 550 on 8.5’s is generally good for 155KTAS. It has the Snyder speed kit (no wheel pants). I’m told that the pants add 5kts+ but I can’t imagine putting them on (6” tires). On Wip 3000A’s we see 123-ish at 3-5k msl.

Rumor has it this guy has a 185 on 6:00’s...

I have a 1970 180. With no strut cuffs, old paint and 6x8 tires, it would cruise 161 mph. It has an Owl STOL kit that has a moderate cuff and no wing tip modifications.

A friend has a nice '75 Skylane with wheel pants. At the same power settings, we fly dead even.

The 180 is in the paint shop now and getting the strut cuffs and Knot2U wheel pants. I'm hoping for 170 mph. It will be interesting to see the difference.

Jg

I get 130-135 KTAS burning 12.5 gph LOP in my 185 with 8.50’s. Maybe I’m doing something wrong?