Think there is enough of us with these sexy beasts that it deserves its own thread.

Go!

I would love to follow a thread on skywagons!

Landed mine on 22R at KMDW today. This after a breakfast flight with our own Stuart F from KMQJ (Indy Regional) to KBAK (Columbus, IND)

[youtube]https://youtu.be/tp8nfdnO0tw[/youtube]

A few pics

Mark, how much tailwheel time did you have before you got into the sky wagon?

Zero. I only few it on floats. 250 hours over 5 years.

Got some Cub time, my tw endorsement in a Bellanca and then 8 hours with a CFI in the 185. Flew it 15 hours solo. Then I flew it to Indiana and spent a day with Leigh Smith. See attached: viewtopic.php?f=47&t=167533&view=unread#unread

+1 here. Love to talk skywagons. Sexy panel Mark.

Truly an amazing plane. And it keeps you a humble man....

The Cessna association and Intl Skywagons org is too quiet for my taste.

Rgs

Patrick

I love mine.
If you get yours to Scottsdale Mark, let me know, I’ll show you some great backcountry strips.

Your’e on. Fall.

My 185 is the best all-around single I’ve ever flown. It’s not the fastest and doesn’t fly the nicest, but man, what a blast.

It’s a taildragger. I love taildraggers.
Fast enough to go places.
Goes in and out of 900’ without too much drama.
Carries four 200 pounders, full fuel and 150 lbs of crap below gross and w/in c/g.
Looks awesome just sitting there.
Takes three steps up to get to the wing (tire, step, strut).
Has enabled some of our greatest adventures.

There’s something humbling about having an airplane that, no matter how many hours I fly, will always be better than me.

Moose Creek, ID


Graham, ID and some of the stuff the four of us took to watch the solar eclipse. No crowds there!



Mexican Mountain, UT

This winter. Landing at Lac La Biche Ice Runway.

Never got around to putting my wheels on this winter. I regret it. Perfect airplane for me. When it’s on floats, I can’t wait to get wheels on. When the wheels are on, I’m looking forward to float season. Next winter, I have skis to play with too!

Not sure panel shots are relevant to this thread. Sure it’s a great IFR platform, but the point of selling my T210 in favour of the 185 was to try to meet the tactile requirement to fly a hot taildragger.

Despite that bit of bravado, I miss my autopilot on long cross country flights.

Got the STEC30 with altitude hold on mine. Huge difference.

Mark
I would love a C185 for all the reasons us reading this thread do. I had a Maule for years (MX7-235), and now I fly a TBM 700 (A model) and really miss the taildragger.
The farmstrips, here in South Dakota, we fly out of are 1,100 ft long and the other is about 980 ft long. They are on top of bluffs with drop offs on either end. The Maule had no problem with the strips and our Zenith LSA does it with ease.
The C185 is a great grass strip ( off airport etc) plane, but how does it do for short field takeoff and landings?
I realize that’s a loaded question. It’s really all about pilot skill and technique. But do you feel it’s a plane that after much practice it should work, or is their just not enough margin for error with the steep drop offs on either end?
Thanks for the post. Love the Skywagon.

Greg

Let me defer to those with more experience. My sense is that it’s a beast.

Greg: The early 180 with Steve Knopp's ("PPonk") magic will see you in and out of your SD strips. Light and delightful on the controls, it will spoil you for anything else.
My strips are at 7'000, also with steep walls and drop-offs.
Never met a man (or woman, as Jerrie Mock flew hers solo around the world) who didn't regret having sold his 180/185.
The ultimate solution is a 180 with float fittings and a Pitts Special sharing the hangar.
I share pictures of mine: Over the Lone Cone (CO) at 14'000 on an ash-dispersal mission; exploring a waterfall near my ranches deep in the Northern Sierra Madre (wicked winds that day) and at rest, ready for the next adventure.
Best regards,

TN