Buying a Skywagon
Not owning an airplane was tough, good thing it only lasted a week.
Today I am not the owner of a fine tailwheel aircraft! Well… a slight project, but totally worth it!
Why the switch from the 182 to the 180?
At first glance they are really similar aircraft on paper, and in the air. but on the ground they are completely different animals. Why does ground handling matter that much? It doesn’t, really the only advantage is the significant increase in propeller to ground clearance while taxiing, that’s about it, but that’s a big it. The Skylane seemed to be in an endless loop of enjoying the backcountry then prop dressing and paint touch up. Yes, some of that is my own compulsiveness, but why not purchase an aircraft built for the task?
“The 180 was originally heralded by Cessna's marketing folks as "the businessman's airplane," but the airplane quickly gained a reputation for solid dependability and utility in the back country. In Alaska, where livelihoods and lives depend on airplanes, the 180's reliability and utility made it about as common as long winters. On wheels, floats, or skis, there are more Model 180s in Alaska than in any other state. "You always make it back in a 180," says Bud Morrison, of Woodland, Washington”
“The 180 isn't perfect. Without soundproofing, the 180 is a bit noisy. There are airplanes that will fly faster, others that will haul more, and a few that will get in and out of shorter runways. But the 180 does all these things pretty well. Airplanes that do several things well, the "jacks of all trades," endear themselves to people who use them for recreation and business.”
This particular 1955 Cessna 180 has both many stories in it’s past and many more in it’s future. Purchased from my neighbor at the airfield, it is in need of some repair to return to the air, but outside of that in overall good shape. There are lots of projects for this 180, including some novel STC development, but at the moment its time to clean. Welcome home Skywagon!
