Winter Flying

[170C]

The early C-180's were basically the same airframe as the C-170/172's. Same cabin width, length, height, etc. There may have been some more of a beefed up door post and/or firewall to handle the heavier, more powerful engine and they had a 60 gallons of fuel capacity. After 1953 all had an exterior baggage door. There were multiple changes between vrs models for fuel capacity, speeds, engine model #'s, etc, but it remained the same 36 ft wing span, et al until 1964 when the third window was added and in 1965 the H model 180 got the 182 firewall and thus made the 180 airframe identical to the 185 until production stopped in 1981.

This data comes from the Australian Wing 180 Assn & is a reasonably good comparison of the C-180 models and changes. Also belive the data may be available at SKYWAGONS.

[Harold Holiman]

My 1953 180 is basicly the same airframe as the 170 between the firewall and the tail. That is why I call my 180 my "Overgrown 170 With A Funny Tail". Mine does have a added baggage door and a Javlin tank for extra fuel beyond the standard 55 gallons.

Harold H

[funseventy]

As mentioned '64 was the addition of the 3rd window. The change in the cab top was in'63. The 180 and 182 fuselage were the same until the end of '59. In 1960 the 182 used the same fuselage as a 185 and continued until '62. '63 was the first year of the 44" wide fuselage in a 182. The 180/185 line was alway 40". The 170 is the same size inside as a 180/185 if you don't count the added room of the overhead change or the addition of the extended baggage on later models.

[Dave Clark]

And as I've mentioned before the 60 and 61 182s had a flying stab and are well worth considering if you're going to convert one to a tailwheel. The only problem these days would be approval to switch to a straight tail. Which brings up a point, I wonder if anyone has switched back to a round tail on a 180?

[Harold Holiman]

Since this thread started off on winter flying, I'll mention my flight yesterday. It is the type winter flying I like. It was about 40 degrees, CAVU. I flew from LaFayette, GA to Shelbyville, TN and back. It was as perfect a flying day as possable. Never hit a bump, the cold air made the plane perform great, and the visibility was probably 50 to 75 miles. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful flying day. Although I've got the ratings, if it is IFR I'll stay on the ground.

Harold
Mbr# 893
N92CP

[flyguy]

IMA WITCH U HAROLD, THU ONLIEST WAY I FLY IN WINTER IS TO GO BOUT TREE HUNNERT MILES NORTH WHICH IMA DOIN THIS MORNIN. OUTA MA WINNO THIS MORNIN ITS CLEAR AND COOL (55F) AND NO WIND. I DOANT GITT'IN CLOUDS ENNY MORE AN IFFN ENNY BODIE FLIES INTU THE CLOUDS TU GO SUMWHERE IN A 170 HEESA GONNA NEED TO QWIKER GIT THERE LOTSA MOREN ME. OLE RUDY AN OLE RUSS AND THEM OTHERS TALKIN BOUT FLYIN WITH "ICE" "FOG" "SLO CLIME" AND ALL THAT STUFF JES MAKES THEM GOOSEBUMPS RINKLE UP MY BACK. I USED TU DO SUMMA THAT BUT LIKE SUM ONE SAID - - "GOD LOOKS OUT FER IDIOTS AND LIL BABIES BUT NOT FER LONG". I THINK THAT WAS WHAT THEY SAID ER SUMPIN LAK THAT - - - OLE GAR

PEE ESS: I TOLE MA LIL BRUDDER A WHAL BAK, TU BETTER TAKE CARE OF HISSELF CAUSE I WANNA BE ABLE TU VISIT WITH HIM LOTSA YEARS INNA FUTURE - - IMMA GONNA SAY THE SAME FER ALL Y'ALL, MA CHERS (FRENS) ONNA THIS HYEAR GAB-GANG AN INNA 170 ASSOCIATION- - -, ALL Y'ALL JES BE SUPER CAREFUL AND HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. OLE GAR