185 vs 206
- Thread starter Cardiff Kook
- Start date
frequent_flyer
Registered User
Arizona, USA
Well maybe the guys flying the Turbo Porter do. I know which I'd like to add to my log and I've flown in a PC-12.
BC12D-4-85
SPONSOR
Fairbanks, AK.
Ok, why screw around with the small stuff. Get a piston Beaver if it'l fit through the hangar door. On any gear they are impressive. And there's something about that big radial that comforts and puts the passengers to sleep.
Gary
Gary
85Mike
Registered User
Washington
Cant imagine a better plane for my use. My '67 185 served my purpose for 28 years. Most years flew from WA to my remote camp east of Talkeetna. Flight planned 140 knots and 14 gph. Empty weight was 1790 and full fuel could still put 1000 lbs. inside legally. Due to medical issues, sold it 5 years ago. Sure do miss it!!!
BC12D-4-85
SPONSOR
Fairbanks, AK.
^^^^That!
Gary
Gary
Rob
Registered User
AZ06
Meh.... the PC-6 was the picture of Machismo 8)
The PC-24 an elegant lady worth reckoning
.The 'tweener' 12? that's the greyhound bus looking one somebody thought would pencil out better than the iconic King Air (of any flavor) because it was a single, until they figured out what a -67 cost to feed, maintain, and OH :lol:. Of course the marketing folks just say 'PT6'.... as if that gives you any clue how much hp / fuel we're talking about... :lol:
In all fun, we're smallish folks. If I wanted to feed a -67, I'd by a TBM, and add an AT-802 to the ag fleet with the savings, faster and an added revenue source
I mean if we're gonna dream... lolTake care, Rob
Last edited:
Cardiff Kook
FRIEND
Sisters, OR
A timely question: I am in discussions to buy a half share in a Skywagon. Still working it out. I don’t like counting my chickens before they hatch so I will give an update if it gets across the finish line- which seems likely.
Last edited:
Mountain flying, long cross country’s west to east. I’ve had both turbo and NA 210s. Liked them both. Depends on mission.
Currently shopping for a NA U206. I fly rescue dogs so the cargo door will allow my largest kennel and additional kennels at the same time. My previous 182 would only take my next to largest crate and was a bit if a problem getting it through door and into back seat. I also fly disaster relief equipment so the cargo door is a big plus there, also. They don’t come up often. Many are high time or beat up.
Last edited:
hotrod180
FRIEND
Port Townsend, WA
Sounds like a pretty good way to go for a second airplane, esp a spendy one.
Good luck, hope it works out.
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Five minutes with google.
https://summitaviationmfg.com/io550/
http://www.vitatoeaviation.com/cessna-206207-engine-conversion/
https://www.davisaviation.cc/cessna-206/
https://www.flyingmag.com/gear-mods-refurbish-atlantic-aeros-550-conversions/
https://www.wipaire.com/modification/cessna-206-io-550-engine-upgrade/
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
And, something to consider if you're going on floats: Wipaire's IO-550 conversion allows a gross weight increase to 3800 pounds on their floats.....
The IO-550 is the engine the 206 always wanted, seriously....
MTV
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Also be aware that these two use the balanced downdraft version of the IO-550 which produces a minimum of 310 hp.
https://summitaviationmfg.com/io550/
http://www.vitatoeaviation.com/cessna-206207-engine-conversion/
BritishCubBloke
SPONSOR
Bellingen, NSW, Australia
Great thread. I have a 1980 A185F, which MTV helped me figure out how to fly. Thanks, MTV! I absolutely love this airplane, but if I had to haul a big load regularly I wouldn't choose it over a 206. Simply, access is so poor. You just can't get anything big into it. And it's narrow. It wasn't built for today's pilots or passengers.
peterdillon
SPONSOR
With the standard engine and back in the day when overloads were the norm the 185 would get out of a small lake on a hot day with 500 Lbs more payload than the 206. Even though the 206 had more comfort and was easy to load it got a really bad reputation as a dog in the float world.
Only private guys were running 206's and commercial guys all had 180's, 185's and Beavers. Now with legal loads and bigger engines its a different story.
Only private guys were running 206's and commercial guys all had 180's, 185's and Beavers. Now with legal loads and bigger engines its a different story.
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
That was absolutely my experience. The other significant factor was the widespread research and development regarding propeller efficiency. Those old toothpick three blade props that came on most 185 and 206s didn’t do the 206 any favors either. The introduction of new generations of well researched and designed props REALLY help even the stock engine airplanes a lot.
And, BCBloke, the pleasure of meeting you and your wonderful sons was a delight, in addition to flying with you in a very nice 185! So, thank you!
MTV
Hello, my name is Mike and I am a new member.
A couple years ago I moved up from a Stinson 108 to a Cessna 206. I have a coffee roastery in Flagstaff and do a lot of flying in the desert southwest. I often have to deal with high winds and high density altitude in Flagstaff, and then very hot temperatures down in the desert, while sometimes carrying very heavy loads of espresso machines, coffee, and 5 gallon kegs of cold brew! … I wanted to be able to go camping in the back country, but I needed a better plane for my mission.
In searching for the best plane for my mission, I read everything I could online and in print (many thanks to MTV, for posting great advice on different forums!)
I ended up finding a bit of a hanger queen,… A corrosion free, 1969,U206 floatplane, with a tired engine, with RSTOL. Using a Davis Aviation STC (Donna is great!) I installed an IO550 and a Voyager Prop.
My useful load is about 1600 pounds. Flying airport to airport, I have had no problem with 10,000 foot plus density altitudes. I see about 130kt cruise burning less than 13 gallons per hour at 8000 feet LOP. … I have 8:50s on the mains, and an 8:00 on the nose.
Last fall, I took lessons with CC Pocock at Bush Air. With proper ballast, and loaded to about half of my useful load we were doing full stop landings and takeoffs in less than 400 feet, this was at a 2500 foot elevation with a temperature of about 100°.
Transitioning from the Stinson, the 206 initially felt very heavy. But after about 100 hours in it, unless I have a forward center of gravity, I have become used to the control forces and feel quite comfortable with them.
A couple years ago I moved up from a Stinson 108 to a Cessna 206. I have a coffee roastery in Flagstaff and do a lot of flying in the desert southwest. I often have to deal with high winds and high density altitude in Flagstaff, and then very hot temperatures down in the desert, while sometimes carrying very heavy loads of espresso machines, coffee, and 5 gallon kegs of cold brew! … I wanted to be able to go camping in the back country, but I needed a better plane for my mission.
In searching for the best plane for my mission, I read everything I could online and in print (many thanks to MTV, for posting great advice on different forums!)
I ended up finding a bit of a hanger queen,… A corrosion free, 1969,U206 floatplane, with a tired engine, with RSTOL. Using a Davis Aviation STC (Donna is great!) I installed an IO550 and a Voyager Prop.
My useful load is about 1600 pounds. Flying airport to airport, I have had no problem with 10,000 foot plus density altitudes. I see about 130kt cruise burning less than 13 gallons per hour at 8000 feet LOP. … I have 8:50s on the mains, and an 8:00 on the nose.
Last fall, I took lessons with CC Pocock at Bush Air. With proper ballast, and loaded to about half of my useful load we were doing full stop landings and takeoffs in less than 400 feet, this was at a 2500 foot elevation with a temperature of about 100°.
Transitioning from the Stinson, the 206 initially felt very heavy. But after about 100 hours in it, unless I have a forward center of gravity, I have become used to the control forces and feel quite comfortable with them.
Attachments
Cardiff Kook
FRIEND
Sisters, OR
Nice, Mike! 206 looks like the right bird for that mission. Wouldn’t want to load all that in a 185.
narrow deck
PATRON
Palmer, Ak
Question for Skywagon8a,
Are you aware of a factory stretcher door mod along w/ a float kit on a 185?
Sorry for the thread drift…
Are you aware of a factory stretcher door mod along w/ a float kit on a 185?
Sorry for the thread drift…
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
From memory, the factory stretcher door was not approved with a float reinforcement fuselage. I think I saw one once but it was some sort of an aftermarket stretcher door. It looked very heavy with lots of extra skins surrounding the door. When you think about it, the stretcher door would have to be a very strong structural part to be able to take the seaplane landing loads. If it wasn't, the whole aft section of the fuselage would buckle in a moderately hard landing.
I've loaded long objects (a large marine ROV) through the right door opening by using the quick removal pins, then sliding in over the strut.
peterdillon
SPONSOR
There was a blue and white F model for sale about 10-15 years ago out in the Montana - Idaho area on floats. I dont remember all the details but we didn't purchase it due to some issues surrounding that stretcher door.
I know one Skywagon with a stretcher door. The owner operates a lodge and hauls more stuff than anyone I know. He never uses the stretcher door. He says it’s a huge PITA.
As for hauling stuff in a Wagon, there are two limitations. CG, which can be an issue when hauling long lumber, and what fits through the door. Long lumber is easy. Bulky items like wood stoves and airplane engines favor a U206. How many times do you need to haul bulky items? Haul stuff for long enough and you figure out that sizing the items so that one guy can handle them makes loading and unloading easier. It also makes weight distribution easier. Carrying 6-15 gallon fuel barrels is a no brainer. There’s still room for a few 60# propane bottles if you have ‘em.
As for hauling stuff in a Wagon, there are two limitations. CG, which can be an issue when hauling long lumber, and what fits through the door. Long lumber is easy. Bulky items like wood stoves and airplane engines favor a U206. How many times do you need to haul bulky items? Haul stuff for long enough and you figure out that sizing the items so that one guy can handle them makes loading and unloading easier. It also makes weight distribution easier. Carrying 6-15 gallon fuel barrels is a no brainer. There’s still room for a few 60# propane bottles if you have ‘em.
Attachments
mvivion
FOUNDER
Bozeman,MT
Well, there’s what is POSSIBLE to get in and out of a 180/185 door, and then there’s the things that you really cringe at when you even think about it…….
One of our projects was stream surveys, where I’d drop a two person crew, an inflatable, outboard, and their gear for four days off somewhere and pick them up a few days later. Did that several times a season for twenty seasons.
So, a 12 foot inflatable breaks down into two big chunks easy enough. Yard those past a front seat of a 185, then a 15 hp Johnson outboard (best outboard motors ever built), gas can, all the crew’s gear, and finally, the two person crew.
Fly 130 to 150 miles to a river, either on floats or wheels, find a place to park near where the crew wants to start, and land. Unload all that stuff, four or five days later, go back out there, find them, on a different bar, land and reload. Rinse and repeat several times a season.
Then, one year, our folks got the notion they should be using more environmentally friendly and efficient four stroke outboards. Try yarding one of those POS in and out of a Skywagon…..especially a big one.
I’d been supporting that project for 12-14 seasons with 185s. First time I did so with the 206, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. No more wrangling stuff around front seats, or removing a front seat every time you load/unload if bulky stuff, no more pulling pins on a door to load, and no more twisting and wrenching to get loaded/unloaded.
The 206 has “heavier control feel”? I’ll take that, EVERY day, happily, thank you.
Oh, and BTW, that heavier feel makes the 206 a nicer IMC platform too, if that concerns you.
I was one of those “Skywagons Forever” types for a lot of years, and I still love those airplanes. But if I were hauling “stuff” today, and I had ANY say, it’d be in a 206.
MTV
One of our projects was stream surveys, where I’d drop a two person crew, an inflatable, outboard, and their gear for four days off somewhere and pick them up a few days later. Did that several times a season for twenty seasons.
So, a 12 foot inflatable breaks down into two big chunks easy enough. Yard those past a front seat of a 185, then a 15 hp Johnson outboard (best outboard motors ever built), gas can, all the crew’s gear, and finally, the two person crew.
Fly 130 to 150 miles to a river, either on floats or wheels, find a place to park near where the crew wants to start, and land. Unload all that stuff, four or five days later, go back out there, find them, on a different bar, land and reload. Rinse and repeat several times a season.
Then, one year, our folks got the notion they should be using more environmentally friendly and efficient four stroke outboards. Try yarding one of those POS in and out of a Skywagon…..especially a big one.
I’d been supporting that project for 12-14 seasons with 185s. First time I did so with the 206, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. No more wrangling stuff around front seats, or removing a front seat every time you load/unload if bulky stuff, no more pulling pins on a door to load, and no more twisting and wrenching to get loaded/unloaded.
The 206 has “heavier control feel”? I’ll take that, EVERY day, happily, thank you.
Oh, and BTW, that heavier feel makes the 206 a nicer IMC platform too, if that concerns you.
I was one of those “Skywagons Forever” types for a lot of years, and I still love those airplanes. But if I were hauling “stuff” today, and I had ANY say, it’d be in a 206.
MTV
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
With WingX or Flint extended wings.
https://www.wingxstol.com
https://flintaero.com/kits/extended-tip-tanks/206h/
BC12D-4-85
SPONSOR
Fairbanks, AK.
Tanks MTV for the flashback. My back still hurts. I needed a belly pod but management wanted more computers so that's where the $ went.
Gary
Gary
gdrean
BENEFACTOR
San Diego, California
I sure enjoyed this thread. I purchased 1/3 of a U206 E model in 1983. I was low time pilot, but had a ride with a buddy in his out to Colorado for a dirt bike ride. Two dirt bikes in the back (had to take the front wheels off) and the normal 15 hour drive was an eye opening and enjoyable 4.5 hour flight. I eventually bought out my other 2 partners and I still fly that plane today. Only regret I didn't get the 550 last engine change. I have had my cub since 2005 and totally enjoy the capabilities and challenge of the tail gear.
Moab with 4 guys, 4 mountain bikes, all gear, Baja with heavy loads for my friends ranch, motorcycles to amazing places, really a great plane for me and my wife. While I don't use it as a family hauler per se, I really enjoy hauling basically anything I want/need.. Never have to tell the wife she can't bring something. Use it to fly back and forth from San Diego to Sandpoint Idaho in the spring and summer. While a great IFR platform as MTV stated, I stopped flying IFR many years ago. Had it in the back country in Idaho, but as it is normally aspirated, density altitude needs to be respected in the hot high country. Never had it on floats, and probably wouldn't want to. I have an amphib cub for float fun.
I'll keep it for as long as I can fly. I really enjoy it. Never really noticed heavy controls. Very comfortable landing in tough winds and small places. Really enjoyed the look on my buddies face when I unloaded everything into his pickup. He almost had to make a second trip.
Good luck on your quest and decision!
Gary
Moab with 4 guys, 4 mountain bikes, all gear, Baja with heavy loads for my friends ranch, motorcycles to amazing places, really a great plane for me and my wife. While I don't use it as a family hauler per se, I really enjoy hauling basically anything I want/need.. Never have to tell the wife she can't bring something. Use it to fly back and forth from San Diego to Sandpoint Idaho in the spring and summer. While a great IFR platform as MTV stated, I stopped flying IFR many years ago. Had it in the back country in Idaho, but as it is normally aspirated, density altitude needs to be respected in the hot high country. Never had it on floats, and probably wouldn't want to. I have an amphib cub for float fun.
I'll keep it for as long as I can fly. I really enjoy it. Never really noticed heavy controls. Very comfortable landing in tough winds and small places. Really enjoyed the look on my buddies face when I unloaded everything into his pickup. He almost had to make a second trip.
Good luck on your quest and decision!
Gary
TurboBeaver
Registered User
Northern Maine
For "family flying" either a 180/182 is going to fit your mission fine.
Having flown dozens of 206's in all configuration's with every combination of floats/props there is available, with all different wing mods going. Heavy or Lite, unless you have the need of a skiplane. And with a similar amount of experience in 185's in every " hot rod" super up configuration. Robertson/Stock/ Sportsman included The 206 is the best airplane, and would be the first choice with 135 operations most of the time; unless they had winter work for a skiplane. From the open ocean in the south Pacific to the high Arctic, Bush Wheels/ Amphibians/Wheel Skis/ Straight boards. When the smoke all clears for commercial operations the 206 will come out on top.
For a personal play toy, the 185 will get the nod from me, however in the present market, an older 180 will be more realistic.
Hope you make the best choice for YOU . Best of luck.
Fly safe
E
Having flown dozens of 206's in all configuration's with every combination of floats/props there is available, with all different wing mods going. Heavy or Lite, unless you have the need of a skiplane. And with a similar amount of experience in 185's in every " hot rod" super up configuration. Robertson/Stock/ Sportsman included The 206 is the best airplane, and would be the first choice with 135 operations most of the time; unless they had winter work for a skiplane. From the open ocean in the south Pacific to the high Arctic, Bush Wheels/ Amphibians/Wheel Skis/ Straight boards. When the smoke all clears for commercial operations the 206 will come out on top.
For a personal play toy, the 185 will get the nod from me, however in the present market, an older 180 will be more realistic.
Hope you make the best choice for YOU . Best of luck.
Fly safe
E
narrow deck
PATRON
Palmer, Ak
Pete,
Couldn’t figure out how to send a pic through the private message.
Here is one of my 67E model.
Couldn’t figure out how to send a pic through the private message.
Here is one of my 67E model.
narrow deck
PATRON
