Cessna 195 ???

rbhankins001

rbhankins001

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Rob
I have been looking for another bird and came across a 1953 Cessna 195. Big radial engine plane, taildragger. Seems like it could give a beaver a run for the money? I never saw one before, can anyone elaborate?

For the record I don't have an interest in buying it, just never saw one and thought it was cool.

I could see that baby on floats!

-Rob
 
A DHC-2 is a 1 pilot, 6 passenger airplane, with 450 horsepower. A Cessna 195 is a 1 pilot, 4 passenger airplane, with 300 horsepower. They aren't similar in size or anything, but I feel like the 195 would be easier to operate as a personal airplane.
 
Thanks for that, like I said I have no info on a 195, just thought it was cool, and kinds reminded me of a beaver.

Oh and this one is several hundred grand less than a beaver on floats FWIW.
 
Greg Bockleman on this board owns or owned one that I had the privlege of flying in. All I can say is it was a fantastic experience. The interior is huge. Sitting in the back is like flying while sitting on your living room couch. A smooth sleek sexy bird. But as I said hopefully Greg will be around in a bit and give you the skinny.
 
Let me know before you buy it, so I can invest heavily in some oil stocks.
 
I think the ad said 1-2 qts of oil per hour with a 5 gallon (?) oil reservoir?

I might buy it if you guys convince me :D
 
Rob, I have owned mine for the last 10 years. I absolutely love mine, but it is for sale. Family, housing, market, all that stuff got in the way of my toys. LOL

Anyway, what has been said is pretty much accurate. If you have specific questions, I will be more than happy to answer.
 
AdamZ said:
Sitting in the back is like flying while sitting on your living room couch.
Click to expand...
Yep. The back seat is a 3 seater, and really comfortable for 2. There is an "isle" between the pilot and co-pilot seats. The interior is like an old Woody.
It flies as stable as a rock, and has cross-wind landing gear.
 
How's the ground manners?

Be friendly to a fresh training wheel convert?
 
They are, as far as I can tell, awesome... but they cannot compete with a Beaver for utility.
The design concept with the 195 was a flying limousine, not a flying utility truck like the Beaver. The model name was "Businessliner". For a while they were the standard for fast, cushy, single-engine travel. I'm pretty sure some of them were even part of regional airline fleets back in the day. The Bonanza and various twins eventually put them out of favor in that role.

But I have seen them, and the earlier, similar C-165, on floats- they're not too prissy for utility work- and I think they'll haul more than maybe a Stinson 108.
 
rottydaddy said:
They are, as far as I can tell, awesome... but they cannot compete with a Beaver for utility.
Click to expand...

I'd suspect that's like saying a 150 can't compete with a 182, just different planes for different missions, which is what I think you were driving at.;)
 
Skylane81E said:
How's the ground manners?

Be friendly to a fresh training wheel convert?
Click to expand...

The airplane has inertia going for it until the inertia goes against it. It is pretty docile as long as you stay ahead of it, but once it goes, it goes fast.
 
Thanks for the info, these are on my radar if life requires 5 seat belts...
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Rob, I have owned mine for the last 10 years. I absolutely love mine, but it is for sale. Family, housing, market, all that stuff got in the way of my toys. LOL
Anyway, what has been said is pretty much accurate. If you have specific questions, I will be more than happy to answer.
Click to expand...

Greg, I have an abiding and maddening itch for a 195. My brain tells me to get a P35 Bo or a Debbie, but I almost have a seizure every time I go by Interstate 195 at OSH.

Can you give some real numbers?
Real cruise speeds, real fuel burns, real cost of annual and maintenance, etc. What's it really cost to own?
 
PilotAlan said:
Greg, I have an abiding and maddening itch for a 195. My brain tells me to get a P35 Bo or a Debbie, but I almost have a seizure every time I go by Interstate 195 at OSH.

Can you give some real numbers?
Real cruise speeds, real fuel burns, real cost of annual and maintenance, etc. What's it really cost to own?
Click to expand...

I flight plan 15 gallons per hour. I have an stc for mogas, so that helps. My plane cruises at about 125 knots, or about 145 MPH. I am told it is slow, but I don't know how much the other guys are lying. LOL $2,000 also, but I have 23,000 Total Time, about 800 tailwheel and about 350 in type, so I think typically people are paying more.

My oil consumption is about 2 quarts an hour. But a GOOD top overhaul will fix that. I just don't have the money to do it right now.

It is a comfortable airplane for 4 people. 5 people is pushing it.

It is a good going places airplane, but frankly for putsying around the neighborhood it is rather expensive.

Part support is excellent.

What more can I say?
 
Tom-D said:
Tell them how much an overhaul costs for the Jake.
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Don't know about a field overhaul but I can get a factory overhauled engine from Air Repair, who owns the Jacobs type certificate for $25,500 exchange. Plus shipping, naturally.
 
My former boss had one and I was able to fly in it a few times (N4372N). Just an awesome airplane. He got sick and had to sell it. Passed away a few months later. I'm in the process of getting my ticket. Wish I had it then and I would have bought it from him.

It's up in Canada now. Here are some photos.
http://www.airic.ca/html/c-195kurtis.html
 
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Greg Bockelman said:
What more can I say?
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Tom-D said:
Tell them how much an overhaul costs for the Jake.
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I could swing the costs, based on your numbers.

This is one of the times that living in Colorado sucks. My Cherokee 180 does 145mph on 9.5gph.
In Florida, 3 hours at 145 mph can take you anywhere between Atlanta, New Orleans, Key West, and the Bahamas. Out here, 3 hours at 145mph is about halfway to anywhere worth going.
 
I love 195's, classic planes. My Grandpa crashed one (70's) but the rumor was he had a few to drink and forgot to put gas in it.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
I flight plan 15 gallons per hour. I have an stc for mogas, so that helps. My plane cruises at about 125 knots, or about 145 MPH. I am told it is slow, but I don't know how much the other guys are lying. LOL $2,000 also, but I have 23,000 Total Time, about 800 tailwheel and about 350 in type, so I think typically people are paying more.

My oil consumption is about 2 quarts an hour. But a GOOD top overhaul will fix that. I just don't have the money to do it right now.

It is a comfortable airplane for 4 people. 5 people is pushing it.

It is a good going places airplane, but frankly for putsying around the neighborhood it is rather expensive.




Part support is excellent.

What more can I say?
Click to expand...



Did you, or could you, give us the useful load on your 195?

Thanks, and nice aircraft btw!

-Rob
 
Skylane81E said:
I'd suspect that's like saying a 150 can't compete with a 182, just different planes for different missions, which is what I think you were driving at.;)
Click to expand...
The OP asked if a 195 could "give a Beaver a run for its money"...and I didn't think he was referring to speed, comfort, or snazzy good looks (although I think Beavers are beautiful in their own way). Hence my answer. But maybe I misunderstood the question... :dunno:
 
My husband flew a 195 for his first aviation job on the Navajo Res. in 1961 taking milk, bread and ice cream to the schools. He also flew them for aerial mapping later on. He just said if we had more money we'd go get one.... But we don't.
 
rbhankins001 said:
Did you, or could you, give us the useful load on your 195?

Thanks, and nice aircraft btw!

-Rob
Click to expand...

Mine is about 1,200 pounds. Subtract about 480 pounds for full fuel payload.

Depending on how the plane is equipped, it ranges from 1050 to about 1300 pounds.
 
Greg, what is the cockpit visibility like?

I've only seen a couple 195s from the outside - looks like visibility isn't much.
 
We just got a 195 here at our airpark. What a sexy sleek airplane. The chap who bought it is an ATP with over 3K tailwheel time. He took his checkout pretty seriously but is pretty comfortable with the plane now.

Paul
N1431A
N83803
2AZ1
 
Not to be disparaging, just in the interests of full disclosure (and because I'm curious). How long has yours been for sale Greg? I recall the price as being quite reasonable (hint hint).

Sorry to ask, but that's the number I would most want to know before investing in one. The old joke about the second happiest day of your life is when you buy the airplane, and the happiest when you sell it.
 
Fearless Tower said:
Greg, what is the cockpit visibility like?

I've only seen a couple 195s from the outside - looks like visibility isn't much.
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I am 6' 4" tall, with relatively short legs. I can actually see the centerline of the runway about 30 or 40 feet in front of the airplane in the three point attitude. Shorter pilots will have a bit more difficulty. Yes visibility is limited, when compared to more modern airplanes, but over all, it isn't all that bad.
 
steingar said:
Not to be disparaging, just in the interests of full disclosure (and because I'm curious). How long has yours been for sale Greg? I recall the price as being quite reasonable (hint hint).

Sorry to ask, but that's the number I would most want to know before investing in one. The old joke about the second happiest day of your life is when you buy the airplane, and the happiest when you sell it.
Click to expand...

Michael, I have had mine advertised on and off for about 8 or 9 months. It is currently not being actively advertised because not much sells during the winter months. You will see it again in barnstormers about the first of March.

As for asking price, well, lets just say I am taking REASONABLE offers.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Michael, I have had mine advertised on and off for about 8 or 9 months. It is currently not being actively advertised because not much sells during the winter months. You will see it again in barnstormers about the first of March.

As for asking price, well, lets just say I am taking REASONABLE offers.
Click to expand...

I recall a very reasonable price, but won't quote from memory here and honestly wasn't asking. More just to remind the OP that there was a perfectly serviceable one available right here at POA. The 8 or 9 months was the salient point, i.e. what is the market for one like. That said, I bet it would take as long to sell a Dehavialand anything.
 
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