If you could choose between 2 what would you do??

Which one would you choose?

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WGregB

WGregB

Filing Flight Plan
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GregB
If you had 2 planes parked in front and someone had both sets of keys and said take either one you want and they had the following features/known issues what would you do?

1961 Cessna 182
  • TTAF around 2700 hours
  • Hours on Engine 950 to 1000
  • Hours on Prop a few hundred. It is in good condition.
  • Exterior painted 7 or 8
  • Pretty new interior 9
  • Only pilots window opens
  • Storage compartment install
Know issues
  • Heading indicator has gyroscopic precession
  • EGT is having problems
  • Annual due in March


1958 Cessna 182

General
  • 4300 TTAF
  • 50 SMOH
  • 100 hours on new prop
  • Alternator installed
  • Taller landing gear
  • STOL Kit
  • Pretty new interior 9
  • Exterior bare aluminum with paint trim 7/10. I’d maybe polish it.
  • Both door windows open
  • Annual due in August
Known issues
  • No NAV system in place currently. Previous owner used IPAD.

Both planes are active. IAs like both. No damage. Logbooks for both are complete...
 
Last edited:
Given the limited information to draw from, I’d probably go with the 1958 option.
 
Recent flying history?
What do the log books look like on each?
What does a reputable IA say about each bird?

If the STOL kit on the '58 doesn't too adversely degrade cruise speed, that would be a bonus in my mind.
 
Bill said:
Recent flying history?
What do the log books look like on each?
What does a reputable IA say about each bird?

If the STOL kit on the '58 doesn't too adversely degrade cruise speed, that would be a bonus in my mind.
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Complete logbooks on each. No damage to either. Both planes are "great" options per multiple IAs.

Both are actively flying.

And I know the info is limited. Assume everything else is good to go...
 
Both IFR equipped? If one is and one isn't, I'd go IFR. if they are both IFR or VFR, the STOL would interest me.
 
What's the purpose of the purchase?

Need more info.
 
WGregB said:
If you had 2 planes parked in front and someone had both sets of keys and said take either one you want and they had the following features/known issues what would you do?
1958 Cessna 182

Known issues
  • No NAV system in place currently. Previous owner used IPAD.

Both planes are active. IAs like both. No damage. Logbooks for both are complete...
Click to expand...
Without the NAV system, it's not very "IFR" but for most things I'd pick the 58, if I was the one using it.
 
Is the '58 a straight tail? I think so, and the '61 is the swept model? Anyway, make sure you've reviewed the applicability and impact of that new tail AD, mostly for 180/185s, but also applies to many, if not all straight-tail 182s.
 
Jim Carpenter said:
Is the '58 a straight tail? I think so, and the '61 is the swept model? Anyway, make sure you've reviewed the applicability and impact of that new tail AD, mostly for 180/185s, but also applies to many, if not all straight-tail 182s.
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Yes on the straight tail and checked.
 
I would need to know what avionics the '61 had in order to know what weight to give to that.
 
61.

The 58 is still in the infant mortality period of the overhaul. I always suspect planes that have less than a few hundred since overhaul. Why would they spend all that money and then dump it once it's good? That's just me.
 
What's the pricing for them? Unless price is the same, it's hard to say. The 58 looks like the best option, but if you have to spend $10-15K getting getting an IFR stack in it then that might eat up the advantage of the lower engine time.
 
Salty said:
61.

The 58 is still in the infant mortality period of the overhaul. I always suspect planes that have less than a few hundred since overhaul. Why would they spend all that money and then dump it once it's good? That's just me.
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No dumping occurring. He is selling all of his aircraft due to age and retirement.
 
Palmpilot said:
I would need to know what avionics the '61 had in order to know what weight to give to that.
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The 61 has a Narco NAV-122. That plane is flown via IPAD but the NAV system works. The 58 would get a Garmin G5 or the next model up.
 
With info provided I’d go with the 58.
 
You never said you were buying one, you asked which one you would take if someone offered the keys to either.

If you're buying one, and they're the same price, the lower hour engine is worth a lot of $. Agree with salty that crib death is still a worry, but 50 hours is a LOT better than 0. Stick an avidyne ifd in it, and enjoy.
 
WGregB said:
The 61 has a Narco NAV-122. That plane is flown via IPAD but the NAV system works. The 58 would get a Garmin G5 or the next model up.
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Sounds like the avionics in the '61 are minimal. That would make the lack of avionics in the '58 a non-issue for me. Whichever one I got, I would want to put a good IFR GPS in it.
 
The 61 I believe has a higher gross weight, so may have a higher useful load. Plus since its painted no polishing!
 
WGregB said:
The 61 has a Narco NAV-122. That plane is flown via IPAD but the NAV system works. The 58 would get a Garmin G5 or the next model up.
Click to expand...

A NAV-122 is not a strong selling point. It's pretty much EOL, and possibly not repairable if it has a major failure, e.g. needle movement. I pulled mine almost 20 years ago when the CDIs started failing. Realistically, you are looking at installing WAAS GPS on either aircraft to get the most utility, especially if IFR is contemplated. Airframe and powerplant condition will matter much more than avionics equipage for long-term ownership.
 
Do either of them have in inverted fuel/oil system so they can be flown as a low wing? :D

I'd go with the 58.
 
midwestpa24 said:
The 61 I believe has a higher gross weight, so may have a higher useful load. Plus since its painted no polishing!
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Same payload for the A or D model. Yes on the paint and it looks nice but paint wears too and it has weight. A good coat may add 50lbs to the overall weight.
 
If you pick the '58 with the straight tail and tall gear be sure to measure your hangar door height first.
 
The 172/182 are my two most hated planes

BUT, the *old* 182 are NICE planes.. saw one somewhere in AZ (I forget where now) that had a very low serial number, maybe even the first 10 they built? Either way, the plane looked bada$$ and the guy took good care of it

So based on that, go with the older one simply because it looks prettier
 
Which STOL kit? That makes a difference.
Move the gear back up to the front with one of the STC's available to convert it to a 180 if you purchase the 58! Faster and lower operating cost, more valuable airplane!
Otherwise if you just intend to fly off of a paved airstrip I would probably purchase the 61? Either would be a good option.
 
58. Sounds like it has been flown and the owner has improved, maintained and flown It more. Too many things have been allowed to deteriorate on the 61. Not sure when overhauls were done, but 900 hrs of a Continental is when we use to closely consider doing a TOP on them. Regardless, the engine health would be the deciding factor, but sounds like 58 was maintained better as far as fixing issues and flying it.
 
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