looking at Buying a plane, need advice

[timwinters]

FarmerBrake Dude,

If you do decide to go with an early model straight tail then I'd suggest you steer clear of the pre-1958 models. I have a friend with a '57 and his exhaust pipe is on the pilot's side. In '58 Cessna moved it to the co-pilot's side.

Difference?

The spiraling prop wash brings the exhaust fumes (and stains) on his up along the port side of the fuselage including the pilot's door. More importantly, though, is that he can't fly with his window open (legal on a 182) without setting off the CO detector.

I don't know if this is the reason why Cessna moved the exhaust pipe to the other side in '58...but they did. With the pipe in the starboard side, the fumes and stains stay under the belly.

 

[timwinters]

Also be aware that the early model 182s are about 4" narrower that the later ones. I think '62 was the first year for the wider cabin.

Basically my '58 182 is the exact same size as my '57 172 was...just 25 kts faster.

I believe 2 more inches was added later yet but I'm too lazy to look that up right mow.

 

[farmerbrake]

I realize I need to prioritize what is more important to me... maybe a 172 would be a better bet, since I could potentially get more for my price range. Thanks @timwinters I've been trying to find a list of changes made throughout the 182's life (read:I've looked at Wikipedia to no avail)

 

[JoseCuervo]

Everything is just a trade off.

I would guess many of this batch could be flown home for less than $45k. And, in my experience planes were priced a bit higher on TradeAPlane than Barnstormers (but no good search function for this exercise), and even lower on Craigslist. A couple of them look like nice set ups.


The 1961s have the swept tail on a narrow fuselage. The 1963,s have a rear window and the wider cabin. The 1961's are claimed to be the fastest. I looked at one with a P-Ponk engine and some STOL items. Almost would have been perfect for what I wanted, but the narrow cabin (same as a 172) didn't feel like it would be as comfortable when I get 4 seats filled and talk passengers into long trips.

 

[somorris]

I realize I need to prioritize what is more important to me... maybe a 172 would be a better bet, since I could potentially get more for my price range.

Could be. The constant speed prop and extra two cylinders does add expense. A 172 is a great airplane also. We had one. It was basically a three person airplane (with bags) or four person with two small children. I liked it. Not as fast as a 182 (I flight planned for about 105 kts ground speed, but I am conservative regarding fuel) and not as much of a load hauler, but a great airplane none the less. A 182 is heavier on the controls also. If your expectations are quite a bit of cross country flying, or high density altitude operations, the 182 would be far superior. Otherwise, a 172 may be just the ticket.

 

[timwinters]

In his case very little benefit as he is only cutting it with 25% 100LL Best thing to do is keep the tank full and sealed... and keep moving the gas through it.

Tanks are kept full year 'round. Problem is that, in the winter time, the gas used to refill the plane is likely no newer than the gas that's in the tanks, When I buy MoGas on the street, I get 50 to 75 gallons at a time because the station is 40 minutes away and I buy fuel when I'm in that town running other errands. The airport also has MoGas but doesn't sell much so they only get three to four deliveries a year.

I do agree with you, with his octane requirement he is wasting his money on 100LL... the lead provides no benefit.......

I may not be the lead, it may simply be the formulation. I don't know. What I do know is that, whatever ever it is, my engine performs best with the blend.

 

[Henning]

Tanks are kept full year 'round. Problem is that, in the winter time, the gas used to refill the plane is likely no newer than the gas that's in the tanks, When I buy MoGas on the street, I get 50 to 75 gallons at a time because the station is 40 minutes away and I buy fuel when I'm in that town running other errands. The airport also has MoGas but doesn't sell much so they only get three to four deliveries a year.



I may not be the lead, it may simply be the formulation. I don't know. What I do know is that, whatever ever it is, my engine performs best with the blend.

So do you just premix your tank? My guess is that it just hits a sweet spot in vapor pressure and surface tension to get a just right atomization for even distribution.