New aircraft owner - my new to me C172P

Katamarino

Katamarino

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Katamarino
Well, after more than 10 years of flying circumstances aligned where it made sense to buy my own aircraft. I ended up acquiring a 1985 C172P with the 180hp AirPlains conversion and the 2,550lb gross weight STC, bought sight unseen from a Civil Air Patrol auction!

It's been kept hangared its whole life, and a week of intense buffing, polishing and waxing had it looking like new! We fixed all the other little issues we found; new engine mounts, spark plugs, new EGT probe, added LED landing and taxi lights, added 24v socket, replaced some interior trim, clean and painted other interior trim, refreshed the panel, and it's looking almost like new.

I bought it in May, and we had it down for a couple of months for post-purchase work and then the annual a couple of months later. Despite that I've put 150 hours on her since purchase.

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Buffing and polishing...
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Taking care of all the little issues.
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Believe it or not, this tear-down was entirely to add a single audio jack so I can listen to audio books on long flights.
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Mandatory panel shot:
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The best thing about airplane ownership; I'm free to have a silly sunshade if I want to.
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Congrats!! nice plane!!
 
Fanastic. And I like your silly sunshade. Heh!
 
nice job posting pics along with your post so we don't have to ask! and of course, nice plane!
 
Very nice plane and should perform nicely with that 180hp conversion. Any idea on the cost to have that done? I hope to be where your at someday.
 
Thanks all! I am told the conversion is around $30k. I'm very glad the previous owners did that for me...
 
Congrats!!! Now you can move to the line beneath sign that reads Owners Here!!! :goofy::goofy::goofy: Sounds like you're already enjoying it...
 
I got about 100 hours in a p model 172 but the 160hp version. The useful load and the great panel layout make the p model my favorite model of 172 I've flown( I've flown the R and the SP model too.) I'd be thrilled to own a P model one day!

You have a beautiful plane there. Hope it gives you countless amazing journeys and experiences!
 
Very nice looking airplane, enjoy her!
 
I'm partnered on a P model. You've got a beauty. I love ours!
 
Congrats! Where does one find that sunshade if you don't mind me asking? Beautiful plane!
 
Congratulations! That's a nice looking bird. Any idea where it was based in Wisconsin?
 
Congrats!! Awesome bird. My favorite 172s are the 180hp conversions! Nice pickup!
 
mjburian said:
Congratulations! That's a nice looking bird. Any idea where it was based in Wisconsin?
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It was in Madison. Coincidentally, just after I got her down to Houston I bumped into a fresh PPL at Hobby who had also just moved here. She'd trained in...Madison, and recognised the airplane!
 
Katamarino said:
Well, after more than 10 years of flying circumstances aligned where it made sense to buy my own aircraft. I ended up acquiring a 1985 C172P with the 180hp AirPlains conversion and the 2,550lb gross weight STC, bought sight unseen from a Civil Air Patrol auction!
gwpvzSO.jpg
Click to expand...

Umm, was it listed on the CAP site? I watch that page like a hawk and I've not seen anything posted.

https://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/logistics__mission_resources/aircraft_for_sale/index.cfm

That said, I LOVE the CAP 172 with the 180hp. I fly a sister ship to yours in the Topeka Squadron. She climbs like a champ, will cruise close to 120kts and has a useful load well over 1,000lbs all while burning about 8gph. It's the best 172 Cessna never made.
 
Yes, it was on the CAP auction site earlier in the year, that's how I found it. There were about 8 aircraft up in total; a load of 172s and one 182. I ended up delivering a different 172 from the same auction from South Jersey Regional to San Diego as well.
 
Katamarino said:
Yes, it was on the CAP auction site earlier in the year, that's how I found it. There were about 8 aircraft up in total; a load of 172s and one 182. I ended up delivering a different 172 from the same auction from South Jersey Regional to San Diego as well.
Click to expand...

Crap totally missed it. Congrats on yours, they're about as good as it gets in the 172 department.
 
I have a lot of time in CAP 172Ps with the Airplains 180, and other than the 210 HP T-41s, it climbs as well as any 172 I've been in. To be aware of - the audio panel on CAP 172Ps can be a hot mess, a real relay rat's nest, with bleed through and noise. Many aren't hangared, or spend a lot of time outside, so watch the corrosion, just like on any 172. Maintenance could have varied from very
good to fairly wretched - don't assume it's been maintained at the "good" level; I came across three examples (but over 14 years) that I wouldn't fly a second time, and I'm not that picky. The 172Ps generally do not have a IFR GPS or AP, but there are exceptions.

Glad you got a good one!
 
Congrats on the new plane. It is so nice being able to own your own plane so you can do what you want, when you want. I put three hours on mine today flying the Georgia coast. Enjoy your new bird!
 
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