UPDATE 9/29 -My Cessna 180 Project - She is Flying

[JLB]

Hey Kevin,
I know you are motivated so I'm guessing:

July 3, 12 noon
July 4, 12 noon
July 5 12 noon
July 6 12 noon
July 7 12 noon

Good luck with it!

[Coyote Ugly]

Hope it goes quickly my friend... But, my money is on October 23 8:00am. Other dates I hope are wrong.. Nov 14 8:00am, May 12, 2013 8:00am, June1, 2013 8:00am, July 1, 2013, 8:00am.. This is predicting that you are a procrastinator like me.. ha ha

It's been 15 or 20 years since I was on skiis much.. so bring a stretcher when we go.. ha ha

Wish I could say I didn't know what it feels like... But I've had a couple on their nose too.. ..not counting the last one. I think your one hell of a good pilot tho.. poo poo happens.

[dirtstrip]

I have two questions. Will you continue the tail up taxi practice and I was wondering what your insurance will cost at next renewal.

Oh and I have the tail up taxi down pretty good now.

Tim

Yes, I will still practice the tail up taxiing for certain.

Insurance next go around??? Good question

I would guess your premium goes up by 200 bucks or less. Don't ask how I know. Hope you're in the air sooner than later.

[fern_hopper]

June 28th 1600
June 30th 1200
July 3rd 1300
July 6th 1600
July 13th 1330

[m7flyer]

June 28 1530
June 29 1730
July 2 1420
July 6 1620

Best of luck,

[Sig220]

Any updates, pics or rumors??

[aktahoe1]

Ahhh....Why yes there are...

I need to upload some photos...

She is almost ready to go! I just need Steve Knopp to send me the engine. New firewall is on, Sportsman is on as is the Wing X...she is looking very nice.

Guessing the engine will be here next week for mounting. Hoping to have her in the air in the next 2 weeks.

FYI to all those who guessed on a date for completion. I printed all of the pages here to have a solid record of everyones best guess (to keep everyone honest... ) and will put some photos up here this evening.

Thanks for checking in...

AKT

[aktahoe1]

Its been a little since my last update so here goes....

As of today I am just waiting for Knopp (pponk) to send me my new engine! Wing X and Sportsman is on. New firewall went on over the weekend. We just need to finish up the riveting.

Here are some photos over the past few weeks.

The Sporstman sure does come with a lot of directions...


Instal of the Sportsman


Just laid out here with the Wing X


New firewall


Sportsman completed...almost


New firewall and new Engine mount on back on the plane


Check out the new heat shields...there are pretty cool


My new prop and spinner are in route and engine is currently being put together at PPonk. After speaking with them yesterday I am betting that the new engine will be in our shop by the first of next week (7/16) or so. We are ready for it.

Thinking I am about 2-3weeks out. Lets see...

AKT

[Coyote Ugly]

Wow, Awesome, you are rockin and rollin...

[182dude]

Looks like you are tracking just ahead of me on my 182...when did pponk get your engine and how long did it take them, seems like the only thing they are hung up on with mine is getting the crankcase back and then final assembly...motor mount looks sweet, im having a guy up in placerville ca do mine and it looks very similar if not identical.

Cheers,

Mike

[aktahoe1]

Pponk got all of my stuff back last Friday. I think i sent mine in about a week prior to you. Not certain. So far it has been about 5/6 weeks. The guy in placerville did mine as well custom. I asked for the heavy duty brace so I can put the girl on floats. Needless to say I am getting very anxious! Looks like I will be making Austin!!!

[soyAnarchisto]

Oh sweet baby jesus - I want to go heli skiing!

Is this like the price is right? Closest without going over?

July 26th, 7:56PM
July 31st, 9:45PM
August 15th, 4:35PM
August 23rd, 3:45PM
September 21st, 4:30PM

You don't know how bad I want to go heli-skiing!

'Greg

[Tom]

Did you get any more pictures?

Tom

[aktahoe1]

Did you get any more pictures?

Tom

I have a ton of photos. Anything your looking for specific?

[Tom]

No, it just always interest me to see them, its not something you seen alot of pics of. Guess thats just my mechanical interest


Tom

[pif_sonic]

And over the weekend we have removed the Horton kit and are now installing the X wing and Sportsman...


ATK
Just curious, why would you remove the Horton STOL Kit and install a different type. Is there really a noticeable difference?? Is there 10-15 knots difference in stall speed or is it only 1-3 knots??? Seems like a lot of time and money for such a small result. Just asking, maybe something I do not know??

BTW, very nice airplane, can't wait to see it in the air. Not trying to be negative, just wondering.

[piperpainter]

Did you get any more pictures?

Tom

I have a ton of photos. Anything your looking for specific?

Yes a picture of your plane done next friday!

[flynengr]

Hey Kevin:

Everything is looking great! Can't wait to see your wagon back in the air! I'm sure it will be an incredible performer!

Flynengr

[aktahoe1]

And over the weekend we have removed the Horton kit and are now installing the X wing and Sportsman...


ATK
Just curious, why would you remove the Horton STOL Kit and install a different type. Is there really a noticeable difference?? Is there 10-15 knots difference in stall speed or is it only 1-3 knots??? Seems like a lot of time and money for such a small result. Just asking, maybe something I do not know??

BTW, very nice airplane, can't wait to see it in the air. Not trying to be negative, just wondering.

I must admit, the Horton was and is a very good STOL kit. I too am very interested in seeing the true outcome. I flown with a lot of cub guys (many we know on here) and my 180 ALMOST kept up.

From a lot of research (I can tell you I have not flown a Sportsman) all the facts show that its the very best STOl kit out there. If I can shave 3-5 knts off on landing, that can be significant on roll out. Same goes for the take off.

I like what Sparky writes here:

Landing Speed, Landing Distance:
A 10 percent increase in touchdown speed equals a 21 percent increase in landing distance.

Here is the entire read. Its pretty good.
http://www.mountainflying.com/Pages/mountain-flying/rule_of_thumb.html

At 6000' my plane could honestly stop in about 200' or less very easily. For me I am looking for the ultimate combination for the 180. If 2-3 or 5 plus kts is taken off, thats what I am after.

The leadind edge on a Sportmans is also significantly different. The Sportsman cuff is much more aggressive, and lowers the stall speed significantly. The Bush or Horton kits have a much smaller cuff, and less performance increase.
Check this out:

Cessna 180 Cessna 180
Standard (mph) Modified (mph)
Top Speed @ Sea Level 160 160
Cruise 75% @ 6500ft 163 163
Sugg. Gliding Speed 75 70
Vx Climb Speed 63 53(w/30° flaps)
Vy Climb Speed 90 80
Sea Level Climb 1150fpm 1250fpm
Take-Off Ground Roll (30º flaps) 382 ft 300 ft
- Clear 50' obstacle 995 ft 650 ft
Landing Roll Out 372 ft 300 ft
- Clear 50' (40 deg. flaps) 1200 ft 650 ft

This is a real good diagram for comparison. After removing the Horton, I can support these diagrams now.
http://www.steneaviation.com/sportsman_stol_comparison.asp?menuID=7~7

Ultimatly the Sportsman with the Wing X combination gives, you get a significant amount of wing area. I spend a lot of time on the Skywagon email list asking questions to those with thousands of hours and have flown both. All replies come back and support the Sportsman. I guess my long story short is, I will tell you more once I fly her because all I have now is hear say and others supporting it.

Very good question for certain.

The other reason...when I put the bird on her nose with my tail up taxi pracitce, I dinged up the right wing slightly. So, it was repair the Horton or change it up. I have wanted the Wing X for sometime (for the uefull load increase). The Wing X and Sportsman seems to me, the ultimate combo. Who knows, I may end up with the Horton down the road again but I am betting this set up is going to be real good with the new big engine.

I am now questioning whether I should put the micro VG's back on. Thinking I am going to fly her without them at first and see what kind of aurthority I get at a real high AOA and very slow speed. Betting I am going to want them back on. When under the horizontal you help the Aileron authortiy big time with the Horton. Hearing the same about the Sportsman.

We are getting close

AKT

[mepps1]

Get a move on it! I'm counting on you to have it done on the 17th.

Just before 4, prefferably.