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by Dennis Gartner

1fl"'-T ive years ago at age

{"4, es, an airline captain.&* friend of mine andI were discussing the factthat I had always wanted tofly, but business and otherinterests had not allowedthe time I felt necessary tobecome and sta) proficient.I expressed the opinion thatat my age it was too late tostart flying. He immediatelyinfonned me that "IT'SNEVER TOO LAIE".

That aftemoon I wentout to the Eagle County,Colorado airporl, KEGE,and took my first lesson. Approximately six months later Ihad my private license. The delay in getting my license wascaused by the fact that I had a heart By-pass at age 49 and theFAA medical was slow in coming. Thankfully things starledto move much quicker and I received my Seaplane and IFRratings within the next two months. I was off to the races

Having retired five years earlier and recently given upmy main hobby, boating. I had the time, finances. And desireto very actively pursue ffying, and in parlicular, Seaplaneflying..

I started by researching the models that would meet thecriteria that I had set. It had to be an all metal plane capableof seating four people and some baggage. Seaplanes Westhad recently been granted an STC for a kit to convert theCessna 182 for both straight and amphibious floats. It clearlybecame my choice over the more popular Cessna 180 and185 Seaplanes for several reasons. Two of the main reasonswere, it has substantially more shoulder room and there aremany more low time airframes available for renovation andconversion. The newer S and T models were of no interestbecause they are Lycoming powered at 230 Hp and no STC,sare available for higher HP engines. The R and older modelsare STC'd to install an IO550 Continental at 300 Hp. Thisengine can then have polished ports resulting in an engine thatwill dyno at 330 HP. A 330 HP Cessna 182 makes a great floatplane, even with the heavier amphibious floats. If you takethe floats off for the winter, LOOK OUT, the performance isawesome

After completing myresearch, I contracted withPark Rapids Aviation, whospecializes in Cessna 182Seaplane conversions.They located a lor.r tirneairframe, 2000+ hours, andcompleted the renovationand conversion of N567DG,the airplane featured inthis article. They are alsothe exclusive distributor ofAEROCET floats for theMid-west and Canada. Ichose the AEROCET 3400amphibious model. Theyare a composite float thatis strongeq rivet free for no

leaking, large stowage, and no comosion in salt water.

Park RapidsAvionics was chosen to upgrade the panel withthe latest in avionics at the time It's probably over board fora Seaplane, but at the time I was planning a lot of off seasoncross country and wanted all the help I could get for my lackof experience.

Recently, Seaplanes West was granted a gross weightincrease of4l0pounds for several 182 models so thatN56TDGnow has a useful loadjust shy of 1000 pounds, even with theextensive equipment list shown in the chart with this arlicle.

My venture into Seaplane flying has been incrediblyrewarding for both my wife and me. We have been from theBahamas to the Arctic, off the continent above the 72 paralleland into the Norlhwest Passage of the Arctic Ocean. From thecoast of Maine to the San Juan Islands in the Northwest. I haveaccumulated almost 1400 hours, and even with all those hourson N567DG, at Air Venture 2009 in Oshkosh, N567DG wasawarded "OUTSTANDING METAL SEAPLANE 2009".

I hope all you Cessna enthusiasts look more atpossibility of adding more HP and FLOATS to your toysIt really opens up a new world to your flying.

www.cessna.org

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AIRFRAMESEAPLANES WEST FLOAT PLANE KITSEAPLANES WEST 6 POINT ENGINE MOLINTWNG TIP EXTENSIONSMICRO DYNAMICS VG KITNEW GLASSEXHAUST PIPE COVERNEW PANTAEROCET 34OO AMPHIOUS FLOATS

ENGINECONTINENTAL IO55ODPOLISHED CYLNDER PORIS-330 HPHARTZELL 84" 3 BLADE SEAPLANE PROPPRECISE FLIGHT STANDBY VACUUMJPI EDM 7OO ENGINE MONITORJPI FS 450 FUEL FLOW INDICATOR

AVIONICSGARMN 530 WAASGARMN43OWAASGARMIN GMX2OO MFDPS.ENGINEERNG AUDIO PANELAEROCET GEARADVISORYTCASXM WEATHERS-TEC 55X/W ALTITUDE PRESET AND HOLDREMOTE ALTITUDE ANNUNCIATORKNG FLIGHT DIRECTORGARMIN GTX 327 TRANSPONDER406 ELI

INTERIORPOWDER COAIED METAL INSTRUMENT PANELSLEATHERROSEN SLINVISORSDOOR STEWARD HYDRAULIC DOOR OPENERSPRECISE-FLIGHT AIR VENTSKENWOODAM/FM RADIO & CD PLAYER

26 Years of Support Cessna Pilots Association -November 2010