Aviation Concepts Cessna 185 Skywagon Manual

The Cessna 185 Skywagon is a large six passenger high wing mono plane with conventional
fixed gear and used a 6 cylinder Continental engine. In 1961 they started production and at the end
of its production run in the mid 1980's they produced over 4,400 of this rugged aircraft which
became very popular as a back country and Alaska Bush plane. This plane has a high load lifting
capabilities and excellent STOL characteristics. Pilots love to fly and modify there Cessna 185 by
adding huge tundra tires, floats, ski's, stall fences, vortex generators and drooped wing tips. So for
all you civilian buffs, there's a lot color schemes out there. There are also some (not a lot) of
military color schemes or be creative with your own scheme.
The construction of the full scale 185 is mainly of aluminum and fully skinned. All the control
surfaces are sheeted in corrugated aluminum. With this model, balsa, lite ply and birch aircraft ply
are used in the construction and covered in film (Monokote or UltraCote).
This 1/3 scale model has a true scale outline with no deviations in wing or tail area's, but has
been designed to be more of a sport scale build. I.e. open wing and fuselage structure. The airfoil
is not scale but uses a thickened Clark Y airfoil recommended by Peter Goldsmith. Thanks Pete!
The model construction is a full kit and built up. Although, this model is not a beginners build,
the fuselage is fairly easy to construct following the manuals' construction steps. The majority of
the fuselage is built flat on the work table. The wings are built up with traditional ribs and spars and
is built in one piece flat on the work bench with the use of build tabs on the outer wing panel. The
wings are finished in 1/8" thick balsa sheeting with cap strips. The wings are joined to the fuselage
with an aluminum wing tube and has aluminum wing struts. The stabilizer halves and fin uses
carbon fiber tubes with birch ply mounting tabs which makes it easy for removal.
Features; One piece fiberglass cowl, heavy duty two piece landing gear from 5/16" thick 6061
T6 aluminum. Functional doors and luggage door with latches and magnets. Laser cut windshields
and windows. CNC routered birch ply parts for clean no charred edges. Plenty of floor strapping
slots for receivers, batteries or telemetry mounting.
This model was thought up at an aero tow meet to fill the gap in large scale glider towing. Build
it as a tow plane "tug", scale or a sport scale model. Thinking outside the box on this project... It
wound up being a consortium design project via text messaging about ideas and what features
they were looking for in a robust model that can handle the rigors of aero towing duty. Credit goes
out to the three tow pilots in the North East that started it all; Kevin Kremer, Jim Dolly and Len
Buffinton. Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun and new way of thinking, tinkering and designing
something different.
BIGGER FLIES BETTER ! HAPPY BUILDING! Gunny Bumburs owner Aviation Concepts rc
Although the construction manual covers almost every detail, you the builder are
responsible for the construction, final selection of materials and airworthiness of your
finished model. Read the manual, use the plans and don't leave your brain at the shop door.
You, the builder, assume any and all responsibility for any error, omission or loss incurred
by building or flying this kit - as in all things you construct, you are the one responsible for
the use, liability or losses incurred in the process, if any.