N567DG Story - Seaplanes West

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by Dennis Gartner
1fl"'-T ive years ago at age
{"4, es, an airline captain
After completing my
I contracted with
research,
.&* friend of mine and
I were discussing the fact
Park Rapids Aviation, who
specializes
that I had always wanted to
fly, but business and other
interests had not allowed
the time I felt necessary to
become and sta) proficient.
I expressed the opinion that
at my age it was too late to
start flying. He immediately
in
Seaplane
They
Cessna 182
conversions.
located a lor.r tirne
airframe, 2000+ hours, and
completed the renovation
and conversion of N567DG,
the airplane featured in
this article. They are also
the exclusive distributor of
infonned me that "IT'S
AEROCET floats
NEVER TOO LAIE".
for
the
Mid-west and Canada. I
That aftemoon I went
out to the Eagle County,
Colorado airporl, KEGE,
and took my first lesson. Approximately six months later I
had my private license. The delay in getting my license was
caused by the fact that I had a heart By-pass at age 49 and the
FAA medical was slow in coming. Thankfully things starled
to move much quicker and I received my Seaplane and IFR
ratings within the next two months. I was off to the races
Having retired five years earlier and recently given up
my main hobby, boating. I had the time, finances. And desire
to very actively pursue ffying, and in parlicular, Seaplane
flying..
I started
by researching the models that would meet the
criteria that I had set. It had to be an all metal plane capable
of seating four people and some baggage. Seaplanes West
had recently been granted an STC for a kit to convert the
Cessna 182 for both straight and amphibious floats. It clearly
became my choice over the more popular Cessna 180 and
185 Seaplanes for several reasons. Two of the main reasons
were, it has substantially more shoulder room and there are
many more low time airframes available for renovation and
conversion. The newer S and T models were of no interest
because they are Lycoming powered at 230 Hp and no STC,s
are available for higher HP engines. The R and older models
are STC'd to install an IO550 Continental at 300 Hp. This
engine can then have polished ports resulting in an engine that
will dyno at 330 HP. A 330 HP Cessna 182 makes a great float
plane, even with the heavier amphibious floats. If you take
the floats off for the winter, LOOK OUT, the performance is
chose the AEROCET 3400
amphibious model. They
are a composite float that
is strongeq rivet free for no
leaking, large stowage, and no comosion in salt water.
Park RapidsAvionics was chosen to upgrade the panel with
the latest in avionics at the time It's probably over board for
a Seaplane, but at the time I was planning a lot of off season
cross country and wanted all the help I could get for my lack
of experience.
Recently, Seaplanes West was granted
a gross weight
increase of4l0pounds for several 182 models so thatN56TDG
now has a useful loadjust shy of 1000 pounds, even with the
extensive equipment list shown in the chart with this arlicle.
My venture into Seaplane flying has been incredibly
rewarding for both my wife and me. We have been from the
Bahamas to the Arctic, off the continent above the 72 parallel
and into the Norlhwest Passage of the Arctic Ocean. From the
coast of Maine to the San Juan Islands in the Northwest. I have
accumulated almost 1400 hours, and even with all those hours
on N567DG, at Air Venture 2009 in Oshkosh, N567DG was
awarded "OUTSTANDING METAL SEAPLANE 2009".
I
hope
all you Cessna
enthusiasts
look more
at
possibility of adding more HP and FLOATS to your toys
It really opens up a new world to your flying.
awesome
www.cessna.org
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AIRFRAME
AVIONICS
SEAPLANES WEST FLOAT PLANE KIT
SEAPLANES WEST 6 POINT ENGINE MOLINT
WNG TIP EXTENSIONS
MICRO DYNAMICS VG KIT
NEW GLASS
EXHAUST PIPE COVER
NEW PANT
AEROCET 34OO AMPHIOUS FLOATS
GARMN 530 WAAS
GARMN43OWAAS
GARMIN GMX2OO MFD
PS.ENGINEERNG AUDIO PANEL
AEROCET GEARADVISORY
TCAS
XM WEATHER
S-TEC 55X/W ALTITUDE PRESET AND HOLD
REMOTE ALTITUDE ANNUNCIATOR
KNG FLIGHT DIRECTOR
ENGINE
CONTINENTAL IO55OD
POLISHED CYLNDER PORIS-330 HP
HARTZELL 84" 3 BLADE SEAPLANE PROP
PRECISE FLIGHT STANDBY VACUUM
JPI EDM 7OO ENGINE MONITOR
JPI FS 450 FUEL FLOW INDICATOR
GARMIN GTX 327 TRANSPONDER
406
ELI
INTERIOR
POWDER COAIED METAL INSTRUMENT PANELS
LEATHER
ROSEN SLINVISORS
DOOR STEWARD HYDRAULIC DOOR OPENERS
PRECISE-FLIGHT AIR VENTS
KENWOODAM/FM RADIO & CD PLAYER
26 Years of Support
Cessna Pilots Association -November 2010