N8221V, Cessna 180H, 1966 model. It is a 6 seat configuration but I never have more than 4 on board, including the pilot. The extra room is saved for baggage and gear.  I’m the 3^rd owner of 8221V. It was bought new in 1966 by the Episcopal Archdiocese in Fairbanks to be used by their priest to fly thought out western Alaska for the church.  The church flew the plane from 1966 to 1984 when they sold it to one of the village chiefs at Venetie, which is just Northwest of Fort Yukon. The new owner found he needed to be able to carry a snow machine, which will not fit in a 180, so he sold the plane to me in 1986 so he could buy a 206. I have owned and flown the plane since then.

It has a Sportsman STOL and Federal 3000 Hydraulic Wheel Skis during the winter along with a tail wheel ski…after I remove the 31 inch Bush Wheels tires that I run during the summer.  The engine is a O-470R, 230 HP Continental. It has a pre-oilier system that oils the engine before starting and brings the oil pressure up to normal before the engine is turned over.  The original wet battery was removed from back in the rear fuselage and a dry cell battery installed on the firewall by the engine. The battery is warmed in the winter at the same time the engine is preheated.  The airplane is equipped with a Garmin GPS and I still use the old Loran as well. It also has a VOR and ADF, which are normally never turned on.

The engine is preheated toasty warm using electrical pan heaters and heating straps on each jug. If electricity is not available it can be preheated using a camp stove carried in the extended baggage.

The fuel tanks hold 80 gallons of fuel and the plane cruises at around 150 MPH on tires and about 145 MPH when the skis are installed. It burns about 12 gallons per hour in cruise with a range of 1000 – 1200 miles.