Cessna 205

cbmontgo

Pre-takeoff checklist
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cbmontgo
Anyone ever owned a Cessna 205 on here? Despite being a heavy hauler, they seem fairly simple from what I am reading. Thoughts on this airplane? How is maintenance as compared to a 182?

I have flown the T206H and loved it, but it is way out of my price range. Seems like the 205 can be picked up for far less with the 6-seat capability.
 
Think of the 205 as being a prototype 206 from which changes were made to make customers happier when the 206 came out. They're kind of rare compared to the 206, and have features typical of Cessnas in that mid-60's time frame. Maintenance will be pretty much identical to a 182 of the same age, except the bigger engine costs a bit more to overhaul (but not as much difference as going from four cylinders to six). In terms of flight characteristics, it's pretty much identical to a 206, and like a bigger, heavier 182. If you've been flying a 182, it won't be much of a transition.
 
The 205 has a direct drive 260HP IO-470 engine. Think of it as the same engine as the old 182's with injection instead of carburetion and more compression.
 
I believe there were some revisions of the 205 prior to the 206 also. One local owner refers to his 205 as a "Two Oh Five and a Half" because it's a late production model with a bunch of 206 features. Sorry, don't know more details.
 
Think of the 205 as being a prototype 206 from which changes were made to make customers happier when the 206 came out. They're kind of rare compared to the 206, and have features typical of Cessnas in that mid-60's time frame. Maintenance will be pretty much identical to a 182 of the same age, except the bigger engine costs a bit more to overhaul (but not as much difference as going from four cylinders to six). In terms of flight characteristics, it's pretty much identical to a 206, and like a bigger, heavier 182. If you've been flying a 182, it won't be much of a transition.

They do seem rare; there aren't too many of them around that are for sale. It is hard to believe that they have a comparable fuel burn to the 182...seems like such a bigger airplane. A 205 just seems perfect for my 3 kids and wife and me for long X/C trips.

I also love the fact that they are fuel-injected.
 
They do seem rare; there aren't too many of them around that are for sale. It is hard to believe that they have a comparable fuel burn to the 182...seems like such a bigger airplane.
They don't, and I don't think I said otherwise. Figure about 15% greater fuel burn.
A 205 just seems perfect for my 3 kids and wife and me for long X/C trips.
Agreed.
I am fairly sure that they are direct-drive, but I could be wrong.
You aren't wrong.
 
The 205 is a great airplane and fits in between the 182 and 206 pretty well. The engine is the injected 470 (IO-470) of 260HP and is basically the same airframe as the early 210 and used its type certificate (model 210-5) only without retracts. It can burn more fuel than the 182 but does haul a bigger load. Not sure if they are really any faster than the 182 but they might be. I've not owned one but I took care of one some years back and flew it a bit. It flys a lot like a 182 unless you have a lot of weight in back than it becomes a lot easier to land than the average early (mid 60's) 182. (much less back pressure needed to keep the nosewheel off) Since its injected you get all the advantages of the fuel injection like the ability to run lean of peak which is pretty tough with a carb (if even possible). My only real complaint about the 205 in relation to the 206 is the lack of the right hand door in back which makes loading the 206 so much nicer. The 205 does have 2 doors up front though which is also nice. All in all the real question is what you need. The 205 can normally be found for quite a bit less than a 206 and it is a very good and useable plane. It doesn't have quite the carry capacity of the 206 but its not far off. They did offer them with long range tanks of 84gal useable I believe so its possible to cruise longer than most of us are capable of doing.

Check out the Cessna pilots Association and the Cessna Owners.org groups and they should be able to give you a detailed rundown.

Frank
 
C-205 (aka 210-5) can be a good choice. Even though they are relatively few in number, just about all the parts are from the standard Cessna parts bins. Horizontal tail is a little smaller than on a 206, so it takes a healthy heave for a tail low touchdown at forward CG.

I like the door arrangement on the 205 when used as a people-hauler, especially since it provides a door for the co-pilot. The left rear baggage door is of pretty good size, as well. In the late '60s Cessna built some 206s with this door arrangement and called them Model P206 Super Skylane.
 
gave a flight review in one last summer. nice plane.
 
Great; thanks everyone. Does the IO-470 usually make it to the 1500 hour TBO? Any recurring issues with that engine?
 
Never played with an IO 470 but have with O 470s (duh ;) ) and many IO TCMs,

If you fly it should go TBO and beyond with out difficulty.
 
Great; thanks everyone. Does the IO-470 usually make it to the 1500 hour TBO? Any recurring issues with that engine?

Everything I've read says they're similar to the O-470. Best bottom-end in the biz, top is the limiting factor. Treat the jugs right, fly the heck out of it, it'll behave. Bottom end won't usually start making metal until well over 2000, but you might replace a jug or lose an exhaust valve along the way if you aren't watching CHT. Still might anyway. Common to see replaced cylinders on O-470s if someone's abusing the thing.
 
Everything I've read says they're similar to the O-470. Best bottom-end in the biz, top is the limiting factor. Treat the jugs right, fly the heck out of it, it'll behave. Bottom end won't usually start making metal until well over 2000, but you might replace a jug or lose an exhaust valve along the way if you aren't watching CHT. Still might anyway. Common to see replaced cylinders on O-470s if someone's abusing the thing.

Sounds good. I have always heard that you should plan on replacing a jug or two in the 0-470 biz over a lifetime of ownership. Makes sense.
 
Sounds good. I have always heard that you should plan on replacing a jug or two in the 0-470 biz over a lifetime of ownership. Makes sense.
Budgeting for cylinder overhaul/replacement at maybe 2/3 TBO is a good idea. Treat the engine well, and you probably won't have to use it, but don't be too surprised if you have to do it.
 
Prev owner of my plane pulled 6 good jugs off at 1/2 TBO. His wife told me it was because he was told the top never makes it past that.

Oh well, younger jugs for me!
 
IO-470 has the same issues the O-470 does on cylinders and mostly that seems to be valves or rings. As others noted you can usually run the engine past TBO if you run it. If it sits they'll rust like any others. Chrome or nickel plated cyl's will help that but cams and internals rust if they don't get oiled. The injection system is pretty simple and bulletproof. They work well if you run clean gas. They can give trouble as well and can be a pain to deal with at times but so can a carb. No carb ice with the injector. You may have some issues with hot starts til you learn the plane and how it needs to be started. Maintainance is not much different than a 182 or 206. Shouldn't cost any more or less either.

Frank
 
I have about 350 hours in a very nicely restored C205 and know it well.

I also have 182 and Turbo 206 time. Very similar fliers.

The 205 is basically a fixed gear, strut-winged 210 (logbook designation is 205-210). It even has the front wheel well.

The flying characteristics are fairly simple. It's nearly impossible to get a break in the stall (more docile that a 172/182), lands short field at 60 (MPH -- 1963 airplane), has 40 degrees of flaps, but enough power to get back out of the short fields, bulletproof Cessna sprung steel gear, will haul pretty much whatever you can shove inside, and room, room, room up front.

PM me if you're in the market -- I know of one for sale.
 
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Here she is:

The type certificate on this airplane is "Cessna C210-5" and it is NOT a 206 derived/progenitor airframe. It is indeed a fixed gear strutted Centurion.

The W&B envelope is quite broad; the IO 470 makes 260 hp. Think of this as Cessna's Cherokee Six.

Every hot start is a flooded start; Prime-mix to cutoff, throttle cracked, four blades and it starts.

Useful load: 1500 lbs. I once carried the entire Arizona Mobile Crime lab in the back (partner was an Lt. in the local Police Force). When you are 700 undergross it's amazing what that bird will do. Holds 88 gallons, 130 knots at altitude with 11.0 gph, or 6:15 to exhaustion and >1000 nm.

I was a 1/3 partner when I used to live in KFLG at 7011 MSL. With two up and lots of fuel, it was a reasonable performer even up there.
 

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Budgeting for cylinder overhaul/replacement at maybe 2/3 TBO is a good idea. Treat the engine well, and you probably won't have to use it, but don't be too surprised if you have to do it.

Running LOP will cure that problem..the 210 has the same engine, and both of my customers are over TBO with the IO-470.

Phillips 20W50 changed at 35 hours and Cam Guard.
 
Great; thanks everyone. Does the IO-470 usually make it to the 1500 hour TBO? Any recurring issues with that engine?

In years past they never did because to get 205's POH numbers for the power settings in the book are higher than the early 210. That is why they burn more fuel than the 210. If you run LOP and change oil early they can be run to TBO or beyond.

But IF you allow the lead content of the oil to get too high it will have valve and compression problems at about 1000-1200 hours.
 
Looking at another 205. Will these engines run on unleaded gasoline/mogas or are they too high of compression?
 
Have a 64 206 and Dr Bruce is correct and most of his numbers.

Check to see what engine it has, alot have been upgraded already to the 520 or 550.....hang on to your knickers then and let er buck :goofy:
 
Anyone ever owned a Cessna 205 on here? Despite being a heavy hauler, they seem fairly simple from what I am reading. Thoughts on this airplane? How is maintenance as compared to a 182?

I have flown the T206H and loved it, but it is way out of my price range. Seems like the 205 can be picked up for far less with the 6-seat capability.

I used to haul skydivers in a 205, it's a good plane with less doors and performance than a 206 and a lower price tag to reflect it. If you still have a IO-470 your maint will be lower than if it has a 520 conversion.
 
I have a 205 and love it. Does everything I wanted it for. Hauls bunchs and is very good on fuel. Fairly fast but if Fast is my main concern I will take my comanche!
 
I used to haul skydivers in a 205, it's a good plane with less doors and performance than a 206 and a lower price tag to reflect it. If you still have a IO-470 your maint will be lower than if it has a 520 conversion.

Thanks, Henning. This one has the IO-470.

The 205 is really attractive to me because of the 6 seats and what appears to be a fairly simple airplane. I don't need any screaming performance, just a good load hauler to carry the family. Seems to be a 182, just bigger, and I like flying the 182.

I am curious about mogas though, looking at the future of 100LL. Anyone know whether the IO-470 will run on it?
 
Thanks, Henning. This one has the IO-470.

The 205 is really attractive to me because of the 6 seats and what appears to be a fairly simple airplane. I don't need any screaming performance, just a good load hauler to carry the family. Seems to be a 182, just bigger, and I like flying the 182.

I am curious about mogas though, looking at the future of 100LL. Anyone know whether the IO-470 will run on it?

I have been told that my 260hp IO 470 in the 310 application will go direct 94UL no worries if they cut lead dead tomorrow.
 
I am curious about mogas though, looking at the future of 100LL. Anyone know whether the IO-470 will run on it?
Per the Petersen Aviation website, the only IO-470 variants approved for the mogas STC are the IO-470-J and K, the 225-hp versions found in 33-series Debonairs and Bonanzas. The 260 hp version as in the C-205 is not on the list.
 
I have talked to Petersons about this and they said they have to test the airplane with mogas and they don't do all of them because of lack of demand. Also I have heard the I0-470 S has higher compression than the other lower powered ones. Some of the later 205's had the next series 470 that can have a 2000 tbo on them. You can really lean them down. I was out other day and was doing 110-120mph on 8 gals. Wasn't in any hurry to get anywhere. I have to flog my 172 to go that fast!
 
Before buying my C205, I spoke w/Petersen re: their IO-470 STC. IIRC; it
requires water injection. Ugh.

Also; the C205 (nee: 210-5) is not on the AML for the STC.
 
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