AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2024 - 33

AOPA 2025 SWEEPSTAKES /
A 182 for you
Going back to our roots
BY NIKI BRITTON
Who won the 170B?
AOPA member Clifford Gurske from
Goodyear, Arizona, has won the AOPA
Sweepstakes Cessna 170B.
" Cliff is a terrific person; a nicer guy couldn't
have won this airplane, " said Southwest
Airlines colleague Mel Meadows. Meadows
masterminded the ruse needed to ensure
Gurske would attend the AOPA Fly-In at
the Buckeye Air Fair on February 17 for the
surprise giveaway. Gurske, who works for
Southwest Airlines as a check airman, is
an airline transport pilot with multiple type
ratings including the Douglas DC-3. He also
holds commercial privileges for single engine
airplanes and helicopters.
aopa.org/sweeps
View the video
aopa.org/pilot/
april24
WHEN IT CAME TIME TO CHOOSE what the next AOPA sweepstakes aircraft would be, there
was no question that we wanted to select a noteworthy airplane to commemorate
AOPA's storied 85-year history. The straight-tail 1958 Cessna 182 is the perfect choice
as it's not only one of the most popular and versatile general aviation aircraft, but also
because this model and year graced the first cover of AOPA Pilot magazine in 1958.
The aircraft was a blank aluminum canvas with a worn yellow cloth interior
when AOPA purchased it in 2023 and, for the first time in a long time, we decided
to send it to the paint shop first thing. Meaning that AOPA members won't have to
wonder what kind of livery their 2025 sweepstakes aircraft will be boasting.
We wanted this resto-mod to emulate the best features of the aircraft on the very
first AOPA Pilot cover. The classic paint lines of the white, turquoise, and black livery
not only look amazing, but also take us back to the early days of Cessna with retro
Cessna decals and traditional N number placements. The 4000D tail number also
pays homage to the 1958 magazine cover aircraft, which had a tail number of 4054D.
The paint scheme was redesigned with care by Craig Barnett of Scheme
Designers Inc. in Cresskill, New Jersey, and the scheme was brought to life by Gustav
Haussler, of Master Aircraft Services in Wickenburg and Bisbee, Arizona.
From the paint shop, the aircraft made one stop at the Buckeye Air Fair in
Arizona for its official public debut. From there, the Skylane flew to east Arizona
for the next step of its makeover, interior.
Taking a classic aircraft and making it look new again is one thing, but that
wouldn't exactly make it a resto-mod. That's why the interior design will tip its
hat to the old but embrace new developments in materials and technology. The
AOPA Sweeps 182 will feature a brand-new Garmin panel that will include several
GI 275s to bring all the technology a modern pilot wants, while keeping the charm
of the circular steam gauges we've all come to
know and love.
For the interior, Arturo at Arturo's Aircraft
Interiors will strip the aircraft down to the
aluminum and install all-new lush tan carpeting,
headliner, and door panels, with the classically
designed leather and cloth seats bringing the
outside in with turquoise accents. The yokes
will be restored and painted, bringing the classic
Cessna logos back to life.
There is plenty more in store for this aircraft
as it goes through its 18-month restoration
transformation and we invite you to follow
along. Look for more information on these
pages and online as we continue restoring and
modifying this 1958 Cessna 182, for you.
niki.britton@aopa.org
No purchase or contribution necessary
to enter or win. Void where prohibited.
Ends 11:59 PM ET on 6/30/25. For
complete details, eligibility requirements,
rules, and a full list of contributors, visit
aopa.org/sweeps. Sponsor: AOPA
AOPA PILOT / April 2024
33
DAVID TULIS

http://www.aopa.org/sweeps http://www.aopa.org/pilot/april24 http://www.aopa.org/pilot/april24 http://www.aopa.org/sweeps

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2024

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