Kruse Aviation Interior Projects Include Cessna 180s

Kruse Aviation has been an FBO fixture at Princeton Municipal Airport (KPNM) since 2001. Owner Duane Kruse reports he's busy with interior projects.

"We have three airplanes in the hangar right now," he said. "We have a Maule that's getting its fabric, final paint and interior and is getting ready to fly."

Kruse said he's also completing paint and interior work on a Cessna 140. "We've got enough work to get us through the winter months and into spring," he added.

In 2017, Kruse Aviation completed restoration work on a 1978 Cessna 182Q Skylane with 2,600 hours flown. The project included removing the aircraft interior, cleaning and prepping the airframe and priming and painting it, along with the seat frames.

"The articulating front seats and side panels recovered with a matching Vinyl product," Kruse said.

New carpet was installed, and all seat covers were replaced with material from Airtex Products. Soundproofing was installed before new side panels and the headliner were installed.

"The center attach shoulder harness was installed on the rear spar before the headliner was installed," Kruse added.

Protective stainless steel was installed at the door latch to keep handles from cutting into the newly installed new fabric. The Cessna's arm rests were also recovered in fabric, and all old plastic parts were replaced or repainted if needed.

Finally, back lighting was installed behind all instruments on the left and right side of the instrument panel, and headset jacks were recessed into the side panels.

A more recent Kruse Aviation project is a 1973 Cessna 182P Skylane. The new owners of the aircraft wanted a updated interior installed.

"We started by removing the old interior, side walls, headliner, door panels and the carpet," Kruse said. "New seat coverings have been ordered along with new plastic parts for the interior."

Broken strut cuffs and cracked gear leg fairings will also be spruced up and replaced or repaired. Kruse Aviation is also installing a new access inspection panel to bring the aircraft into compliance with a new FAA airworthiness directive. The AD requires inspection of the lift strut attach fitting.

"We are also installing a supplemental type certificate (STC) modification to extend the baggage area," Kruse said.

The popular, relatively high performance Cessna 182 began life as a tricycle development of the 180. The first Model 182 appeared in 1956.

In 1972 Cessna added a leading-edge cuff to the wing to improve low-speed handling, resulting in the 182P, a variant that stayed in production through 1976. The 182P is powered by a carbureted 230 hp Continental O-470-R or O-470-S piston engine and has a gross weight 2,950 pounds. It was FAA certified Oct. 8, 1971.

The 182Q Skylane is powered by a carbureted 230 hp Continental O-470-U piston engine, and has a gross weight 2,950 pounds. It was

FAA and certified on July 28, 1976. Significant changes in 1978 included switching to a 24-volt electrical system at starting with Serial No. 18265966.