Air Plains Services. Performance upgrades for single engine Cessna aircraft extreme performance kits Contact Us If you would like a detailed quote for your upgrade please use the Request Quote button below. For all other inquires use the provided form. We'd love to hear from you. Hablamos español y portugués. (Unsolicited or SEO services spam submissions will not be replied to) REQUEST QUOTE Call Us 620-326-8904 1-800-752-8481 Address 439 N. West Rd Wellington, KS 67152 Privacy Policy First Name Last Name Email Phone Message Submit Message Submitted I would like to receive SMS text messages from Air Plains Engine Upgrades Maintenance Custom Avionics Aircraft Parts Custom Fabrication Other Upgrades Our Services Air Plains Services continues to be the leading expert in Cessna aircraft. We specialize on engine upgrades, FAA-PMA parts fabrication and continual airworthiness of your aircraft. Our skilled technicians can upgrade your avionics and perform maintenance at affordable prices. With our commitment to apply new technologies and know-how, we continue to offer performance and improvements to more aircraft owners. Cessna 172 180HP Model R Cessna 180 300HP Models thru K Cessna 182 300HP Models H thru R Cessna 182RG 300HP All Models Cessna 182 260HP Models S and T Cessna 182RG 260HP All Models Propeller Upgrades All Models Cessna 172 180HP Models B thru P STC Upgrades Our goal is to make your aircraft unique with our STC upgrades. We have designed our products to deliver the performance needed to add more pleasure to your flying. We are committed to provide guidance along the way with excellent customer service and support with FAA-PMA parts to maintain the continual airworthiness of your aircraft. Year Established Approved STCs Engine Upgrades PMA Parts 665 3,018 31 1977 DOCUMENTS SUPPORT ARTICLES FAQs Customer Support Our most current documents are available for download below. Check back often to make sure you have the latest revision of the files. Under installation support you will find additional help and tips as it relates to our engine upgrades and aircraft maintenance in general. Besides customer satisfaction, one of our main goals is to provide continual airworthiness to your aircraft. We are never done adding more features to the upgrade kits. This is why we fabricate our FAA-PMA parts in-house. We are able to reduce cost significantly and provide a product that meets our kit quality standards. We are here to provide future support in your maintenance. SHOP NOW About Us Mike Kelley started doing aircraft maintenance in 1977 in a hangar on Wellington’s municipal airport, hanging out his shingle as Air Plains Services , a nod to both the Great Plains of southcentral Kansas and the region’s reputation for aviation. Just a few miles north is Wichita, home to aviation legends Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman and known today as the Air Capital of the World. It wasn’t long, though, before Kelley and his wife, Carolyn, turned a passion for flying and for innovation into an industry leader as an airplane transformer, turning legacy Cessna pistons into power singles with STCs for Extreme Performance engine upgrades. Forty-five years later, the company still ranks as the leader in engine upgrade STCs and has added a wide range of avionics upgrades, propeller STCs, PMA parts, specialty manufacturing, interiors, and, of course, full aircraft maintenance. “The performance of my C-180 after the Engine Upgrade has far exceeded my expectations! The interior and avionics installation are works of art, as well. However, it was the people at Air Plains that made a major undertaking a pleasurable experience.” Kyle, AZ C-180 300HP “I really wanted more power and the Air Plains upgrade has it. We’re getting a big increase in speed and 1000fpm climb rate, and we’re really pleased with the gas consumption. Air Plains is just so easy to deal with and I love great value in service!” Jeff, OK C-172 180HP “ Airplains took my inquiry from Europe very serious and they have delivered an outstanding job and service. The 300HP engine has taken me safely three times over the North Atlantic. I can well use that power here on small strips and in the mountains in Switzerland” Alfred, CH C-182 300HP

Cessna 182 H thru R models are approved 300HP. Replace the original O-470 and step up to fuel injection and better performance with Air Plains. Cessna 182 300 HP 156 Ktas Cruise Speed 1750 fpm Climb Rate 450 ft. Take-Off Distance 24,000 ft. Service Ceiling 1900 hrs TBO 3100 lbs Gross Weight P and Q Models Fly at 20 In. Hg. and set a comfortable cruise 2400 RPM 155 KTAS Develop more power at altitude 14.6 GPH Rich of peak operation at 10,500 feet 20 In. Hg. Manifold Pressure Propeller Speed 2400 RPM True Airspeed 155 KTAS 14.6 GPH Fuel Consumption Need for Speed With additional power you will take advantage of better flying conditions at higher altitudes. True airspeed is your new friend. REQUEST QUOTE 9% Cruise Speed 51% Climb Rate -33% Take-Off Roll 27% Service Ceiling 26% TBO Performance Increase Powerplant IO-550-D IO-520-D Horsepower 300 HP 285 HP Max. RPM 2700 RPM 2850 RPM* Compres. Ratio 8.5:1 8.5:1 Fuel Consumption 75% Power 17-18 GPH 15-16 GPH Powerplant Factory rebuilt, zero time Continental IO-550-D engine equipped with Bendix Mags, wiring harness, spark plugs, non-congealing oil cooler, fuel injection , high capacity oil pump with integral oil filter adapter. New logbook and factory warranty. Why fuel injection? Anytime an engine generates more than 260 HP we believe that fuel injection provides the needed even fuel distribution on each cylinder to make your flying worry free. You will achieve more predictable CHTs and EGTs and enjoy a smoother ride with reduced vibration. This minimizes premature component failure. Did we mention 0% carburetor ice issues? Fuel reservoir tank, accessories and installation hardware Fuel Pump Two or Three Blade Propeller Polished spinner assembly Engine isolator mounts with bolts Manifold pressure/fuel flow gauge(if no primary EDM) Throttle mixture cable assemblies Check valve All new fuel and oil lines and scat-hoses Baffle mod components New prop governor Placards Hardware, switches and clamp kit STC Authorization, Drawings, and Installation Instructions Optional: New Seaplanes West engine mount Complete Kit We provide an all-encompassing kit during the upgrade. We like to call it a NEW firewall forward upgrade. Our goal is to provide all the hardware needed to complete the installation with ease. Muscular Climb Give your VSI a real workout with an aircraft that climbs with the determination of a homesick angel. Whether you're an experienced backcountry pilot seeking a new level of capability navigating thru the terrain or someone eager to embark in a new adventure, you can now fly with greater confidence. REQUEST QUOTE Gross Weight Trolltune Corporation offers STC SA03608AT which allows Cessna 182 models P and Q to increase useful load 150 to 160 pounds in most cases. If you want to get there faster you can carry an additional 25 gallons of fuel by taking advante of auxiliary fuel tanks Pack your extra bag for the trip and stay within the envelope of the weight and balance. Propeller All propellers have been matched to provide the best combination of airframe and powerplant thru flight test and vibration analysis. We offer several propeller STCs to make each aircraft unique. Diameter: 77-78 Engines: IO-520 IO-550 Model: Hartzell PHC-L3YF-1RF /F7691 Diameter: 80-82 Engines: IO-520 IO-550 Model: McCauley D3A34C401 /90DFA Diameter: 80 Engine: - IO-550 Model: Hartzell PHC-L3Y1F-1N /NG8301-5 PROPELLER STCs Installation With Air Plains there are a few options to get 180 horsepower into your Skyhawk. We do not sell the "STC Paperwork" only. This is because we believe that the kit parts that we offer with the engine upgrade is the "secret sauce" to a complete, safe and successful installation. We have added several more parts over the 40 years with our continual engineering. Our goal is to make the installer's job as easy as possible. Installation instructions and blueprints safeguard the procedures and standards for installation and maintenance of your new engine... no matter where you choose to have it installed. Did you know that in the state of Kansas there is no sales tax on aircraft maintenance or modification? REQUEST QUOTE Option 1 Install at Air Plains Purchase Complete STC Kit Engine provided Installed at our facilities One flat fee Use our Know-How 3 to 4 weeks turn time Option 2 Install at your FBO Purchase Complete Kit Installed by your mechanic Complete Hardware Instructions and Drawings Tech Support provided Customer Focus Besides customer satisfaction, one of our main goals is to provide continual airworthiness for your aircraft. We are never done adding more features to the upgrade kit. This is why we fabricate our FAA-PMA parts in-house. We are able to reduce cost significantly to save you more money and provide a product that meets our kit quality standards. We are here to provide future support in your maintenance. Visit our online store to find STC products and FAA-PMA parts. BUY PARTS $314 $940 OEM Vs. Air Plains $1,295 $11,935 $976 $324 $372 $264 Fly above the terrain and get there faster Take advantage of true airspeed at altitude Climb to new heights and find the tailwind REQUEST QUOTE Mr. Popular Like a swiss army pocket knife, many consider the Cessna 182 the best all-around general aviation airplane. That is why we offer several upgrades to make you even more unique. With 300 HP you will fly the best go-anywhere and do-anything aircraft ever made. Achieve better true airspeed, fly higher above the terrain and get to cruise altitude faster with Air Plains power. Go the Distance Stretch your reach in every direction, and give your aircraft the power it needs to fly faster and farther than it ever has before. If you desire running Lean of Peak (LOP) our fuel injected engine paired with an engine monitor is the prefect combination to stretch your range. EGT WELLINGTON, KS SUNDAY 03-APR-2022 07:54AM CDT LAL LAKELAND, FL SUNDAY 03-APR-2022 03:07PM EDT 6h 13m total travel time REQUEST QUOTE Fly non-stop to arrive on time at the destination 6:13 min 1,119 mi Cover some ground really fast in cooler air 186 mph Find the tailwind and enjoy the journey even more We offer several products that will enhance your aircraft and add more pleasure to your flying. During an engine upgrade we are able to install other products and accessories efficiently since we start with a clean slate. Accessories Electronic Ignition Engine Monitor Aircraft Interior Engine Pre-Heater Avionics Upgrades Auxiliary Tanks

Air Plains is a FAA approved Certified Repair Station and holds FAA Parts Manufacturing Authorization meeting requirements for numerous items not found via the OEM. Air Plains will partner with you using extensive knowledge of aircraft to fabricate parts to meet your design criteria. We manufacture over 12,000 parts per year Manufacturing PQ3524CE Parts Manufacturing Authorization License Agreement If you are a design approval holder and need to produce parts under a PMA quality system we can help you succeed. Quality Control Air Plains operates under a FAA-PMA Quality Control System. We produce parts to support our Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for legacy Cessna aircraft. We also produce rolled, brake or hydro formed sheet metal and machined parts for OEM aircraft production and their sub-contractors in high, medium and low volume lots. Custom Fabrication Besides producing parts under our FAA-PMA Quality Control System, we are able to help with Owner/Operator produced parts under FAR 21.303(b)2 and to meet requirements for the numerous items not found via the OEM. Capabilities 3 Axis (120x30 Inches) 4 Axis (40x16 Inches) Lathe (10x16 Inches) Hydroforming Assemblies-Small, Complex Metallic Stamping Brake Forming Roll Forming Welding MIG, TIG Laser Engraver Flat Pattern

WELLINGTON, KS (July 31, 2025) – Air Plains Services , a world leader in general aviation engine and avionics upgrades, announced today it has gained Parts Manufacturing Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the airbox filter seal assembly  for Cessna 172 L and M model aircraft. “The seal assembly is an important part of the cooling system and plays a key role in proper CHT management,” said Katie Church, president of Air Plains. “We specialize in PMA parts for Cessna piston, particularly the cooling system, and when we find ways to improve on an original design, we want to add it our product range.” Mechanics at Air Plains report the absence of the filter seal assembly on many L and M model Cessna 172 Skyhawks coming in for engine upgrades. This can cause a change in designed air flow over the engine, resulting in higher CHTs, as much as 10 to 15 degrees F. “The seal is essential to achieve a greater pressure differential in the engine compartment that strengthens the flow of cooler air over the engine,” Church said. “As we’ve done with other components such as the airbox, we’ve made it better, easy to install and less expensive than other options.” Air Plains opted for a special, lightweight polycarbonate plastic due to its higher temperature resistance, weight and strength. The fiberglass-reinforced silicone material is a single piece seal that provides the best differential pressure between the upper and lower cowl and is designed for easy installation. Air Plains offers a wide range of PMA parts for the induction system including airboxes, collars, gaskets, adjustable brackets and baffles assemblies, all available at the company’s online store . For information about the new airbox filter seal assembly or any Air Plains product, call 1-800-752-8481 or +1-620-326-8904 or send an email to sales@airplains.com . ### Air Plains Services, based in Wellington, Kansas, is a leader in general aviation aircraft upgrades, specializing in high performance engine upgrades  for most Cessna 172, 180 and 182/182RG piston aircraft, avionics systems  and components as well as custom avionics panels, high quality spare parts  and enhanced performance systems, and aircraft modification and maintenance . Air Plains stands apart from most other companies, shipping complete, ready-to-install engine upgrade kits anywhere in the world. Air Plains Services, serving the aerospace industry for more than 40 years, is also the home of the Inpulse ADI modification that allows high compression aircraft engines to use 91 octane auto fuel. Air Plains also owns Petersen Aviation  of Minden, Nebraska, known worldwide for its wide inventory of Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) that allow general aviation aircraft owners to use less expensive, unleaded auto fuel instead of 100LL avgas.  For more information, visit the Air Plains website at www.airplains.com  and follow the company on the Air Plains Facebook  and Instagram  pages. For information on Air Plains’ Inpulse system for unleaded auto fuel, visit www.flyinpulse.com .

Air Plains Services, a world leader in General Aviation engine and avionics upgrades, announced today it has acquired Petersen Aviation of Minden, Nebraska. Petersen developed Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) that allow general aviation aircraft owners to use less expensive, unleaded auto fuel instead of 100LL avgas. Petersen owned STCs for 48 engine types powering more than 100 airframes around the world, all of which now transfer to Air Plains. “We’ve been working with Todd Petersen for more than 10 years and we’re so excited he has entrusted us to continue his family’s legacy of innovation and customer service through this acquisition,” said Air Plans President Katie Church. “Todd developed our Inpulse anti-detonation injection STC for high-horsepower engines to burn auto fuel so we now offer the full range of auto fuel STCs for the industry.” For the immediate future, Air Plains will continue to sell the STCs through the Petersen website as well as by contacting Air Plains. Contact Air Plains  or order through Petersen’s website .

3 Point Primer Kit optional for installation with Air Plains 180HP engine upgrade, STC SA4428SW. If your geographical location is primarily cold weather adding two priming nozzles will ease the starting procedure. Adding two priming nozzles has proven a smoother start. Air Plains collaborated with Lycoming to provide a custom primer line kit for Air Plains new and existing customers. If you have an Air Plains 172-180hp that was done prior to 2021 it is very likely the original primer system was reinstalled with the new engine. While the previous process works just fine, Air Plains has added an option to the upgrade kit to now offer a three point primer kit. If you have an existing Air Plains 172-180hp installation you very likely have the single priming system that is original to the aircraft. The standard installation reuses the existing primer lines and reinstalls on the new engine. Increase the chances of starting your engine during the first revolution with the three point primer system installed. Part Number: 172-180-3P Primer Installation manual available for download For more information, visit us at www.airplains.com Call: 800-752-8481 or (outside the U.S.) +1-620-326-8904 Email: sales@airplains.com