How To Mod Your Ride for Backcountry Fun

Friday, August 26, 2022 at 10:59 AM ET

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Modifications, like big, puffy tires, make it easier to land on unimproved grass and dirt strips. [Photo Airframes Alaska]

Key Takeaways:

Key upgrades for transforming a stock airplane into a backcountry companion include tundra tires for unimproved surfaces, climb propellers for enhanced takeoff and climb performance, and STOL modifications like vortex generators or wingtip cuffs to reduce stall speeds and shorten landing distances.
Additional essential modifications for backcountry flying focus on safety and visibility, such as installing airbag seatbelts for occupant protection and upgrading to LED lighting systems for improved aircraft recognition and collision avoidance in uncontrolled airspace.

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You can take your stock airplane into a lot of out-of-the-way places depending on what that mount may be. Take a Cessna 172, for example. With a modest 180-hp Lycoming O-360 engine up front and lightly loaded, you can land a Skyhawk in an amazing array of places.

However, you’ll be able to go into a wider range of airstrips—those with both paved and unimproved surfaces—if you take just a few steps towards “kitting your airplane out” as a true backcountry companion. Here are a few key areas that we’ve identified that are ripe for upgrades—along with a great option in each category.