N1410H

1949

Aeronca Sedan 180HP 15ac

3367

The Aeronca 15AC Sedan is a four-seat, high-wing utility aircraft introduced in the late 1940s and regarded as one of the roomiest and most capable classic taildraggers of its generation. Built with a welded steel-tube fuselage and fabric covering, it was designed as a practical family and utility airplane and has remained popular for backcountry and floatplane operations. This example carries the common 180-horsepower engine upgrade in place of the original powerplant.

As delivered, the Sedan used a 145-horsepower Continental engine; many surviving aircraft have since been converted under STC to a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360. So equipped, the type cruises around 95 to 110 knots and climbs at roughly 900 feet per minute, a marked improvement over the original that enhances short-field and useful-load performance while keeping the aircraft's docile character.

The airframe pairs a large strut-braced high wing with conventional landing gear and a rugged, simple structure well suited to rough-field and float operations. Its light wing loading and generous flap area give it capable short takeoff and landing manners, while the tailwheel configuration demands proficiency in ground handling, takeoff, and landing.

The cabin is notably spacious for a classic light aircraft, seating four with good visibility and useful cabin room for gear, one of the Sedan's defining strengths. Panels are simple and vary by aircraft, from original analog instruments to modest modern upgrades. Useful load and center-of-gravity limits should be verified per airframe, particularly where an engine conversion or float installation is present.

In the used market the Sedan is valued as a comfortable, capable classic utility aircraft with strong backcountry and floatplane appeal, supported by a dedicated owner community. It competes with other vintage taildraggers on cabin room, load, and ruggedness rather than speed. Fabric condition, tube-structure integrity, conversion and float documentation, and overall airframe history are central to valuation.

Overall, the 1949 Aeronca 15AC Sedan with the 180-horsepower conversion is a roomy, rugged, and versatile classic well suited to backcountry flying, utility work, and float operations. It rewards owners who maintain tailwheel proficiency and who prioritize STC documentation, fabric upkeep, and structural inspection in evaluating any individual airframe.