Cessna 182 Skylane for Sale

Aircraft overview

The Cessna 182 Skylane is a four seat, high wing, fixed gear piston single built by Cessna, now part of Textron Aviation. The model first appeared in 1956 as a more powerful development of Cessna’s tricycle gear single engine line, and it remains one of general aviation’s benchmark personal and utility aircraft. Production has run from 1956 to the present, with a hiatus before modern production resumed in the 1990s. For buyers, the Cessna 182 Skylane matters because it combines straightforward handling, strong short field capability, good load carrying ability and broad parts and maintenance support.

Performance & specifications

Typical cruise performance for a normally aspirated Cessna 182 Skylane is about 135 to 145 knots, depending on year, engine, propeller, wheel fairings and loading. Later 182T models list a maximum cruise speed of about 145 knots, a service ceiling of 18,100 feet and a maximum range of roughly 900 nautical miles under suitable conditions. Useful load commonly falls around 1,000 to 1,200 lb, although individual aircraft vary with equipment and empty weight. Earlier aircraft generally use the 230 hp Continental O 470 series, while modern 182S and 182T aircraft use a 230 hp Lycoming IO 540. Turbocharged T182T versions use a turbocharged Lycoming TIO 540 for improved high altitude performance.

Cabin & avionics

The Cessna 182 Skylane seats four in a high wing cabin with two front doors on most models and good downward visibility for passengers. The cabin is wider and more substantial than smaller Cessna trainers, with baggage capacity suitable for personal travel when weight and balance are managed carefully. Older examples often have traditional analog instruments with incremental radio, GPS and transponder upgrades. Many later aircraft were delivered with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics, and current production has used Garmin G1000 NXi. Retrofit panels with Garmin GTN navigators, digital engine monitors, autopilots and ADS B equipment are common in the used fleet.

Buying & value

Used Cessna 182 Skylane buyers should evaluate airframe corrosion, damage history, engine time, propeller condition, fuel tank and bladder condition on applicable years, landing gear alignment, avionics currency and logbook continuity. Important variants include early 182 models, wide cabin 182P and 182Q aircraft, retractable gear R182 Skylane RG, modern 182S and 182T, and turbocharged T182T models. Common upgrades include engine monitors, shoulder harnesses, modern GPS navigators, ADS B, upgraded autopilots and speed fairings. In the used market, the Cessna 182 Skylane typically sits above basic four seat trainers and below high performance retractables and six seat singles. Current PlaneFox listing data shows an average asking price around EUR 191,000, with observed asking prices from about EUR 12,000 to EUR 728,000, reflecting major differences in year, condition, equipment and engine status.