Aircraft overview

The Cessna 182 Skylane is a four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear piston single produced by Cessna, now part of Textron Aviation. The 182 first appeared in 1956 as a more powerful, tricycle-gear development of Cessna’s 180 family, and the Skylane name became one of the best-known designations in general aviation. Production has spanned decades, with a long pause in new piston production before restart models arrived in the late 1990s. For buyers, the Cessna 182 Skylane matters because it combines straightforward handling, short-field practicality, respectable load-carrying ability, and broad maintenance familiarity.

Performance & specifications

Typical Cessna 182 Skylane performance depends on year, engine, equipment, and whether the aircraft is normally aspirated or turbocharged. A modern 182T is commonly associated with cruise speeds around 140 knots, a range of roughly 900 nautical miles under suitable conditions, a service ceiling of about 18,100 feet, and a useful load often around 1,100 pounds. Most Skylanes use 230 hp engines: earlier aircraft commonly have Continental O-470 variants, while later restart models use the Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5. Turbocharged models, such as the T182T, improve high-altitude performance but add system complexity and inspection considerations.

Cabin & avionics

The Cessna 182 Skylane seats four in a conventional cabin with two front seats, a rear bench, and doors on both sides, a practical advantage for passengers and loading. Compared with lighter trainers, the cabin offers more shoulder room, baggage capacity, and cross-country comfort, while retaining the visibility and ground access typical of a high-wing Cessna. Avionics vary widely. Older examples may have traditional analog instruments with later radio and navigator upgrades, while many restart aircraft were delivered with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics; newer and upgraded aircraft may feature Garmin G1000 NXi, GTN navigators, digital engine monitoring, ADS-B, and modern autopilots.

Buying & value

Used Cessna 182 Skylane buyers should evaluate airframe corrosion, logbook continuity, engine time and overhaul quality, propeller history, landing gear and firewall condition after hard landings, fuel bladder or tank condition on applicable models, and the status of avionics upgrades. Common points of comparison include early straight-tail and swept-tail aircraft, 182P and 182Q models, retractable-gear R182 variants, and turbocharged T182 versions. Popular upgrades include modern GPS/navcom equipment, engine monitors, shoulder harnesses, interior refurbishment, speed modifications, and STOL kits. In current PlaneFox listing data, the Cessna 182 Skylane averages about EUR 243,000, with asking prices ranging from roughly EUR 68,000 to EUR 879,000, reflecting the wide spread between older airframes, upgraded classics, and late-model glass-cockpit aircraft.