PlaneFox tracks 1 Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck flies about 256 nm, roughly 474 km, which is about 2 h 37 min in still air at typical cruise.
A Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck costs about EUR 2,519 a month to run, or about EUR 275 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck is a purpose built agricultural aircraft produced by Cessna from the mid 1960s into the early 1980s. The Model 188 family first flew in 1965 and entered production for crop spraying, seeding and other low level aerial application work. Unlike converted utility aircraft, the Cessna 188 was designed around a forward chemical hopper, a single pilot cockpit, tailwheel landing gear and strong low wing structure for repeated field operations. Its significance for buyers is its simple systems, broad parts familiarity and long service history in agricultural aviation.
Performance varies by version and equipment, especially spray gear, hopper installation and engine fit. The early AgWagon used a Continental O 470 series engine rated at 230 hp, while the AgTruck A188B used the Continental IO 520 D rated at 300 hp. Typical cruise is around 100 to 120 knots, with ferry range commonly quoted in the 300 to 400 nautical mile class depending on fuel and load. Service ceiling is approximately 11,000 feet for representative Model 188 variants. The AgWagon was built around a smaller hopper, while the AgTruck increased agricultural payload capability, with gross weight and useful load rising accordingly. Buyers should evaluate any figures against the exact model, serial number, installed equipment and current weight and balance.
The Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck has a single seat cockpit, positioned behind the hopper with excellent forward and side visibility for low level work. It is a working cockpit rather than a touring cabin, with limited comfort equipment and straightforward flight controls. Factory avionics were basic by modern standards, typically VHF communication, transponder when required and essential engine and flight instruments. Used examples may have simple panel GPS units, digital engine monitors, ADS B equipment or dedicated agricultural GPS guidance and flow control systems. Integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical for this aircraft.
Condition and history matter more than cosmetic presentation. Important inspection areas include corrosion from fertilizer and chemical exposure, hopper condition, spray system plumbing, wing and strut attach points, landing gear, tailwheel assembly, firewall, control cables and evidence of ground strikes or wire contact. Engine time, propeller history and logbook continuity are central to valuation. Common market distinctions include AgWagon versus AgTruck, 230 hp versus 300 hp power, hopper capacity, stainless or fiberglass hopper condition, modern ag GPS equipment and recent structural work. In the used market, the Cessna 188 AgWagon / AgTruck is generally positioned as a practical legacy ag aircraft for operators who value simplicity and payload over speed, comfort or modern avionics.