Cessna 182 (Skylane)

Light Utility Aircraft (1956)

Aviation / Aerospace

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Image from official Cessna Aircraft Company marketing materials.

The Cessna Model 182 Skylane follows the Model 172 in both popularity and production numbers worldwide.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/07/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Cessna aircraft Company struck commercial gold with its Model 172 shoulder-winged light-utility aircraft (detailed elsewhere on this site). This pivotal series, introduced in 1956, went on to see extensive civilian and military marketplace use across the globe and still represents the most-produced aircraft in the history of aviation with totals reaching over 44,000 units to date (amazingly it remains in production). That same year, the company revealed a follow-up model along the same lines, the Model 182 "Skylane" - which represents the company's second-most produced product with over 23,235 examples completed since introduction.

The success of the Model 182 has led to several restarts in production. The first chapter spanned from 1956 until 1985 and the next followed from 1996 until 2012. In 2015, manufacture was restarted, yet again, and has since lasted to the present day (2018).

Model 182 Walk-Around

The Model 182 was developed as an offshoot of the tail-dragging Model 180 "Skywagon" with the chief obvious change being the switch to a fixed tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft retained the Cessna-standard shoulder-mounted wing mainplanes, giving the system excellent lifting properties and strong low-speed handling characteristics. This led to an effective aircraft with rugged specifications and good short-field performance. Construction of the aircraft has involved aluminum alloys and fiberglass. The engine was retained in the nose with side-by-side seating for the forward occupants. The rear offered seating for up to two passengers with onboard luggage stowing capability being inherent.

Throughout its extensive service life, the Model 182 family has been progressively evolved to include changes brought into other Cessna light aircraft model series such as the Model 172. This has included widened fuselages, revised tail and wing elements, and altogether complete engine changes.

Model 182 Variants Short-List

Variants of the Model 182 has been plenty beginning with initial production models of 1956 carrying the simple "182" designation and powered by a Continental O-470-L piston engine with a gross weight of 2,550lb. Then followed the Model 182A which was the first to receive the "Skylane" name. A bevy of variants continued the line from the Model B to the Model H and then on to the Model J through the Model N. The 182P and 182Q were brought online in 1971 and 1976, respectively. The 182R saw gross weight reach 3,100lb and was certified in 1980. The 182S switched from the Continental series engine to the Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5. Certification of this mark arrived in October of 1996. The R182 and TR182 were offered with retractable undercarriages from 1978 onward and included slightly enhanced performance statistics.

The Model 182T

The Model 182T has an empty weight of 2,000lb with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 3,100lb. Power is from a single Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 engine developing 230 horsepower and driving a three-bladed constant speed propeller. Maximum speed is 175 miles-per-hour with a cruising speed nearing 170mph. Range is out to 1,070 miles and the aircraft's service ceiling reaches 18,100 feet. Rate-of-climb is 925 feet-per-minute.

Model 182 Operators

The ease-of-operation and maintenance has meant that the Model 182 is a proven performer for private flyers, flying schools, military and governmental organizations worldwide. The series has counted several military powers to its name: Afghanistan (Air Force), Argentina (Army Aviation), Canada (Army), Chile (Air Force), Ecuador (Army), El Salvador (Air Force), Guatemala (Air Force), Mexico (Air Force), the United Arab Emirates (Air Force), Uruguay (Air Force), and Venezuela (Army and Air Force).

Specifications

Service Year

1956

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

1

Production

23,240
UNITS

Cessna Aircraft Company / Textron Aviation - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

Afghanistan; Argentina; Belgium; Canada; Chile; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Mexico; United Arab Emirates; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

✓ Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

Length

29.0 ft
(8.85 m)

Width/Span

36.1 ft
(11.00 m)

Height

9.2 ft
(2.80 m)

Empty Wgt

1,973 lb
(895 kg)

MTOW

3,097 lb
(1,405 kg)

Wgt Diff

+1,124 lb
(+510 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Cessna Model 182T production variant)

Installed: 1 x Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 piston engine developing 230 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.

Max Speed

174 mph
(280 kph | 151 kts)

Ceiling

18,110 ft
(5,520 m | 3 mi)

Range

1,072 mi
(1,725 km | 3,195 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

925 ft/min
(282 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Cessna Model 182T production variant. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database. View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

182 "Skylane" - Base Series Designation

Cockpit image of the Cessna 182 (Skylane)

(Cockpit image represents the Cessna Model 182 Skylane with Garmin 1000 avionics fit. production model)

General Assessment

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.

Overall Rating

The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.

32

Rating is out of a possible 100 points.

Relative Maximum Speed

Hi: 200mph

Lo: 100mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (174mph).

Graph average of 150 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Cessna Model 182T operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

Max Altitude Visualization

Design Balance

The 3 qualities we look at for a balanced aircraft design are altitude, speed, and range.

Aviation Era Span

Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.

Unit Production (23,240)

23240

36183

44000

This entry's total production compared against the most-produced military and civilian aircraft types in history (Ilyushin IL-2 and Cessna 172, respectively).

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