Cessna Skylane 182

Overview

The Cessna 182T Skylane is the current-production flagship of the Cessna 182 line, built from 2001 and powered by a fuel-injected, 230-horsepower Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 turning a McCauley constant-speed propeller. Most serial numbers carry the Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck, and the airframe modernizes the classic high-wing Skylane with a 28-volt electrical system and fuel injection that removes the carburetor-icing concern of the older O-470 models. The result is an honest four-seat airplane that cruises about 145 knots true at 7,000 feet and carries roughly 1,186 pounds of useful load.

It sits in the middle of Cessna’s single-engine line: a clear step up in power and payload from the 172 Skyhawk, and the fixed-gear parent of the retractable R182 Skylane RG. With 87 usable gallons it reaches a maximum range near 930 nautical miles at economy power, and its heavy, stable control feel makes it a favored instrument platform. Buyers commonly cross-shop it against the Cirrus SR22 and the Piper Cherokee 235 class, where it trades outright speed for load-hauling flexibility and deep parts and service support.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• True four-person payload. A useful load near 1,186 pounds lets a 182T carry four adults and a sensible fuel load without the strict fuel-versus-passengers compromise that limits many four-seaters.
• Modern, fuel-injected systems. The 230-horsepower IO-540 and 28-volt electrical system remove carburetor icing from the picture, and most airframes carry the Garmin G1000 glass panel.
• Stable instrument platform. Heavy control feel and high-wing stability keep the airplane planted where the pilot trims it, which makes it forgiving in instrument and turbulent conditions.
• Strong resale and support. Skylanes hold value well and draw on a deep base of parts, mechanics, and type-specific knowledge across the fleet.
• MOSAIC sport-pilot eligible airframe. A clean stall near 56 KCAS sits under the 59 KCAS sport-pilot gate, so the airframe qualifies under MOSAIC, subject to the endorsement noted below.

Trade-offs

• High-performance endorsement required. The 230-horsepower engine puts the 182T above the 200-horsepower threshold, so a pilot needs a high-performance sign-off before acting as pilot in command, MOSAIC airframe eligibility notwithstanding.
• Nose-heavy in the flare. The heavy IO-540 up front gives the Skylane a well-documented nose-down tendency on landing; deft trimming and proper technique protect the nosegear and firewall.
• Built for utility, not speed. Expect a solid 140 to 145 knots true rather than the cruise of a Cirrus SR22 or a Mooney; the high wing and fixed gear trade drag for visibility and easy loading.
• Modern-airframe pricing. As a current-production-era airplane, a clean 182T carries a higher purchase price and hull value, and the insurance and inspection costs that go with them, than the vintage Skylanes.

See Also

• Cessna Skylane RG – the retractable-gear development of the same airframe, about 15 to 20 knots faster but with complex-gear upkeep and an added endorsement. Compare
• Cessna 206 Stationair – the larger six-seat single in the Cessna line for buyers who need more cabin and payload. Compare
• Cessna 210 Centurion – the faster, longer-legged retractable six-seat step up. Compare
• Piper Cherokee 235 – the low-wing, fixed-gear competitor with comparable power and a large useful load. Compare
• Cirrus SR22 – the modern composite high-performance single that buyers cross-shop for speed and avionics. Compare