Classic Cessna

The 182T, the last of the avgas burning 182 series is classic Cessna – solid and dependable

Racing across an azure autumn sky two thoughts suddenly occurred to me – not only did the original 182 fly nearly 60 years ago – but the type is still in production today! Entirely conventional both in appearance and design, the Skylane is an all-metal, strut-braced high-wing monoplane, powered by a single piston engine turning a metal, controllable pitch propeller that looks remarkably similar to many other spatted and strutted single-engine Cessnas. Introduced in 1956 as a sort of tricycle version of the 180 (the name ‘Skylane’ was added the following year), it may not be the fastest, the prettiest, or the most charismatic aircraft on the ramp, but it really is a solid, dependable aircraft.

The sales speak for themselves – and not only within the civilian market. Around a dozen different air forces and government agencies purchased the aircraft, and by 1985 Cessna had built around over 20,000 Skylanes. The type was also built under licence in Argentina and France. That year – and due mainly to the increasingly litigious climate in the US at the time, Cessna suspended production of all piston-powered aircraft because of concern over product liability. In the mid-nineties Cessna announced that it was once again in the business of building piston-powered aircraft, and began production of the 172, 182 and the 206.

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