Cessna 182 Skylane Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Cessna 182 Skylane

Role	Light utility aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Cessna Aircraft Company
First flight	10 September 1955
Introduction	1956
Status	In production
Produced	1956–1985, 1996–2012, 2015–present
Number built	over 23,237
Developed from	Cessna 180

The Cessna 182 Skylane is a popular American airplane that can carry four people. It's built by a company called Cessna in Wichita, Kansas. You can even add two small seats in the back for children!

This airplane first flew in 1955 and was introduced in 1956. It has been made in many different versions. Some even have landing gear that can fold up into the plane. The Cessna 182 is the second most popular Cessna model still being made today, right after the Cessna 172.

How the Skylane Was Developed
How the Skylane Is Designed
- Planes with Retractable Landing Gear
Different Versions (Variants)
Who Uses the Cessna 182?
Specifications (Cessna 182T)
Images for kids
See also

How the Skylane Was Developed

The Cessna 182 was created in 1956. It was a new version of the Cessna 180 but with a different type of landing gear, called "tricycle gear" (one wheel at the front, two at the back). In 1957, the name Skylane was added.

Over the years, the Skylane got many upgrades. These included a wider body, a different tail, a bigger baggage area, and changes to its landing gear. When production started again in 1996 after a break, the planes had new engines and different seating designs.

Cessna also planned to make a new model, the 182T JT-A, which would use a special diesel engine. This engine would run on Jet-A fuel and be very fuel-efficient. The regular 182, which uses avgas, stopped being made in 2012 but came back into production in 2015.

Cessna 182s were also built in other countries. They were made in Argentina as the A182 and in France by Reims Aviation as the F182.

How the Skylane Is Designed

The Cessna 182 is mostly made of metal, especially a light material called aluminum alloy. However, some parts, like the engine cover and wingtips, are made from fiberglass or plastic.

Its wings look similar to those on the smaller Cessna 172 and the larger 205/206 planes. But some parts of the wing, like the flaps and ailerons, are designed like those on the 172.

Planes with Retractable Landing Gear

From 1978 to 1986, Cessna offered versions of the 182 with landing gear that could fold up. These were called the R182 and TR182 (the "T" meant it had a turbocharger for better performance). Cessna called the R182 the "Skylane RG," where "RG" stands for Retractable Gear.

These retractable gear models could climb faster and fly 10-15% quicker than the ones with fixed gear. They also used less fuel at the same speeds. However, they cost more to maintain.

The landing gear on the Skylane RG uses a hydraulic system, which is like a fluid-powered system. An electric pump makes it work. If the pilot slows down the engine or extends the flaps too much, a warning sound tells them if the gear is still up. If the electric pump fails, the pilot can use a hand pump to lower the gear, but they can't manually pull it back up.

Different Versions (Variants)

The Cessna 182 has been made in many different versions over the years. Each version often has small improvements or changes. Here are some of the main types:

182 and 182A Skylane to 182R Skylane: These were the early models with fixed landing gear. They usually had a 230 horsepower (hp) Continental piston engine. Over time, their maximum takeoff weight increased, meaning they could carry more.
182S Skylane and 182T Skylane: These are newer models that started production in 1996. They have a more modern 230 hp Lycoming engine with fuel injection. The 182T is the only version still being made today.
R182 Skylane RG and TR182 Turbo Skylane RG: These versions have retractable landing gear, which means the wheels can fold up into the plane. This makes the plane faster and more fuel-efficient. The "TR" version also has a turbocharger, which helps the engine perform better at higher altitudes.
T182 and T182T Skylane: These models have fixed landing gear but include a turbocharged engine, giving them more power.
T182JT-A Turbo Skylane JT-A: This was an experimental version designed to use a diesel engine that runs on jet fuel. It was planned to be very efficient.
Robertson STOL 182: This is a special version that was modified to have "STOL" capabilities. STOL stands for "Short Takeoff and Landing," meaning it can take off and land in very short distances.

Who Uses the Cessna 182?

The Cessna 182 is a very popular plane used all over the world by many different groups.

Civilian Users

Many private pilots own and fly the 182.
It's used by flight schools to teach new pilots how to fly.
Cadet organizations also use it for training and activities.

Government Users

Argentine Federal Police: Uses one for training.
Federal Police (Belgium): Uses the aircraft.
Transport Canada: Used one for a while.
Civil Air Patrol (United States): Uses the 182 for important missions like searching for missing people and helping with homeland security.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (United States): Uses some 182s as surveillance aircraft with special equipment.

Military Users

Several countries' militaries use the Cessna 182 for various tasks, including training and light transport. Some of these include:

Afghan Air Force
Argentine Army Aviation
Austrian Air Force
Belize Defence Force Air Wing
Canadian Army (retired)
Ecuadorian Army
Air Force of El Salvador
Indonesian Air Force
Mexican Air Force
United Arab Emirates Air Force
Uruguayan Air Force
Venezuelan Army
Venezuelan Air Force

Specifications (Cessna 182T)

Data from Cessna and AOPA

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 3 passengers
Length: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
Wing area: 174 sq ft (16.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,970 lb (894 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 3,100 lb (1,406 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 air-cooled flat-six, 230 hp (170 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed constant speed

Performance

Maximum speed: 150 kn (173 mph; 278 km/h)
Cruise speed: 145 kn (167 mph; 269 km/h)
Stall speed: 49 kn (56 mph; 91 km/h)
Never exceed speed: 175 kn (201 mph; 324 km/h)
Range: 930 nmi (1,070 mi; 1,722 km)
Service ceiling: 18,100 ft (5,500 m)
Rate of climb: 924 ft/min (4.69 m/s)

Images for kids

1956 Cessna 182 on floats
Cessna R182 Skylane RG, one of two variants with retractable landing gear
The Cockpit of a Cessna 182M Skylane
A 1958 Cessna 182A landing
A 1967 model Cessna 182K belonging to the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association
A Cessna 182P
A Reims Cessna F182Q
A Cessna 182Q with a special SMA SR305-230 engine
A Cessna T182T
A Cessna 182J
A 1981 Cessna 182R Skylane
The cockpit of a T182T with a Garmin G1000 system
3-view line drawing of the Cessna 182B Skylane
3-view line drawing of the Cessna 182M Skylane