User Guide

The Fleet
173
8
Citation X. After many decades of success, it
seems Cessna will continue its eminent role in
general aviation well into the future.
Cessna 182S Skylane and
Skylane RG
When Cessna saw how well their Model 180 was
selling, they looked for a way to make it an even
bigger success; the answer was the Model 182.
The 182 first flew in 1956 and its big advancement
was the patented Land-O-Matic tricycle landing
gear (weren’t the fifties grand?), which make
landing and ground handling easier, attracting
would-be pilots who didn’t want to fly
taildraggers. During the model’s lifespan it has
been beefed up, modified, and released in
retractable-gear (RG) and turbocharged (T)
versions. Like all the Cessna piston aircraft,
production of the 182 was halted in 1986 due to
market forces and the high price of product
liability insurance premiums. Now, the 182 is back
in a new incarnation.
The Cessna 182 Skylane feels and acts like a
heavier, more powerful version of its sibling, the
172 Skyhawk. While there is nothing tricky about
flying the 182, pilots shouldn’t underestimate it;
the Skylane doesn’t tolerate indifferent pilot
technique.
The airplane is a workhorse and a very stable
platform for flying on instruments. Even with a full
tank, the 182 carries a family-size useful load and
performs admirably as an aerial sport utility
vehicle.
One of the improvements in the new 182s is that
they now have a wet wing (the fuel is stored
directly inside the wing). Older models had a
rubber fuel bladder in the wing that could wrinkle
as it aged, creating nice little pockets in which
water could accumulate. Water and avgas don’t
make for a good fuel mix.
Also new is the choice of the Textron Lycoming
IO-540-AB1A5 engine (Textron owns Cessna)
producing 230 hp at 2,400 rpm. This makes the
Skylane a fuel-injected airplane for the first time,
eliminating the threat of carburetor icing. The
three-bladed McCauley prop helps complete the
grown-up appearance of the new Skylane.
What isn’t new for the Skylane is a retractable-
gear version. The RG included in Microsoft Flight
Simulator is based on earlier models, since
Cessna is currently producing only the fixed-gear
Skylane. The RG makes a nice transition for pilots
desiring a more complex airplane that will get you
where you’re going 15 knots (28 kmh) faster than
the fixed-gear model at top speed.
Over the years, the empty weight and useful load
of the Skylane have decreased through succes-
sive models. Since it has retained the same power
plant output, it has slightly higher maximum and
cruise speeds. Range has been extended in all
models with larger fuel capacity.
It’s easy to see why Microsoft has offered the
versatile and time-tested 182 in every version of
Flight Simulator since its introduction. It’s an
aviation legend: in the realm of flight simulation
and in the real world.
For details on flying this aircraft, see the Aircraft
Information section of Help.