All About Cessna 182: Its History and How it Holds Up Today
In 1956, Cessna Aircraft Company introduced Cessna 182, a 1,202 kg four-seat light aircraft with a fixed landing gear that was popular among Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Over the years, it has been modified and improved to accommodate more passengers and to cover longer distances.
Related article: The History of Cessna
Newer models are also faster, can carry more weight, and are equipped with a rear window.
A year later, the company launched its higher-end version called Skylane equipped with wheel pants, standard radios, and full paint instead of the bare aluminum body of the previous model.
At a quick glance, Skylane and the initial production version 182 seemed different because of their physical appearance and the types of equipment on board; however, both were powered by a carbureted 230 hp (172 kW) Continental O-470-L piston engine.
The 182 is equipped for day and night visual flight rules (VFR) and instrumental flight rules (IFR).
Performance
The Cessna 182 is a single engine, all-metal light aircraft equipped with high wings, a steerable nose wheel, two main wheels, and a tricycle landing gear.
In terms of the aircraft engine system, it carries horizontally opposed six-cylinder overhead valves, fuel-injected engine called Lycoming Model IO-540-AB1A5, which is rated at 230 hp at 2400 RPM. Meanwhile, at the base of its internal combustion engine is a lubrication system.
Other major components of the throttle- and propeller-controlled engine include dual magnetos, belt-integrated starter generator, fuel flow oil filter, and vacuum pump.
Meanwhile, the light aircraft’s fuel system is a two 46 gallon vented integral fuel tank, allowing it to have a maximum travel range of 915 nautical miles (or 1,695 km). It also consists of a four-position selector valve, a dual stack, two wing manifolds, a fuel strainer, and an electrically driven auxiliary fuel pump.
The engine-mounted part of the fuel system, on the other hand, consists of fuel injection nozzles, fuel and air control unit, fuel distribution, and engine-driven fuel pump.
This iconic Cessna light aircraft has a fuel system in which it flows from the two tanks from the wings and into a four-position selector valve. Then, the fuel flows through the accessory fuel pump and fuel strainer before it reaches the engine-driven fuel pump. Through the fuel return system, some portion of the fuel is sent back to the plane’s wing tank.
Two primary busses supply most of the 182’s power; they consist of essential bus and crossfeed bus connected between the two main busses. The aircraft also carries a 28-volt direct current system, a 24-volt battery, and a 60-amp alternator.
As a “normal category” light aircraft, pilots cannot perform spins and other aerobic maneuvers with the 182.
Mainstay Favorite
Plane enthusiasts and pilot instructors mostly agree that Cessna 182 is ideal for pilots new to IFR flying with its strut-braced wing and fixed landing gear that makes the light aircraft “solid” and not “slippery” to fly.
Because of stability and ease of transition, the 182 has been a mainstay favorite among airplane enthusiasts even after 50 years of flying.
Clubs and Associations for Cessna 182
For the clubs and associations for Cessna 182, you may visit the following resources: