Four-seat high-performance touring and utility aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1997–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Cessna 182T Skylane costs approximately $576k (€534k) to $689k (€638k) to buy at 2023 market values, and about $47k (€43k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $586 (€543) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 145 kt (167 mph) and has a published range of 915 nm (1,695 km), needing about 1,512 ft (461 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The 182 Skylane is the 172's grown-up sibling: 50 more horsepower, a constant-speed prop and the payload to actually carry four adults and fuel, which is where it earns its loyal following among travelling owners. It is a superb stable IFR platform. In return it burns more, costs more to own, and its nose-heavy trim means landings reward speed control, because flaring fast will wheelbarrow it. A strong all-rounder for owners who need real load without stepping up to complex or high-performance economics.
The current Cessna 182T Skylane is a fixed-gear, high-wing touring single that trades the 172's training economy for more useful load, fuel capacity and take-off performance. Textron publishes the exact reference figures shown in the technical table. Its mission case is practical cabin and runway utility, but every proposed four-person trip still needs the individual aircraft's empty weight and approved loading calculation.
The larger engine and airframe raise fuel, insurance and maintenance exposure compared with a trainer, but a universal repair interval or price would be misleading. Engine history, cylinder condition, corrosion, firewall and nose-gear evidence, avionics and modifications belong in the pre-buy. The type also rewards disciplined approach speed and trim; training and the condition of one aircraft matter more than a model-level handling label.
Families, backcountry flyers and owners who genuinely need to fill all four seats and still carry the fuel to travel.
Pilots who fly solo most of the time and would be paying for lift and speed they never use.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,406 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 503 kg |
| Usable fuel | 329 L |
| Landing distance | 411 m |
| Service ceiling | 18,100 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 924 ft/min |
| Stall speed | 49 KCAS |
| Baggage weight | 91 kg |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, 230 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 805 lb (365 kg) |
| Published planning range | 915 nm (1,695 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 613 nm (1,135 km) |
| Cruise speed | 145 kt (167 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,512 ft (461 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $27k (€25k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $248 (€230) |
A strong real-world four-seat traveller, but fuel burn and nose-heavy handling demand more budget and discipline than a 172.
Indicative cash costs at 2023 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $37k (€34k) | $923 (€855) | $811k (€751k) |
| 80 h / year | $47k (€43k) | $586 (€543) | $861k (€797k) |
| 120 h / year | $57k (€53k) | $473 (€438) | $910k (€843k) |
| 180 h / year | $72k (€66k) | $398 (€369) | $985k (€912k) |
Every figure above is built from a $27k (€25k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $248 (€230) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $53k (€49k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Cessna 182T Skylane cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2023 market price for a Cessna 182T Skylane is $576k (€534k) to $689k (€638k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Cessna 182T Skylane works out at roughly $47k (€43k) annually, which is about $586 (€543) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $248 (€230).
Published range is 915 nm (1,695 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 613 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,512 ft (461 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.
Direct comparisons against the models buyers most often weigh against this one.