Cessna 180 Skywagon

The Cessna 180 Skywagon is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush flying.

Development

thumb|right|1960 Cessna 180

Cessna introduced the heavier and more powerful 180 as a complement to the Cessna 170. It eventually came to be known as the Skywagon, with the name appearing in promotional material by 1973.

The prototype Cessna 180, N41697, first flew on May 26, 1952. Cessna engineering test pilot William D. Thompson was at the controls.

In all its versions, 6,193 Cessna 180s were manufactured. In 1956, a tricycle gear version of this design was introduced as the Cessna 182, which came to bear the name Skylane. Additionally, in 1960, Cessna introduced a heavier, more powerful sibling to the 180, the conventional gear Cessna 185. For a time, all three versions of the design were in production. The Cessna factory obtained the aircraft and kept it at the Pawnee (Wichita, Kansas) manufacturing plant after the epic flight, suspended from the ceiling over one of the manufacturing lines. It is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Variants

Cessna has historically used model years similar to U.S. auto manufacturers, with sales of new models typically starting a few months prior to the actual calendar year.

;180

:Introduced for the 1953 model year with four seats, all-metal construction, a Continental O-470-A engine driving a constant-speed propeller, a squared vertical tail (as opposed to previous types' rounded tails), "Para-Lift" flaps, spring steel landing gear with a steerable tail wheel, and a gross weight of . The 1954 model year introduced a O-470-J engine and interior refinements. 1956 introduced a O-470-K engine with a new air intake duct. Certified on 23 December 1952. 641 (1953), 620 (1954), 891 (1955), and 512 (1956) built.

thumb|A 1957 Cessna on display at [[RAF Hullavington|Hullavington Airfield, England.]]

;180A

:Introduced for the 1957 model year with revised instrument panel, improved tailwheel steering, a new parking brake, and an increased gross weight of . Certified on 17 December 1956. 694 total built; 444 (1957) and 250 (1958).

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:Introduced for the 1973 model year with a new "Camber-Lift" wing with a redesigned leading edge, a revised instrument panel, and nose-mounted landing/taxi lights. The 1974 model year introduced optional cabin door bubble windows for improved downward visibility. 1975 introduced a Continental O-470-S engine. Certified on 13 October 1972. 100 (1973), 116 (1974), 120 (1975), and 150 (1976). The 1978 model year introduced the Skywagon II with a preferred options package. All subsequent model years featured only minor changes. Certified on 19 August 1976. 433 total built; 135 (1977), 95 (1978), 115 (1979), 52 (1980), and 36 (1981).

Australian Army Aviation

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Union of Burma Air Force

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Public Force of Costa Rica

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Salvadoran Air Force

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Guatemalan Air Force

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Honduran Air Force

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Indonesian Air Force

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Israeli Air Force

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Khmer Air Force

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Nicaraguan Air Force

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Philippine Air Force

Specifications (1978 Cessna 180 II landplane)

frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Cessna 180E

References

Bibliography

External links

National Air and Space Museum exhibit of Jerry Mock's Cessna 180, "Spirit of Columbus"
FAA N1538C "Spirit of Columbus" Returns to Public Display at the NASM's Steven Udvar-Hazy Center