The Cessna 180 is a general aviation light aircraft produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas. This aircraft was in production from 1953 through 1981, and was designed to be a heavier, more powerful aircraft than the Cessna 170. Like the 170 model, the 180 was equipped with conventional landing gear. In 1956 the tricycle landing gear version was introduced as the Cessna 182, which soon was provided with the name "Skylane." Gradually, the Skylane replaced the earlier model and continues in production currently.

6,193 airplanes were manufactured from 1953 to 1981. The Continental O-470A was installed in the 1953 (which uniquely has no baggage door) and is 225 HP. The O-470J is in the 1954 and 1955 at 225 HP also. 1956 to 1961 have the 0-470K. 1962 to 1972 have the 0-470R. 1973 to 1976 have the 0-470S. 1977 to 1981 have the higher compression 0-470U engine.

An even heavier, more powerful version of this series was introduced in 1960 as the Cessna 185 Skywagon. 1953 to 1963 Cessna 180's have two side windows, while the 1964 to 1981 Cessna 180's share the three side window fusilage with the Cessna 185. A Cessna 180 that is able to be put on floats is referred to as a "float kitted" aircraft. Not all can be put on floats. Float kitted Cessna 180's from 1975 to 1981 have the larger dorsal fin of the 185.

The Cessna 180 gained early recognition and fame as the aircraft chosen by Geraldine Mock, the first woman pilot to successfully fly around the world in her 1953 "Spirit of Columbus", registration N1538C, Cessna 180. This aircraft is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute National Air and Space Museum seen here.

Although no longer in production, the Skywagon is considered a workhorse of an airplane, and is favored to this day by many who fly to and from remote, unimproved airstrips in places such as Alaska, and is the preferred aircraft still in use by the Colorado Division of Wildlife for monitoring wildlife and re-stocking fish in remote mountain lakes. The 180 and 185 have become deeply entrentched in bushflying, a rugged wilderness flying done in Canada and Alaska.

Specifications (180)

General characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Wing area: 174 ft² (16 m²)
• Empty: 1,520 lb (690 kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 2,550 lb (1,158 kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Continental O-470-A, 225 hp (170 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 167 mph (267 km/h)
• Range: 779 miles (1,247 km)
• Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,098 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (350 m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)