Beechcraft Bonanza 36 / A36 / G36 vs Cessna 182T Skylane
Head-to-head — specs, at a glance.
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Beechcraft Bonanza 36 / A36 / G36
**This page's specifications describe one airplane: the 300 hp Continental IO-550-B A36**, serials **E-1946, E-2104 and E-2111 through E-3635** — 1,526 of 3,450 A36 serials, built from 1984 to 2005. It is the largest single block on the certificate, and the only one with both a freely available handbook and a manufacturer's specification sheet. The 285 hp IO-520 airplanes that came before it are in the variants table with their own figures, and everything on this page that differs between them says so.
- +Six-seat capacity with double cargo doors — most versatile single-engine piston aircraft
- +176 KTAS cruise speed with 920 nm range — genuine cross-country performance
- +Excellent parts availability and mechanic familiarity — still in production as G36
- !Spar carry-through cracks are the single most significant structural concern for A36 models
- !Higher annual operating costs ($20k–$30k/year) and expensive overhauls limit affordability
- !Aging fuel cell bladders and landing gear actuators on mid-to-high-time airframes require planned replacement
Cessna 182T Skylane
The 2001-present Cessna 182T is the **current production 182** and the first Skylane with a glass cockpit (Garmin G1000) from the factory. The 182T inherited the 182S's airframe, Lycoming IO-540 engine, 3,100 lb gross, and 88+ gallon fuel system, then upgraded the panel to G1000 (and later G1000 NXi starting around 2014), added GFC 700 autopilot integration, and refined production quality. Approximately 1,200+ examples have been delivered through 2026, and production continues at modest volumes (40-80 units per year).
- +Factory-integrated Garmin G1000/G1000 NXi glass cockpit with modern avionics
- +GFC 700 autopilot (post-2001) with simplified integration compared to retrofit alternatives
- +Still in active production with strong factory support and parts availability
- !G1000 database currency and software updates require active maintenance and subscription costs
- !GFC 700 autopilot repairs require specialized technicians; not all shops are equipped
- !IO-540 mid-time cylinder compression issues can develop; requires careful pre-buy inspection
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