Cessna 180 Skywagon vs Cessna 185 Skywagon
Head-to-head — specs, at a glance.
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iCessna 180 Skywagon
The Cessna 180 Skywagon is one of the most revered backcountry aircraft ever produced. First flown on May 26, 1952, and entering production for the 1953 model year, the 180 established itself as the definitive do-anything, go-anywhere four-to-six-seat single. A total of 6,193 Cessna 180s were manufactured between 1953 and 1981, and they remain among the most sought-after tailwheel aircraft on the used market.
- +Premier backcountry STOL performer with legendary ruggedness
- +Excellent parts availability and mechanic familiarity across GA network
- +Strong useful load (1,100+ lbs) and outstanding fuel endurance (6+ hours)
- !Tailwheel configuration demands proficiency; not beginner-friendly
- !Continental O-470 overhaul costs $28k–$45k at or near TBO
- !Expensive exhaust system replacement ($3k–$5k) with known cracking tendency
Cessna 185 Skywagon
The Cessna 185 Skywagon is, simply put, THE Alaska bush plane. Produced from 1961 to 1985 with over 4,400 built, the 185 is a 300-horsepower brute that can haul more than its own empty weight, operate from unimproved strips and water, and do it all with the reliability of a Cessna airframe backed by one of the most common engine families in general aviation. If the cessna-180-skywagon is the nimble mountain goat, the 185 is the pack mule that carries everything and everyone.
- +Exceptional useful load (~1,500 lbs) for single-engine tailwheel
- +Proven Alaska bush capability on wheels, floats, or tundra tires
- +Strong parts and mechanic support across Cessna/Continental ecosystem
- !Tailwheel ground handling requires skilled pilots; not for novices
- !IO-520-D overhaul at TBO is expensive ($38,000–$58,000)
- !Age-related airframe corrosion (belly skins, float fittings) on used examples
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