Cessna 185 Skywagon vs Cessna 206H Stationair (1998-present)
Head-to-head — specs, at a glance.
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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
Cessna 206H Stationair (1998-present)
The 1998 Cessna 206H marked the **return of the Stationair to production** after the 1986-1997 litigation gap. The 206H carried forward the U206G airframe (3,600 lb gross, double cargo door, fixed gear, 6 seats) but swapped the Continental IO-520 for a **Lycoming IO-540-AC1A5** -- the same 300 HP fuel-injected Lycoming used in the new 182S Skylane. Approximately 2,000+ examples have been delivered through 2026 across 28 years of production (still in current production).
- +Still in active production with 2,000+ delivered; strong factory support
- +Lycoming IO-540 engine more reliable than predecessor Continental IO-520
- +G1000 NXi models (2014+) offer modern WAAS/VNAV/ADS-B capability
- !Useful load reduced 240 lbs vs U206G due to heavier engine and avionics
- !Early steam-gauge models (1998–2004) lack glass cockpit and modern autopilot integration
- !G1000 and GFC 700 systems require specialized repair support
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