Skylane Cessna 182 Today

The Skylane is not without its faults.

Requires roughly 1,500 feet for takeoff and 1,350 feet for landing, making it suitable for shorter, regional runways. Notable Features & Variants skylane cessna 182

| Aircraft | Pros vs. Skylane | Cons vs. Skylane | |----------|-------------------|------------------| | | Faster (180+ knots), parachute (CAPS), modern composite airframe. | Doubles the price ($700k used), higher insurance, smaller cabin, less utility. | | Diamond DA40 | Fantastic visibility, Euro styling, lower fuel burn. | Slower than Skylane, less useful load, tighter rear seats. | | Piper Cherokee 235/Dakota | Simple, stout gear, good hauler. | Out of production, less comfortable, slower cruise, smaller parts market. | | Cessna 172 Skyhawk | Cheap to buy and operate, easy to fly. | Over 30 knots slower, carries 500 lbs less, frustrating for long trips. | The Skylane is not without its faults

Capable of operating on short runways, with a takeoff ground roll of approximately 795 feet and landing roll of 590 feet . Evolution and Variants Skylane | Cons vs

The SR22 is faster and has a parachute, but it costs twice as much to maintain. The Bonanza is faster and sexier but has a tricky V-tail (on early models) and higher parts costs. The Skylane is the Toyota Land Cruiser of the sky—slow by modern car standards, but it will get you there every single time, on rough roads, in bad weather (within reason), and hold its value.

| Aircraft | Cruise Speed | Useful Load | Acquisition Cost | Cool Factor | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 145 kts | 1,100 lbs | $$ | Moderate | | Piper Dakota (PA-28-236) | 140 kts | 1,050 lbs | $$ | Low | | Beechcraft Bonanza A36 | 170 kts | 1,300 lbs | $$$$ | High | | Cirrus SR22 | 180 kts | 1,100 lbs | $$$$$ | Very High | | Cessna 172 Skyhawk | 115 kts | 850 lbs | $ | Low |