Cessna 180 Skywagon

The Cessna 180 Skywagon is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush flying.

Development


Cessna introduced the heavier and more powerful 180 as a complement to the Cessna 170. It eventually came to be known as the Skywagon, with the name appearing in promotional material by 1973.

The prototype Cessna 180, N41697, first flew on May 26, 1952. Cessna engineering test pilot William D. Thompson was at the controls.

In all its versions, 6,193 Cessna 180s were manufactured. In 1956, a tricycle gear version of this design was introduced as the Cessna 182, which came to bear the name Skylane. Additionally, in 1960, Cessna introduced a heavier, more powerful sibling to the 180, the conventional gear Cessna 185. For a time, all three versions of the design were in production.

Design
The airframe of the 180 is all-metal, constructed of aluminum alloy. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque structure, with exterior skin sheets riveted to formers and longerons. The strut-braced wings, likewise, are constructed of exterior skin sheets riveted to spars and ribs. The landing gear of the 180 is in a conventional arrangement, with main gear legs made of spring steel, and a steerable tailwheel mounted on a hollow tapered steel tube.

Cessna 180s produced between 1953 and 1963 have two side windows, while 1964 to 1981 models feature three side windows, as they use the same fuselage as the Cessna 185. 180s can be equipped with floats and skis.

Record flight


The Cessna 180 gained recognition as the aircraft chosen by Geraldine Mock, the first woman pilot to successfully fly around the world. The flight was made in 1964 in her 1953 model, the Spirit of Columbus (N1538C), as chronicled in her book Three-Eight Charlie. The Cessna factory obtained the aircraft and kept it at the Pawnee (Wichita, Kansas) manufacturing plant after the epic flight, suspended from the ceiling over one of the manufacturing lines. It is currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Variants
Cessna has historically used model years similar to U.S. auto manufacturers, with sales of new models typically starting a few months prior to the actual calendar year.
 * 180
 * Introduced for the 1953 model year with four seats, all-metal construction, a 225 hp Continental O-470-A engine driving a constant-speed propeller, a squared vertical tail (as opposed to previous types' rounded tails), "Para-Lift" flaps, spring steel landing gear with a steerable tail wheel, and a gross weight of 2550 lb. The 1954 model year introduced a 225 hp O-470-J engine and interior refinements.  1956 introduced a 230 hp O-470-K engine with a new air intake duct.  Certified on 23 December 1952.  641 (1953), 620 (1954), 891 (1955), and 512 (1956) built.


 * 180A
 * Introduced for the 1957 model year with revised instrument panel, improved tailwheel steering, a new parking break, and an increased gross weight of 2650 lb. Certified on 17 December 1956.  694 total built; 444 (1957) and 250 (1958).


 * 1959 model year with a redesigned instrument panel. Certified on 22 August 1958.  306 built.
 * 1959 model year with a redesigned instrument panel. Certified on 22 August 1958.  306 built.


 * 1960 model year with a revised cowling with a new front-mounted intake filter. Powered by a 230 hp Continental O-470-K (also certified for the O-470-L or O-470-R).  Certified on 8 July 1959.  251 built.
 * 1960 model year with a revised cowling with a new front-mounted intake filter. Powered by a 230 hp Continental O-470-K (also certified for the O-470-L or O-470-R).  Certified on 8 July 1959.  251 built.


 * 180D
 * 1961 model year with a 230 hp Continental O-470-L engine (also certified for the O-470-R) and a redesigned instrument panel. Certified on 14 June 1960. 152 built.


 * 180E
 * 1962 model year with a 230 hp Continental O-470-R engine (also certified for the O-470-L), redesigned 65 gal fuel tanks or optional 84 gal tanks, and new wingtips. Certified on 21 September 1961.  112 built.


 * 180F
 * 1963 model year with an interior refinements, including semi-reclining seats, new rudder pedals, and instrument panel lighting controls. Certified on 25 June 1962.  129 built.


 * 180G
 * 1964 model year with the larger fuselage (minus the firewall), wings, and landing gear of the Model 185, an alternator, and provisions for an extra utility seat, bringing total capacity to six people. Gross weight was increased to 2800 lb.  These changes made the 180 largely identical to the 185, with the smaller dorsal fairing of the former being the primary external difference between the two models.  Certified on 19 July 1963.  133 built.


 * 180H
 * Introduced for the 1965 model year with the firewall of the 185, a redesigned instrument panel, and an improved fuel strainer. The 1966 model year featured improved door latches.  1967 introduced a pointed propeller spinner, increased stowage area, an Aeroflash rotating beacon, and an optional door on the left side.  1968 introduced new seat belts and stowable rudder pedals on the right side.  1970 introduced new wingtips and an optional external cargo pack with a capacity of 300 lb.  Certified on 17 June 1964.  839 total built; 162 (1965), 167 (1966), 101 (1967), 118 (1968), 110 (1969), 72 (1970), 46 (1971), and 63 (1972) built.


 * Introduced for the 1973 model year with a new "Camber-Lift" wing with a redesigned leading edge, a revised instrument panel, and nose-mounted landing/taxi lights. The 1974 model year introduced optional cabin door bubble windows for improved downward visibility.  1975 introduced a 230 hp Continental O-470-S engine.  Certified on 13 October 1972.  100 (1973), 116 (1974), 120 (1975), and 150 (1976).
 * Introduced for the 1973 model year with a new "Camber-Lift" wing with a redesigned leading edge, a revised instrument panel, and nose-mounted landing/taxi lights. The 1974 model year introduced optional cabin door bubble windows for improved downward visibility.  1975 introduced a 230 hp Continental O-470-S engine.  Certified on 13 October 1972.  100 (1973), 116 (1974), 120 (1975), and 150 (1976).


 * Introduced for the 1977 model year with a 230 hp Continental O-470-U engine for which AVGAS 100 or 100LL is specified (previous engines were designed for AVGAS 80, formerly called 80/87), a strengthened tailwheel, and rearranged flight instruments in a "T" configuration. The 1978 model year introduced the Skywagon II with a preferred options package.  All subsequent model years featured only minor changes.  Certified on 19 August 1976.  433 total built; 135 (1977), 95 (1978), 115 (1979), 52 (1980), and 36 (1981).
 * Introduced for the 1977 model year with a 230 hp Continental O-470-U engine for which AVGAS 100 or 100LL is specified (previous engines were designed for AVGAS 80, formerly called 80/87), a strengthened tailwheel, and rearranged flight instruments in a "T" configuration. The 1978 model year introduced the Skywagon II with a preferred options package.  All subsequent model years featured only minor changes.  Certified on 19 August 1976.  433 total built; 135 (1977), 95 (1978), 115 (1979), 52 (1980), and 36 (1981).

Military variants

 * U-17C
 * Eight 180E and nine 180H aircraft acquired by the United States military for export.

Civil
The Cessna 180 is popular with air charter companies and is operated by private individuals and companies.

Military
Guatemalan Air Force
 * Royal Australian Air Force
 * Australian Army Aviation
 * Union of Burma Air Force
 * Public Force of Costa Rica
 * Salvadoran Air Force
 * Public Force of Costa Rica
 * Salvadoran Air Force
 * Salvadoran Air Force
 * Honduran Air Force
 * Indonesian Air Force
 * Israeli Air Force
 * Khmer Republic
 * Khmer Air Force
 * Nicaraguan Air Force
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Nicaraguan Air Force
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Philippine Air Force