This 1956 Cessna 182 Skylane Is an Updated Antique ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

First-year example of the classic plane stands ready for modern missions.

Jonathan Welsh

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1956 Cessna 182 Skylane [Credit: Jeremy Schaad]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft For Sale's "Today’s Top Pick" is a 1956 Cessna 182 Skylane, chosen for its unique blend of vintage style and modern functionality.
This first-year Skylane model retains its classic straight tail and tall landing gear, complemented by a modernized panel featuring Garmin GTN 650, dual G5s, and a GFC 500 autopilot.
It boasts a recently rebuilt Continental O-470L engine and McCauley propeller, each with only 27 hours of operation, plus a Sportsman STOL kit and other enhancements.
Priced at $215,000, this aircraft is presented as a practical and reliable antique choice for diverse operations, from family transport to short-field and backcountry travel.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1956 Cessna 182 Skylane.

Cessna’s 182 Skylane, long renowned as an all-round performer that does everything well, has been defining the general aviation market since the mid-1950s. Its formidable power and useful load make it a utilitarian standout and a good choice for cross-country family transport, short-field operations, and travel in the backcountry.

1956 Cessna 182 Skylane [Credit: Jeremy Schaad]

The aircraft for sale today is of particular interest because it is a first-year example of the landmark design, with the appealing straight tail and tall landing gear that characterize early Skylanes. The aircraft exhibits the appealing combination of vintage, midcentury style and modern avionics that make it a safer, more practical traveling machine for today’s pilots. Its low-time engine and propeller promise to deliver years of dependable service.

This 1956 Cessna 182 has 2,780 hours on the airframe and 27 hours on its Continental O-470L engine, which was rebuilt by Firewall Forward in 2025, and 27 hours on its McCauley propeller. The aircraft has a useful load of 554 pounds.

Additional equipment includes an AGM battery, tailwheel STC, Sportsman STOL kit, engine heater, Plane-Power alternator conversion, pitot heat, P.Ponk folding rear seats, one-piece windscreen, and new tires, tubes, and rotors within the last three years.

This antique Cessna’s panel is up-to-date. [Credit: Jeremy Schaad]

The modernized panel features a Garmin GTN 650 navigator, dual Garmin G5s, Garmin GFC 500 dual axis autopilot, GTX 335 transponder, electric turn and bank, and JPI EDM 900 certified engine monitor with new fuel sending units.

Pilots looking for a classic antique aircraft with enough power, useful load and reliability to be practical in today’s airspace should consider this 1956 Cessna 182 Skylane, which is available for $215,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use our airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.