AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 90) AOPAPILOT 50 years Then and now Flying a 182 from Oregon to California BY STEVEN W. ELLS I n 1958 general aviation was growing as businesses began to see the value of using small airplanes to better serve their clientele. That year Cessna introduced the Skylane, a deluxe version of its popular 182 series. Improvements included a bungee-type rudder trim system, wheel pants, a full instrument panel, and the relocation of the exhaust pipe exit to the right side of the lower cowl. Appearance changes included a three-color overall paint scheme—earlier 182s schemes used paint for trim accents over bare aluminum. Cessna sold 802 of the models that year at a base price of $14,350 for the 182 and $17,095 for the Skylane version. The 182 has been a mainstay of the Cessna single-engine line since its introduction. Many consider it the best allaround general aviation airplane ever made. To illuminate the progress made during the past 50 years, let’s look at the PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FIZER AOPA PILOT • 90 • MARCH 2008
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