The Cessna 180 is a high-performance four place civil aviation aircraft that was first produced in February 1953. The 180 employed the same wing as the Model 170, but its fuselage and uncharacteristic straight tail, as compared to Cessna’s previous airplanes, were completely new designs. It also came equipped with a powerful 230 hp Continental O-470-R six-cylinder air-cooled engine. Purportedly, the 180 earned the name “Skywagon” because of its station-wagon-like uses. In 1953 the Cessna Skywagon sold new for approximately $13,000. The subsequent models 180 through the 180B differed only in internal cabin fittings while the C and D models featured a roomier cabin. The range of the 180E was increased by the addition of a new fuel system, and the 180G gave the pilot and passengers better visibility with more window area. Production of the Cessna 180 came to an end in 1981.
The Museum’s Cessna 180 Skywagon was built in 1963 and used extensively by the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) in Point Barrow, Alaska in the 1960’s. It is one of two airplanes that were the first light aircraft to fly over and land at the North Pole on May 24, 1963. The airplane would go on to work both for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The aircraft is on loan to the Museum from the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type Transport, amphibian, floatplane, and skiplane
Weight Empty 1,525 lbs., 2,800 lbs. loaded
Wingspan 36 ft. 2 in.
Length 25 ft. 6 in.
Height 7 ft. 6 1/2" in.
Power One 230hp Continental O-470-R six-
cylinder air-cooled engine
Manufacturer Cessna Aircraft Company
PERFORMANCE
Maximum Speed 170 mph
Cruise Speed 164 mph
Range 1,215 miles
Service Ceiling 19,000 ft.