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The Art of Sailing
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[ FLY ]
CHAMPION OF VERSATILITY
Agile, straightforward flight deck management and easy to pilot. The Cessna 182 has made history and the “T” version fits right in, making improvements in cabin materials and comfort by Sergio Barlocchetti - Ph. courtesy by Cessna
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[ FLY ]
I
don’t think there’s a single private pilot in the world who
within the parameters. However, if I can be a bit pernickety, the
hasn’t flown a Cessna 182 Skylane at least once. And the fact
one thing it does lack is air conditioning as standard.
that thousands of examples have come off the production line
The price of around 600,000 dollars buys high level equipment that
between 1956 and 1985 and then 1996 to today is largely down to
also includes a Bluetooth mobile phone interface and the ability to
its personality as an airborne saloon car that can carry family and
pipe music through the on-board intercom.
luggage without too many limitations and concerns. Old-school all-
To give the C182T a thorough workout I decided to carry out
aluminium construction means low-cost repairs and almost infinite
the test at Milan’s general aviation airport, callsign ICAO LIMB,
product lifetime.
where the runway is only a thousand metres long, tall buildings
So when Cessna invited me to test fly their “T” version equipped
surround the airfield and the outside temperature at three in the
with Garmin 1000Nxi avionics, I jumped at the chance. This
afternoon in mid-June was 34 °C. These conditions inevitably have
instrumentation means that the flight plan can be sent directly from
a negative impact on the performance of the 230hp Lycoming IO-
a tablet, weight and centre of gravity can be checked without having
540 piston engine, so we’d see how well the three-blade McCauley
to calculate them – which avoids errors – and you board a cockpit
prop transforms the power into thrust. What’s more there were four
fitted out like a luxury saloon car, although the aircraft retains the
of us on board and the fuel tanks were full to limit imposed by the
simplicity and economy that have made this model famous.
maximum permitted take-off weight of 3,100 pounds.
As 70% of private pilots learn to fly on a Cessna, there’s no need
The results were striking – we left the ground less than halfway
to wonder if you’ll be able to fly it, just read the manual and keep
along the runway, with the avionics suite providing a picture of
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The cockpit resembles the interior of a luxury saloon, complete with a full range of equipment, including Bluetooth mobile phone interface and the ability to pipe music through the on-board intercom
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[ FLY ]
The Cessna 182T is powered by a 230hp Lycoming IO-540 and features Garmin 1000Nxi avionics. It has a cruising speed of 145 knots and a range of 1,600 kilometres
the surrounding traffic and the characteristics of the airspace
The performance figures come in at a fast cruising speed of 145
over northern Italy, notorious for its complexity and heavy
knots, a range of over 1,600 km (if the aircraft isn’t loaded as
traffic. Climb performance was more than acceptable, easing
heavily as mine) and can use all available runways at least 1,600
our concerns about the proximity of the city centre, the autopilot
ft long. As a result the Cessna C182T can access spectacular
was easy to use, complete with self-levelling function and trim
coastal destinations like the island of Vrsar (Orsera) in Croatia,
controls that I put to the test above the town of Como and its
Elba, Venice Lido and Pantelleria in Italy and Siracusa in Sicily,
magnificent lake. Headphones are necessary on board this class
avoiding the high costs and red tape associated with large
of aircraft, but without active noise-cancelling phones it was even
international airports. It can cope with holdalls and golf clubs,
possible to enjoy some classical music, which mostly occupies
and our companions will be all the happier when they can take
the mid-range rather than the concentration in the high and bass
along that extra pair of shoes!
registers typical of rock music.
www.cessna.com
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