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 1976 Cessna 182Q Skylane King Katmai.
Pilots have long turned to the Cessna 182 Skylane when searching for an airplane that can handle the widest range of missions, from long cross-country trips between regional airports to jaunts into the backcountry, and operations from short, rough strips, river banks, and other off-airport sites. While the Skylane is not the top candidate for all performance categories, it is known for doing most things well. It is fairly fast, has good short-field performance, is easy to fly, and can haul a lot of weight.
The aircraft for sale today began its life as a stock Cessna 182 but underwent a King Katmai conversion by Peterson’s Performance Plus, a company known for modifying Skylanes. The Katmai treatment includes an engine upgrade for more horsepower and numerous aerodynamic and mechanical improvements.
Most noticeable, though, are the canards mounted to the aircraft’s nose just behind the propeller. These small flying surfaces increase stability during slow flight and allow the aircraft to maintain a flatter angle of attack and maneuver safely at speeds lower than would be possible without them.
The result is an airplane with stunning backcountry performance, including takeoff and landing distances under 300 feet. The King Katmai also is able to maneuver at lower speeds than a stock 182, allowing it to access confined landing areas beyond the reach of other airplanes.
This 1976 Skylane has 1,801 hours on the airframe, 398 hours since new on its 300 hp Continental IO-550 engine and McCauley three-blade propeller. The aircraft is equipped with GAMI injectors and a Reiff engine preheater, and has been updated with new custom paint and leather interior.
The panel features a Garmin G500 PFD, Garmin GTN 750 and GTN 650 GPS/nav/coms, GMA 35 audio panel, Garmin 33ES transponder, GI275 standby attitude indicator, GTS 800 traffic system, GDL 69A weather, S-Tec 55X autopilot, JPI EDM 830 engine monitor, JPI FS 450 fuel flow computer, carbon monoxide detector, and LED digital clock.
Additional equipment includes fully articulating front seats, Rosen sun visors, BAS front-seat shoulder harnesses, extended baggage compartment, RMD wing tips, LED landing and taxi lights, wing tip strobes, abrasion boots, and long range fuel tanks.
Pilots who are interested in the all-around utility for which the 182 is known, combined with the extreme short-field capabilities that come with Peterson modifications, should consider this 1976 Cessna 182Q King Katmai, which is available for $600,000 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.
- FLYING Magazine: What Are the Rectangular Things on My Cessna Skylane Elevators?
- FLYING Magazine: Ultimate Issue: We Fly the Cessna T182T Skylane
- Plane + Pilot: Why the Cessna 182 Skylane Is a Top Used Plane
- Plane + Pilot: Used Cessna 182 Skylanes
- AVweb: Cessna 182 Pre-Buy Check
- The Aviation Consumer: The Cessna 182 Skylane: History & Review
