Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide
Cessna 185 Skywagon · Model Guide
Overview
The Cessna 185 Skywagon is a single-engine piston, 4 to 6 seat, fixed-gear tailwheel utility aircraft built from 1961 to 1985. Registry data for the whole 185 family (185 through A185F) shows up to 145 kt cruise, up to 700 nm range, up to 18000 ft ceiling and up to 5 passengers. Treat those as family maximums, not figures for any one example.
- Check the tail cone first. AD 2018-CE-060-AD requires inspecting the known crack area every 500 flight hours or 5 years, whichever comes first.
- The Cessna 185 Skywagon has fixed conventional spring gear and a tailwheel. A titanium main gear STC exists for the 180 and 185.
- One listed 1977 A185F had 2262 hours, 1397 lbs useful load, an IO-550 engine and 84 gallons of fuel. The asking price was $320,000 in September 2023.
- A Cleveland wheel and brake conversion kit (199-62A, STC SA63GL) covers 180, 185 and 206 series aircraft.
Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.
Reference only, not for flight. Use the current approved manual for your aircraft. See terms, section 5.
Document
Source
Copy found at sprinkle.com. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type ·
- Model Guide
- Year ·
- 2026
- File size ·
- 50 KB
- Copy found at ·
- sprinkle.com
Specifications & performance
Extracted from this document.
Specifications
- Example 185a full fuel (gal) ·
- 84.5
- Example a185f useful load (lb) ·
- 1,397
- Example a185f long range fuel (gal) ·
- 84
Performance
- Family max range (nm) ·
- 700
- Family max cruise speed (kt) ·
- 145
- Observed 185a climb rate (fpm) ·
- 1,000
- Family max service ceiling (ft) ·
- 18,000
When was the Cessna 185 Skywagon built and how many seats does it have?
The Cessna 185 Skywagon was built from 1961 to 1985. It seats 4 to 6 and is a single-engine piston aircraft.
What is the main inspection item on a Cessna 185 Skywagon?
The tail cone. AD 2018-CE-060-AD covers the Cessna 185 Skywagon, 180 and 182, and requires inspection every 500 flight hours or 5 years, whichever comes first. A reinforcement angle splice STC is available.
How much fuel can a Cessna 185 Skywagon carry?
A 1962 185A in an AAIB report had full wing tanks of 84.5 USG. A 1977 A185F listing described long-range fuel of 84 gallons on a Cessna 185 Skywagon.
What is the Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide?
The Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide is a model guide for the Cessna 185 Skywagon, dated 2026.
What year was the Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide published?
The Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide — the Cessna 185 Skywagon model guide on file — is dated 2026.
Common. More common than 99% of the aircraft models we track.
Most owners only have the POH. Here's the essential set for the Cessna 185 Skywagon.
- Pilot's Operating Handbook / AFM
- Checklist
- Maintenance Manual
- Parts Catalog (IPC)
- Systems & Wiring
- Service Bulletins on file
- Type Certificate (TCDS)
Cessna 185 Skywagon for sale now
Free — save the 185 to your watchlist and track it in one place.
More Cessna 185 Skywagonmanuals & documents
- INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS TEXTRON AVIATION (CESSNA) MODEL 180 & 185 - TITANIUM MAIN LANDING GEARService Manual
- Instructions for Continued AirworthinessAirworthiness Directives
- AAIB Bulletin: 8/2021Other Documents
- User ManualV Speeds Reference
- IM199-62A INSTALLATION MANUAL WITH IPL FOR CONVERSION KIT PART NO. 199-62AWeight & Balance
- STABILIZER JACKSCREW ACCESS COVERWeight & Balance
- 1977 Cessna A185FSpecifications
- Cessna 180/185 Series 1969 thru 1976 Service ManualService Bulletins
If you fly the Cessna 185 Skywagon, you may also be researching these.
In this document
Tail cone and airframe
The tail cone reinforcement angle is a known crack area. A McFarlane STC splice replaces the OEM angle, and it can also be fitted to an already cracked aircraft. At each 100 hour or annual inspection, check the splice rivets and bolts, look for skin cracks or dents, check the stabilizer for play, and check that trim moves freely. Cessna Service Letter SEL-55 covers the stabilizer pivot inspection.
Landing gear and brakes
The gear legs bolt and wedge into a gear box. Each leg carries a fixed axle and an independently controlled brake. The titanium gear STC instructions call for routine gear inspection at 50 hour intervals. Cleveland wheels and brakes can be fitted with kit 199-62A. A stabilizer jackscrew access cover kit (SK185-27, 1981) is available for the 180, 185 and A185.
What a well-equipped example looks like
A 1977 A185F listing showed an IO-550 engine, a three-blade prop, 84 gallons of long-range fuel, a float kit never used, an S-Tec 50 autopilot and a JPI 700 engine monitor. It also showed complete logs, repairs only at 980 TT in 1987, and no corrosion. The seller says the buyer must verify the specification.
Safety notes
- An AAIB report on a 1962 185A found no fault that caused the accident. The pilot likely became incapacitated after takeoff, or the aircraft was slightly out of trim.
- The AAIB pilot had 395 hours, only 42 of them on type. Plan type-specific training before flying a Cessna 185 Skywagon.
- If the tail cone shows cracks or dents, remove the horizontal stabilizer and inspect it per Cessna Service Letter SEL-55.
Full document text
Cessna 185 Skywagon Model Guide The Cessna 185 Skywagon is a single-engine piston, 4 to 6 seat, fixed-gear tailwheel utility aircraft built from 1961 to 1985. Registry data for the whole 185 family (185 through A185F) shows up to 145 kt cruise, up to 700 nm range, up to 18000 ft ceiling and up to 5 passengers. Treat those as family maximums, not figures for any one example. • Check the tail cone first. AD 2018-CE-060-AD requires inspecting the known crack area every 500 flight hours or 5 years, whichever comes first. • The Cessna 185 Skywagon has fixed conventional spring gear and a tailwheel. A titanium main gear STC exists for the 180 and 185. • One listed 1977 A185F had 2262 hours, 1397 lbs useful load, an IO-550 engine and 84 gallons of fuel. The asking price was $320,000 in September 2023. • A Cleveland wheel and brake conversion kit (199-62A, STC SA63GL) covers 180, 185 and 206 series aircraft. Tail cone and airframe The tail cone reinforcement angle is a known crack area. A McFarlane STC splice replaces the OEM angle, and it can also be fitted to an already cracked aircraft. At each 100 hour or annual inspection, check the splice rivets and bolts, look for skin cracks or dents, check the stabilizer for play, and check that trim moves freely. Cessna Service Letter SEL-55 covers the stabilizer pivot inspection. Landing gear and brakes The gear legs bolt and wedge into a gear box. Each leg carries a fixed axle and an independently controlled brake. The titanium gear STC instructions call for routine gear inspection at 50 hour intervals. Cleveland wheels and brakes can be fitted with kit 199-62A. A stabilizer jackscrew access cover kit (SK185-27, 1981) is available for the 180, 185 and A185. What a well-equipped example looks like A 1977 A185F listing showed an IO-550 engine, a three-blade prop, 84 gallons of long-range fuel, a float kit never used, an S-Tec 50 autopilot and a JPI 700 engine monitor. It also showed complete logs, repairs only at 980 TT in 1987, and no corrosion. The seller says the buyer must verify the specification. Safety notes: • An AAIB report on a 1962 185A found no fault that caused the accident. The pilot likely became incapacitated after takeoff, or the aircraft was slightly out of trim. • The AAIB pilot had 395 hours, only 42 of them on type. Plan type-specific training before flying a Cessna 185 Skywagon. • If the tail cone shows cracks or dents, remove the horizontal stabilizer and inspect it per Cessna Service Letter SEL-55.