Which Cessna Single Suits You?
Are you thinking about buying a Cessna single, you love the way the Cessna handles, but can't decide which one is the best for you? Here's a quick summary of the merits of the three most popular Cessna single commuters.
The Cessna 182: If you only plan on travelling with 4 people, the Cessna 182 has my money as the best plane for you.
It has a pretty good load capacity for a 4 seater, and has the same speed as the C206, however if speed is a concern, there are retractable options available, and a large number of speed kits available increasing the TAS to a similar range as the C210.
The C182 is a delightful plane to fly, and combined with good speeds and good loading, it has great STOL performance, those with a Robertson STOL kit (Seirra Industried) attract a takeoff and landing performance that almost rivals a Piper Cub, although not quite! The Cessna 206: The obvious reason to buy a C206 over a C182 is weight, or bums on seats.
A C182 will take an average payload of around 1000lbs, while a C206 will take 1500, and one has 4 seats one has 6.
Additionally the C206 cargo version comes with a double door on the right side for loading large equipment, and many models have the convenient cargo pod for added space and convenience with messy items.
Asides from this the two planes are very similar.
The speeds, performance, and handling are different, but these differences are almost so small only a connoisseur would notice, so really it's all about loading.
The Cessna 210: Is the answer speed? You might be thinking a C210 is just a faster, retractable version of a C206, and the answer is yes...
and no.
Yes, sure, it is faster and retractable, but no, as the differences don't end there.
A C210 has a lot of traps for the unwary infrequent flyer, and the speed advantage should be weighed carefully against the traps.
The wing is much more slippery, flap and gear speeds can trap pilots into mishandling the engine, and it's not remotely STOL.
Insurance requirements are much more stringent, and there's a reason for this! The speed comparison should be looked at realistically, at 120 versus 150 average block speeds, the difference only becomes significant on over 300nm legs.
Not surprisingly, this makes them perfectly suited to places like the Australian outback, Namibia, and the wide open parts of the US.
So if you want a 4 seat plan, it's hard to go past the C182, if you want a 6seat plane, likewise you can't beat the C206, and if you fly regularly, and most of your legs are long distances (300nm+) out of relatively long airfields (+/-1000m), the C210 is your plane.
Whichever plane you choose, first decide what you need to achieve, what your relative flying skills and situations entail, and then do the research thoroughly first!
The Cessna 182: If you only plan on travelling with 4 people, the Cessna 182 has my money as the best plane for you.
It has a pretty good load capacity for a 4 seater, and has the same speed as the C206, however if speed is a concern, there are retractable options available, and a large number of speed kits available increasing the TAS to a similar range as the C210.
The C182 is a delightful plane to fly, and combined with good speeds and good loading, it has great STOL performance, those with a Robertson STOL kit (Seirra Industried) attract a takeoff and landing performance that almost rivals a Piper Cub, although not quite! The Cessna 206: The obvious reason to buy a C206 over a C182 is weight, or bums on seats.
A C182 will take an average payload of around 1000lbs, while a C206 will take 1500, and one has 4 seats one has 6.
Additionally the C206 cargo version comes with a double door on the right side for loading large equipment, and many models have the convenient cargo pod for added space and convenience with messy items.
Asides from this the two planes are very similar.
The speeds, performance, and handling are different, but these differences are almost so small only a connoisseur would notice, so really it's all about loading.
The Cessna 210: Is the answer speed? You might be thinking a C210 is just a faster, retractable version of a C206, and the answer is yes...
and no.
Yes, sure, it is faster and retractable, but no, as the differences don't end there.
A C210 has a lot of traps for the unwary infrequent flyer, and the speed advantage should be weighed carefully against the traps.
The wing is much more slippery, flap and gear speeds can trap pilots into mishandling the engine, and it's not remotely STOL.
Insurance requirements are much more stringent, and there's a reason for this! The speed comparison should be looked at realistically, at 120 versus 150 average block speeds, the difference only becomes significant on over 300nm legs.
Not surprisingly, this makes them perfectly suited to places like the Australian outback, Namibia, and the wide open parts of the US.
So if you want a 4 seat plan, it's hard to go past the C182, if you want a 6seat plane, likewise you can't beat the C206, and if you fly regularly, and most of your legs are long distances (300nm+) out of relatively long airfields (+/-1000m), the C210 is your plane.
Whichever plane you choose, first decide what you need to achieve, what your relative flying skills and situations entail, and then do the research thoroughly first!
