Cessna's 2001 Skylane has a new letter, jumping from the 182S to the 182T, and when the turbocharged version is considered it becomes the T182T. The model change is justified by a lot of small tweaks that cleaned the airplane up enough for a cruising speed increase of at least four knots. The avionics package got its share of attention, and now the new Cessnas are available with panels that are a lot closer to state-of-the-art than they have ever been.
The turbo also brings a new level of performance to the Skylane by allowing the production of copious amounts of power at the top of the non-oxygen altitude spectrum, and the cruise speed numbers are pretty fancy.
The drag reduction measures are not dramatic and include things like adjusting the steps and handles used to climb up and check fuel and modifying the cowling in some areas. The nav and comm antennas are blades instead of whips for less drag, and all the exterior lights have been modified. A lot of the fairings have been changed, too, and one dubious change is to the step on the landing gear. It is tiny. Beware if you are wearing leather-soled shoes, especially if they are wet. There'll be some busted shins.
Inside, Rosen sun visors are now standard, and the mousetrap covered outlets for headset plugs are gone, replaced by regular jacks for easier access. Headliner panels eliminate the need to remove the headliner for inspection of some items, and the already excellent lighting has been improved. In an effort to control weight, the side panels have been redone with formed composite Kydex that looks, well, lightweight. The leather seats have been redone and are very nice.
The most recognizable feature of the new airplanes is the avionics stack. The 2001 Cessna singles are finally with the program. The top avionics package, dubbed Nav II, has it all, including a Bendix/King KMD 550 multifunction display, a KCS 55A horizontal situation indicator and a Goodrich WX 500 Stormscope sensor that plays through the KMD 550 full-color display. There's also a KLN 94 GPS, color and approach-approved, that plays on the 550 and provides its own map. There are two KX 155A navcom sets, both with glideslope, and these are fully integrated into the system and can be tuned through the KLN 94 GPS.
A transponder, audio panel with four-place intercom and split communications capability so two can communicate with different facilities at the same time, ELT, and the necessary selectors and annunciators are all there.
