FLYING's Air Compare: Cessna 206 vs. Cessna 210

A showdown between two high-wing utility haulers.

Friday, May 26, 2023 at 12:18 PM ET

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The earliest models of the 206 and 210 had significant overlap, visually and in terms of their capabilities. [Credit: Jim Stevenson]

Key Takeaways:

Cessna introduced the 210 (retractable gear) in 1960 and the 206 (fixed gear) in 1964 to fill the market for larger, higher-performance single-engine aircraft, evolving from earlier models.
The 210 offers higher cruise speeds and performance, but its complex retractable landing gear results in higher acquisition, maintenance costs, and specific Airworthiness Directives (ADs).
The 206, with its simpler fixed landing gear and utility-focused design, is valued for lower operational costs and reliability, leading to higher market demand and resale prices compared to the often cheaper-to-acquire 210.
Both models are known for stable, predictable flight characteristics and easy pilot transition; however, owners must account for the fleet's age, potential turbo engine issues, and significantly different annual maintenance and insurance expenses between the types.

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The mid-1950s were an interesting time for Cessna. The taildragger era was drawing to a close, tricycle gear was taking over, and the marketing team was hard at work identifying and addressing gaps in their product offerings. The small trainer role was evolving from the 120 and 140 to the 150, and the light four-place role was evolving from the 170 to the 172 and 182. This left the question of what to do for the larger, higher-performance single-engine market.

After Cessna discontinued production of the big radial-powered 190 and 195 taildraggers in 1954, the company was left with the 180 and 185 to fill that category and saw there would be a market for large, capable piston singles with tricycle gear. Their solution? The retractable-gear 210, introduced in 1960, and the fixed-gear 206, introduced as the 205 in 1962, and in earnest as the 206 in 1964.