This 1959 Cessna 182 Skylane Is an Adventure-Ready ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Budget-friendly backcountry single features Sportsman STOL kit and swept-tail styling.

FLYING Staff

Thursday, December 04, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1959 Cessna 182 Skylane [Credit: Hiller Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

A 1959 Cessna 182 Skylane is highlighted as "Today's Top Pick" by Aircraft For Sale, praised for its blend of classic utility and modern enhancements.
The aircraft features a Sportsman STOL kit, significantly improving its short takeoff and landing capabilities and low-speed handling for unimproved fields.
It is equipped with a robust Continental O-470-L engine with low hours since overhaul, and its panel combines vintage instrumentation with essential modern upgrades like ADS-B Out.
Priced at $95,000, this Skylane offers an accessible entry into high-performance single-engine ownership, delivering exceptional value, utility, and enhanced backcountry performance.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1959 Cessna 182 Skylane.

Introduced in 1956 as a tricycle-gear version of the rugged Cessna 180 taildragger, the Cessna 182 offered pilots the backcountry utility of its predecessor with the simplified ground handling of a nosewheel.

It quickly became a staple of general aviation, renowned for its ability to haul four adults, full fuel, and baggage in and out of strips that would challenge lesser aircraft. Over nearly 70 years of production, the Skylane has earned a reputation for being the airplane that can do just about anything reasonably asked of it.

This 1959 model, located in Tennessee, leans heavily into the Skylane’s utility heritage. Most notably, it is equipped with a Sportsman STOL (short takeoff and landing) kit. The leading-edge cuff modification significantly improves low-speed handling and stall safety, allowing this Skylane to operate comfortably from shorter, unimproved fields. For the buyer looking to explore grass strips or mountain airports, the modification is a massive added value that transforms the airframe’s capability.

Under the cowl sits the Continental O-470-L engine. Known as one of the most robust piston powerplants ever built, it’s rated at 230 hp. This particular engine shows just 590.8 hours since major overhaul (SMOH). While the calendar time is higher, the low operating hours suggest plenty of life remains for the next owner. It spins a McCauley propeller with 1,341 hours since overhaul, a combination that provides reliable, proven thrust.

Inside, the panel is a functional mix of retro and required tech. It features a classic Michel 170 digital nav/com and Bendix King KX 170B, maintaining the vintage vibe. However, the installation of a SkyBeacon ADS-B Out unit ensures this classic bird is compliant with modern airspace requirements.

1959 Cessna 182 Skylane [Credit: Hiller Aviation]

A Century II wing leveler reduces pilot workload on long cross-country flights, while BAS shoulder harnesses add a critical layer of modern safety for the front occupants.

Listed at $95,000, this Cessna 182 represents an accessible entry point into high-performance single-engine ownership. It offers the heavy-hauling capability of the Skylane lineage with the added safety and performance of STOL enhancements, all for a price significantly below that of newer, less capable models.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.