This 1979 Cessna 182Q Skylane Is an Amphibious ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Ultimate adventure-ready lake hopper features a high-performance engine conversion and Aerocet floats.

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 10:14 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1979 Cessna 182Q Skylane [Credit: Peter Bowers]

Key Takeaways:

The article features a 1979 Cessna 182Q Skylane as "Today's Top Pick" for its transformation into a high-performance amphibious aircraft.
This Skylane is equipped with Aerocet 3400L amphibious floats and an Air Plains 300XP engine conversion, along with airframe modifications like vortex generators and wingtip extensions, optimizing it for seamless land and water operations and backcountry flying.
It boasts a modernized Garmin-centric cockpit with WAAS avionics and an S-TEC 55X autopilot, an 88-gallon fuel capacity, and is offered as a turnkey solution for amphibious pilots at $499,000.

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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 1979 Cessna 182Q Skylane.

While the Cessna 182 is traditionally celebrated as a premier, versatile aircraft for its stability and hauling capability, this particular 182Q has been transformed into a water-ready machine.

The 1979 model features the Seaplanes West floatplane kit and sits atop Aerocet 3400L amphibious floats, allowing pilots to transition seamlessly between regional airports and remote lakefront docks. The amphibious configuration offers the best of both worlds, providing the freedom of water operations without sacrificing the convenience of land-based maintenance.

To ensure this Skylane has the necessary muscle to lift off the water with a full load, the standard engine has been swapped for a high-performance Air Plains 300XP conversion, offering a significant performance boost over the original factory specifications. Paired with a three-blade Hartzell 84-inch seaplane propeller that has less than 50 hours since new, the aircraft is purpose-built for maximum thrust and efficiency during the high-drag environment of water takeoffs.

The airframe, with 4,171 hours total time, is equipped with a suite of modifications designed to optimize handling in the backcountry. Performance is further enhanced by the installation of vortex generators for improved low-speed stability and wingtip extensions that provide additional lift and better climb characteristics. An expansive 88-gallon fuel capacity enables long-range missions into the wilderness without the constant worry of finding a fuel dock.

1979 Cessna 182Q Skylane [Credit: Peter Bowers]

Inside the cockpit, the panel has been modernized to provide high situational awareness during complex amphibious operations. It features a stack anchored by a Garmin 530 WAAS and Garmin 430 WAAS, supported by a Garmin GMX200 multifunction display. For long-range comfort and safety, the aircraft is equipped with an S-TEC 55X autopilot with a flight director and TCAS for traffic awareness.

Listed at $499,000, this 1979 Cessna 182Q offers a rare, turnkey opportunity for a pilot who wants to skip the build process and go straight to the water.

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.