Cessna 182P Skylane Specs: Weights, V-Speeds, Cruise

Q: How fast does a Cessna 182P Skylane cruise?

Per the POH cruise table, up to about 145 KTAS at 6000 ft on a standard day, burning roughly 14.3 GPH at that setting. Typical everyday cruise settings are slower and leaner.

Q: How much fuel does a Cessna 182P Skylane hold?

56 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 14.3 GPH that is roughly 3.9 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

Q: What is the useful load of a Cessna 182P Skylane?

About 1050 lb for a typically equipped example (2950 lb max gross minus a typical empty weight of 1900 lb). Use your aircraft's own weight-and-balance records, not type averages.

Q: What is the Vne of a Cessna 182P Skylane?

VNE (never exceed) is 176 kt and VNO (max structural cruising) is 141 kt. Verify against the POH for your serial number.

Home › Aircraft › Cessna 182P Skylane

In the FlightDecide app since 2026-07-16. Reviewed 2026-09-28. 6 of 6 tables from the handbook. Anything marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” comes from FlightDecide's earlier library and hasn't been checked against the printed page.

Cessna 182P Skylane preflight numbers at a glance: max gross weight 2950 lb, typical useful load 1050 lb, 56 gal usable fuel, cruise up to about 145 KTAS (handbook figure at 6000 ft, standard day). Every performance table below is read from the published POH/AFM; figures marked “Not yet verified against the handbook” come from the FlightDecide library. Use them for planning and study, and confirm against the POH for your specific serial number before flight.

Cessna 182P Skylane specs and key numbers

Not yet verified against the handbook

Engine	Continental O-470-S (230 HP)
Propeller	McCauley 2A34C203/90DCA-8
Max gross weight	2950 lb
Empty weight (typical)	1900 lb
Useful load (typical)	1050 lb
Usable fuel	56 gal
Service ceiling	17,700 ft

Cessna 182P Skylane V-speeds

Not yet verified against the handbook

Knots indicated (KIAS) unless the POH states otherwise. Speeds vary by model year and serial; the placarded speeds and your POH govern.

Speed	Value	Meaning
V_S0	48 kt	Stall, landing configuration
V_S1	53 kt	Stall, clean configuration
V_X	59 kt	Best angle of climb
V_Y	80 kt	Best rate of climb
V_A	110 kt	Design maneuvering speed (at max gross)
V_FE	95 kt	Max flaps extended
V_NO	141 kt	Max structural cruising
V_NE	176 kt	Never exceed
Best glide	70 kt	Best glide speed

Cessna 182P Skylane cruise performance

Transcribed from the handbook's cruise tables. True airspeed and fuel flow depend on altitude, power setting, temperature and leaning technique.

Source: Figure 5-7

Recommended lean mixture: 320 published rows
Pressure altitude	RPM	MP (inHg)	ISA-20 °C			ISA			ISA+20 °C
Pressure altitude	RPM	MP (inHg)	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH	%	TAS	GPH
2,000 ft	2,200	17	44	106	8.6	43	104	8.4	41	103	8.2
2,000 ft	2,200	18	48	111	9.3	47	111	9.0	45	109	8.8
2,000 ft	2,200	19	52	116	9.9	50	116	9.6	49	115	9.4
2,000 ft	2,200	20	56	120	10.6	54	121	10.2	52	120	10.0
2,000 ft	2,200	21	60	124	11.2	58	125	10.9	56	125	10.5
2,000 ft	2,200	22	64	127	11.9	62	128	11.5	60	129	11.1
2,000 ft	2,200	23	68	130	12.5	66	131	12.1	63	132	11.7
2,000 ft	2,300	20	61	125	11.3	59	125	11.0	57	125	10.6
2,000 ft	2,300	21	65	128	12.0	63	129	11.6	61	129	11.3
2,000 ft	2,300	22	69	131	12.7	67	132	12.3	64	133	11.9
2,000 ft	2,300	23	73	134	13.5	70	135	13.0	68	136	12.5
2,000 ft	2,400	20	65	128	12.0	62	129	11.6	60	129	11.2
2,000 ft	2,400	21	69	131	12.7	66	132	12.3	64	133	11.9
2,000 ft	2,400	22	73	134	13.5	70	135	13.0	68	136	12.6
2,000 ft	2,400	23	77	136	14.3	74	138	13.7	72	139	13.3
2,000 ft	2,450	20	66	129	12.2	64	130	11.8	62	130	11.4
2,000 ft	2,450	21	70	132	13.0	68	133	12.5	66	134	12.1
2,000 ft	2,450	22	75	135	13.8	72	136	13.3	70	137	12.8
2,000 ft	2,450	23				76	139	14.1	73	140	13.6
4,000 ft	2,200	17	46	109	8.9	44	107	8.6	43	106	8.4
4,000 ft	2,200	18	50	115	9.5	48	114	9.2	46	112	9.0
4,000 ft	2,200	19	54	119	10.1	52	119	9.8	50	118	9.6
4,000 ft	2,200	20	58	124	10.8	56	124	10.4	54	123	10.1
4,000 ft	2,200	21	62	127	11.4	59	128	11.1	57	128	10.7
4,000 ft	2,200	22	65	131	12.1	63	131	11.7	61	132	11.3
4,000 ft	2,200	23	69	134	12.8	67	135	12.3	65	135	11.9
4,000 ft	2,300	20	62	128	11.5	60	128	11.1	58	128	10.8
4,000 ft	2,300	21	66	131	12.2	64	132	11.8	62	133	11.4
4,000 ft	2,300	22	70	134	12.9	67	135	12.5	65	136	12.1
4,000 ft	2,300	23	74	137	13.6	71	138	13.1	69	139	12.7
4,000 ft	2,400	20	66	131	12.1	63	132	11.7	61	132	11.4
4,000 ft	2,400	21	70	134	12.9	67	135	12.4	65	136	12.0
4,000 ft	2,400	22	74	137	13.6	71	138	13.1	69	139	12.7
4,000 ft	2,400	23	78	139	14.5	75	141	13.9	72	142	13.4
4,000 ft	2,450	20	67	132	12.4	65	133	11.9	62	133	11.6
4,000 ft	2,450	21	71	135	13.1	69	136	12.7	66	137	12.3
4,000 ft	2,450	22	75	138	14.0	73	139	13.4	70	140	13.0
4,000 ft	2,450	23				77	142	14.2	74	143	13.7
6,000 ft	2,200	17	47	112	9.1	45	110	8.8	44	109	8.5
6,000 ft	2,200	18	51	118	9.7	49	117	9.4	48	115	9.2
6,000 ft	2,200	19	55	123	10.4	53	122	10.0	51	121	9.7
6,000 ft	2,200	20	59	127	11.0	57	127	10.6	55	127	10.3
6,000 ft	2,200	21	63	131	11.7	61	131	11.3	59	131	10.9
6,000 ft	2,200	22	67	134	12.3	64	135	11.9	62	135	11.5
6,000 ft	2,200	23	71	137	13.0	68	138	12.6	66	139	12.1
6,000 ft	2,300	20	63	131	11.7	61	132	11.3	59	132	11.0
6,000 ft	2,300	21	67	134	12.4	65	135	12.0	63	136	11.6
6,000 ft	2,300	22	71	137	13.1	68	138	12.6	66	139	12.2
6,000 ft	2,300	23	75	140	13.8	72	141	13.3	70	142	12.8
6,000 ft	2,400	20	67	134	12.3	64	135	11.9	62	135	11.5
6,000 ft	2,400	21	71	137	13.0	68	138	12.6	66	139	12.1
6,000 ft	2,400	22	75	140	13.8	72	141	13.3	69	142	12.8
6,000 ft	2,400	23				76	144	14.0	73	145	13.5
6,000 ft	2,450	20	68	135	12.5	65	136	12.1	63	136	11.7
6,000 ft	2,450	21	72	138	13.3	69	139	12.8	67	140	12.4
6,000 ft	2,450	22	76	141	14.1	73	142	13.6	71	143	13.1
6,000 ft	2,450	23				77	145	14.3	75	146	13.8
8,000 ft	2,200	16	44	108	8.6	43	106	8.4	41	103	8.1
8,000 ft	2,200	17	48	115	9.3	47	114	9.0	45	112	8.7
8,000 ft	2,200	18	52	121	9.9	50	120	9.6	49	119	9.3
8,000 ft	2,200	19	56	126	10.6	54	126	10.2	52	125	9.9
8,000 ft	2,200	20	60	130	11.2	58	130	10.8	56	130	10.5
8,000 ft	2,200	21	64	134	11.9	62	135	11.5	60	135	11.1
8,000 ft	2,300	18	56	126	10.6	54	126	10.2	52	125	9.9
8,000 ft	2,300	19	60	131	11.2	58	131	10.9	56	130	10.5
8,000 ft	2,300	20	64	134	11.9	62	135	11.5	60	135	11.2
8,000 ft	2,300	21	68	138	12.6	66	139	12.2	64	139	11.8
8,000 ft	2,400	18	59	129	11.0	57	129	10.7	55	129	10.4
8,000 ft	2,400	19	63	133	11.8	61	134	11.4	59	134	11.0
8,000 ft	2,400	20	68	137	12.5	65	138	12.0	63	138	11.6
8,000 ft	2,400	21	72	140	13.2	69	141	12.7	67	142	12.3
8,000 ft	2,450	18	60	131	11.2	58	131	10.9	56	130	10.5
8,000 ft	2,450	19	65	135	12.0	62	135	11.6	60	135	11.2
8,000 ft	2,450	20	69	138	12.7	66	139	12.3	64	139	11.9
8,000 ft	2,450	21	73	141	13.5	70	142	13.0	68	143	12.5
10,000 ft	2,200	16	46	112	8.8	44	109	8.5	42	106	8.3
10,000 ft	2,200	17	50	119	9.5	48	117	9.2	46	115	8.9
10,000 ft	2,200	18	54	125	10.1	52	123	9.8	50	122	9.5
10,000 ft	2,200	19	58	129	10.8	55	129	10.4	54	128	10.1
10,000 ft	2,200	20	62	134	11.4	59	134	11.1	57	133	10.7
10,000 ft	2,300	17	53	124	10.1	51	123	9.8	49	121	9.5
10,000 ft	2,300	18	58	129	10.8	55	129	10.4	53	128	10.1
10,000 ft	2,300	19	62	134	11.5	59	134	11.1	57	133	10.7
10,000 ft	2,300	20	66	138	12.1	63	138	11.7	61	138	11.3
10,000 ft	2,400	17	56	127	10.5	54	127	10.2	52	125	9.9
10,000 ft	2,400	18	60	132	11.2	58	132	10.9	56	132	10.5
10,000 ft	2,400	19	64	137	11.9	62	137	11.5	60	137	11.2
10,000 ft	2,400	20	69	140	12.6	66	141	12.2	64	141	11.8
10,000 ft	2,450	17	57	129	10.7	55	128	10.4	53	127	10.0
10,000 ft	2,450	18	62	134	11.4	59	134	11.0	57	133	10.7
10,000 ft	2,450	19	66	138	12.1	63	138	11.7	61	138	11.4
10,000 ft	2,450	20	70	142	12.9	67	142	12.4	65	143	12.0
12,000 ft	2,200	15	43	106	8.4	41	102	8.1	40	97	7.9
12,000 ft	2,200	16	47	115	9.0	45	112	8.7	43	109	8.5
12,000 ft	2,200	17	51	122	9.7	49	120	9.4	47	118	9.1
12,000 ft	2,200	18	55	128	10.4	53	127	10.0	51	125	9.7
12,000 ft	2,300	15	46	113	8.8	44	109	8.5	42	105	8.3
12,000 ft	2,300	16	50	121	9.6	48	119	9.3	47	116	9.0
12,000 ft	2,300	17	55	127	10.3	52	126	10.0	51	124	9.7
12,000 ft	2,300	18	59	133	11.0	57	132	10.6	55	131	10.3
12,000 ft	2,400	15	48	117	9.3	46	115	9.0	45	112	8.7
12,000 ft	2,400	16	53	125	10.0	51	123	9.7	49	121	9.4
12,000 ft	2,400	17	57	131	10.7	55	130	10.3	53	128	10.0
12,000 ft	2,400	18	61	136	11.4	59	135	11.0	57	135	10.7
12,000 ft	2,450	15	49	119	9.4	47	117	9.1	46	114	8.9
12,000 ft	2,450	16	54	126	10.2	52	125	9.8	50	123	9.5
12,000 ft	2,450	17	58	132	10.9	56	131	10.5	54	130	10.2
12,000 ft	2,450	18	63	137	11.6	60	137	11.2	58	136	10.9

How much runway does a Cessna 182P Skylane need?

Handbook figures at 2950 lb, 0 ft pressure altitude, 10 °C. Real-world technique, wind, surface, and density altitude move these substantially, so apply your own margin (many pilots use 1.5× the book number) and run the numbers for the actual conditions.

Handbook figure	Distance
Takeoff ground roll	680 ft
Takeoff over a 50 ft obstacle	1305 ft
Landing ground roll	580 ft
Landing over a 50 ft obstacle	1335 ft
Rate of climb	870 fpm

See how density altitude stretches these distances on a hot day.

Takeoff distance

Flaps 20 deg, 2600 RPM and full throttle prior to brake release, cowl flaps open, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 182P Skylane (1976) · Takeoff Distance - Maximum Weight 2950 LBS

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,950 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	635 / 1,220	680 / 1,305	730 / 1,395	780 / 1,490	835 / 1,590
1,000 ft	690 / 1,335	745 / 1,430	795 / 1,530	850 / 1,635	910 / 1,745
2,000 ft	755 / 1,465	810 / 1,565	870 / 1,680	930 / 1,800	995 / 1,925
3,000 ft	825 / 1,605	890 / 1,725	950 / 1,850	1,020 / 1,985	1,090 / 2,130
4,000 ft	905 / 1,770	970 / 1,905	1,045 / 2,050	1,120 / 2,205	1,195 / 2,370
5,000 ft	995 / 1,965	1,065 / 2,115	1,145 / 2,280	1,230 / 2,460	1,315 / 2,655
6,000 ft	1,090 / 2,185	1,175 / 2,360	1,260 / 2,555	1,350 / 2,765	1,450 / 3,005
7,000 ft	1,194 / 2,430	1,296 / 2,633	1,387 / 2,863	1,482 / 3,108	1,599 / 3,401
8,000 ft	1,308 / 2,702	1,430 / 2,938	1,526 / 3,209	1,626 / 3,493	1,763 / 3,850
9,000 ft	1,433 / 3,004	1,578 / 3,279	1,679 / 3,595	1,785 / 3,926	1,944 / 4,357

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Landing distance

Flaps 40 deg, power off, maximum braking, paved level dry runway, zero wind

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 182P Skylane (1976) · Landing Distance

Ground roll (bold) and total distance over a 50 ft obstacle at 2,950 lb
Pressure altitude	0 °C	10 °C	20 °C	30 °C	40 °C
Sea level	560 / 1,300	580 / 1,335	600 / 1,365	620 / 1,400	640 / 1,435
1,000 ft	580 / 1,335	600 / 1,365	620 / 1,400	645 / 1,440	665 / 1,475
2,000 ft	600 / 1,370	625 / 1,405	645 / 1,440	670 / 1,480	690 / 1,515
3,000 ft	625 / 1,410	645 / 1,445	670 / 1,485	695 / 1,525	715 / 1,560
4,000 ft	650 / 1,450	670 / 1,485	695 / 1,525	720 / 1,565	740 / 1,600
5,000 ft	670 / 1,485	695 / 1,525	720 / 1,565	745 / 1,610	770 / 1,650
6,000 ft	700 / 1,530	725 / 1,575	750 / 1,615	775 / 1,660	800 / 1,700
7,000 ft	725 / 1,575	750 / 1,615	780 / 1,665	805 / 1,710	830 / 1,750
8,000 ft	755 / 1,625	780 / 1,665	810 / 1,715	835 / 1,760	865 / 1,805
9,000 ft	786 / 1,677	811 / 1,717	841 / 1,767	866 / 1,811	901 / 1,862
10,000 ft	819 / 1,730	844 / 1,770	874 / 1,820	898 / 1,864	939 / 1,920

from the handbook extrapolated beyond the handbook

Rate of climb

Flaps up, 2600 RPM, full throttle, cowl flaps open

Source: Pilot's Operating Handbook, Cessna Model 182P Skylane (1976) · Rate of Climb - Maximum

Rate of climb in feet per minute at 2,950 lb
Pressure altitude	-20 °C	0 °C	20 °C	40 °C
Sea level	1,040	955	870	785
1,000 ft	985	900	818	735
2,000 ft	930	845	765	685
3,000 ft	875	792	712	632
4,000 ft	820	740	660	580
5,000 ft	765	688	610	532
6,000 ft	710	635	560	485
7,000 ft	655	582	510	438
8,000 ft	600	530	460	390
9,000 ft	548	478	410	342
10,000 ft	495	425	360	295

from the handbook interpolated extrapolated beyond the handbook

Common Questions

How fast does a Cessna 182P Skylane cruise?

Per the POH cruise table, up to about 145 KTAS at 6000 ft on a standard day, burning roughly 14.3 GPH at that setting. Typical everyday cruise settings run slower and leaner; see the table above.

How much fuel does a Cessna 182P Skylane hold?

56 gallons usable. At a high-cruise burn of 14.3 GPH that is roughly 3.9 hours to dry tanks. Plan with reserves, never to zero.

What is the useful load of a Cessna 182P Skylane?

About 1050 lb for a typically equipped example (2950 lb max gross minus a typical empty weight of 1900 lb). Your aircraft's actual empty weight and CG come from its own weight-and-balance records. Always use those, not type averages.

What is the Vne of a Cessna 182P Skylane?

V_NE (never exceed) is 176 kt and V_NO (max structural cruising) is 141 kt. Full V-speed table above; verify against the POH for your serial.

Plan a flight in this aircraft

Crosswind Calculator

Check today's wind against your personal crosswind maximum.

Density Altitude Calculator

See what heat and elevation do to these takeoff and climb numbers.

The Go/No-Go Decision Framework

Fold these numbers into a structured preflight decision.

Fly a Cessna 182P Skylane? Get the full picture in seconds.

FlightDecide ships this aircraft as a built-in profile: it computes your fuel, weight and balance, and takeoff/landing performance for the actual conditions, scores 8 risk categories against your personal minimums, and explains the result in plain language.

Get FlightDecide on the App Store

Reference data for planning and study: approximate, and not a substitute for the FAA-approved AFM/POH for your specific aircraft, an official weather briefing, or your judgment as pilot in command (14 CFR 91.3). Source: Cessna 182P Skylane Pilot's Operating Handbook (1976 model), Cessna Aircraft Company. Cruise performance rows transcribed verbatim from Section 5 Performance, Figure 5-7 Cruise Performance (Sheets 1 of 6 through 6 of 6, pages 5-17 / 5-18 / 5-19 / 5-20 / 5-21 / 5-22). Conditions: Recommended Lean Mixture, 2950 Pounds, Cowl Flaps Closed. Three ISA columns at every altitude (-20°C below standard / standard / +20°C above standard). Engine red line (Continental O-470-S 230 HP CSP) per POH Section 2 Limitations: 2600 RPM. Cruise envelope per POH Section 4 Normal Procedures (CRUISE checklist): 15-23 inHg, 2200-2450 RPM (no more than 75% power). Data synced from the FlightDecide aircraft library on 2026-09-28.