The story
The 185 took the 180's airframe and added muscle: a strengthened fuselage, six seats, and a bigger Continental that grew to 300 horsepower. It became the standard bush and floatplane workhorse from Alaska to Africa, and working operators still refuse to give them up.
Many 185s carry a belly cargo pod — an extra 300 pounds of gear riding under the fuselage.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Cessna 185 Skywagon?
Tailwheel Cessna like the 180 but with a larger fin and often a belly cargo pod (late-model 180s share the bigger dorsal fairing, so check for the pod). On floats at any seaplane base, this is the default answer.
What does a Cessna 185 Skywagon sound like?
A hard-working IO-520 — loud, proud, and usually climbing out of somewhere improbable.
How fast is the Cessna 185 Skywagon?
Top speed is 155 kts.
How many passengers does the Cessna 185 Skywagon carry?
Up to 5. A typical layout is 1 pilot + 5 passengers.
How far can the Cessna 185 Skywagon fly?
Range is about 720 nmi.
How big is the Cessna 185 Skywagon?
It is 25 ft 9 in long and 35 ft 10 in across the wings.
When did the Cessna 185 Skywagon first fly?
Its first flight was in 1960.
How many Cessna 185 Skywagons have been built?
3,900+ built.
How rare is a Cessna 185 Skywagon in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Cessna 185 Skywagon catch is worth 25 points.
