Cessna is one of the most recognizable aviation brands in the world. Originally founded in 1927 by Clyde Cessna, the aircraft manufacturer has developed and flown countless types of planes, ranging from single-passenger propellor planes to large cabin business jets, which are flown under the Citation family.

Clyde Cessna founded the aircraft company after experimenting with building his own personal-use aircraft in the early 1910s. He was the first person to build his own aircraft in between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. The company’s first aircraft was the CW-6, certified on the same day as the stock market crashed, which led to the Great Depression.

Photo: Irina Leoni | Shutterstock

However, Cessna persevered and outlasted the depression. Clyde’s nephews, Dwane and Dwight, bought the company and revamped its branding. This led to several government contracts with the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force that propelled the aircraft company forward.

The Cessna brothers continued manufacturing and developing new aircraft after World War II ended. This led to the development of what would become the most successful aircraft of all time, the Cessna 172, which was introduced in 1956. Cessna also began production of its first business jet, the Citation I, in the late 1960s.

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Cessna was eventually bought by the General Dynamics Corporation in 1985. Shortly after the purchase, Cessna began producing the Cessna Caravan, but also ceased production of its single engine aircraft. Textron purchased Cessna in 1992. In 1996, Textron restarted the production of several of Cessna’s single-engine aircraft. Although Cessna and Textron Aviation are headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, these aircraft are all produced in Independence, Kansas. These aircraft have been some of the most successful aircraft in the world and are extremely recognizable in the aviation industry. Let’s take a closer look at some of the single-engine Cessna planes that Textron Aviation produces today.

Cessna 172

As previously mentioned, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most-produced aircraft of all time. Around 45,000 total aircraft have been produced since the Skyhawk was introduced in 1956. When it was first designed, Cessna created the 172 by adding tricycle landing gear to the existing Cessna 170 aircraft. The company improved the performance of the aircraft with several different upgrades. These upgrades include a straight tailfin and improved landing gear. Over 1,400 aircraft were produced in the first full year of production.

Photo: Textron Aviation

Currently, Textron Aviation produces the Cessna 172S Skyhawk. This variant features a 180 horsepower engine. This specific variant has been in production since 1998. This aircraft has the following performance specifications:

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The Skyhawk is used frequently as a trainer plane, and therefore is used by flight schools across the world. Other operators utilize the aircraft as a personal plane to fly locally. Newer aircraft utilize the Garmin G1000 avionics system and an interior refresh to modernize the plane.

Cessna 182

Cessna developed the 182 Skylane shortly after the 172. It was produced from 1956 through 1985, and was then again restarted with the other single-engine piston planes in 1996. Nearly 24,000 total aircraft have been produced in various models, including one variant that was produced in France by Reims Aviation and another that featured retractable landing gear. This makes the Skylane the second-most produced Cessna aircraft.

Currently, Textron produces two different Skylane variants. The Cessna 182 Skylane has been produced since 1996 and the Cessna T182 Skylane has been produced as of 2023. The regular 182 Skylane is powered by a 230 horsepower Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 piston engine. The Turbo Skylane, the T182, utilizes a Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A piston engine, which has 235 horsepower. The turbo variant was produced from 2001 to 2013, but Textron Aviation decided to get the aircraft back into service in 2023. These two aircraft have the following performance specifications:

Cessna T206

The fourth and final single-engine piston aircraft that is produced by Textron Aviation is the Cessna T206 Stationair. This aircraft began production in 1962 and lasted until 1986 like the other single-engine piston aircraft. Textron renewed this aircraft shortly after the 172 and the 182, this time starting the aircraft’s recent production in 1998. Over 10,000 total Stationairs have been produced so far.

Photo: Textron Aviation

The initial aircraft was designed from the Cessna 210 Centurion. However, the 206 instead utilized fixed landing gear and only utilized a cargo, or double door, on the right side of the aircraft. Currently, Textron Aviation only produces the turbo variant of the 206, which is called the Turbo Stationair. This aircraft features the Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A engine, which provides the aircraft with 310 horsepower. The T206 has the following specifications: