Cessna 180 Skywagon for Sale — The Working Tailwheel Cessna
The Cessna 180 Skywagon is the aircraft that opened Alaska, the Canadian bush, and remote backcountry areas across the American West to practical personal aviation — a rugged, powerful, tailwheel-equipped four-seater that combines Cessna's proven high-wing construction with the Continental O-470's generous power output to create one of the most capable and beloved backcountry aircraft ever certified. Produced from 1953 to 1981, the Cessna 180 accumulated a devoted following among bush pilots, hunting and fishing guides, agricultural operators, and personal owners who needed a working aircraft rather than a touring machine — an aircraft whose tailwheel demanded skill, whose useful load rewarded operators, and whose Continental engine provided the reliability that remote operations require.
The 180 vs the 172 and 182
The Cessna 180's tailwheel configuration is not an anachronism — it is a deliberate choice that provides operational advantages in the conditions where 180s typically operate. Fixed conventional gear withstands ground strikes from rocks, ruts, and uneven terrain without the complex hydraulics of retractable designs or the belly-exposure of tricycle configurations. The tailwheel allows a higher angle of attack on takeoff from soft or rough surfaces. And the 180's higher power-to-weight ratio compared to the contemporary 172 means it can get in and out of short strips with meaningful payloads that the lighter-powered Skyhawk cannot match.
Find Your Cessna 180 on Airplane Trade
Browse Cessna 180, 180A through 180K Skywagon aircraft for sale on Airplane Trade from verified sellers worldwide. Bush-configured working aircraft, personal backcountry planes, and well-maintained examples with complete Continental O-470 documentation available. Find the tailwheel Cessna that opens the backcountry to you on Airplane Trade.