Cessna 182S

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Cessna 182S Skylane
FGAddon
C182s.jpg
C182-cockpit-view.jpg
Type Civil aircraft, Civil utility aircraft, Glider tug
Configuration High wing aircraft, Fixed gear aircraft
Propulsion Propeller aircraft, Single-engine aircraft
Manufacturer Cessna
Author(s)
  • Heiko Schulz
  • Gilberto Agostinho
  • Benedikt Hallinger
  • Wayne Bragg (wlbragg)
  • onox
  • Ron Jensen (jentron)
  • Daniel Dubreuil (Dany93)
  • Stuart Buchanan
  • David Megginson
  • Sascha Reiszner
  • Joshua Davidson
FDM JSBSim
--aircraft= c182s
Status Advanced production
 FDM Stars-5.png
 Systems Stars-5.png
 Cockpit Stars-5.png
 Model Stars-5.png
Supports Checklists Dual control Tutorials
Development
 Website The website for the Cessna 182S Skylane developments.
 Repository The development repository of the Cessna 182S Skylane.
Download Download the Cessna 182S Skylane aircraft package for the current stable release (2020.3).
Forum 'Cessna 182S Skylane' topic on the FlightGear forum.
License GPLv2+

The Cessna 182S Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna between 1996 and 2001. It uses a fuel-injected Textron Lycoming IO-540 AB1A5 with 230 HP at 2,400 RPM.

Features

The Cessna 182S is one of the high-quality aircraft models in FlightGear.

The new Cessna 182S has a very detailed 3D model and a cockpit with highly detailed textures. Most of the switches in the cockpit are already clickable and working. It has a very realistic FDM based on real aerodynamic coefficients and the pilot operating handbook; engine power, EGT and fuel performance are tuned according the pilot operating handbook, the weight and balance behaves like written in the POH. Fly by the book - a link to real POH is given at the end of this page.

C182-panel-detail.jpg

There are currently several liveries available: default Cessna livery, Blank, D-ELFP, HB-CZV, N182PJ, N321HW and some Custom registration Liveries.

The aircraft has a simulation of the Bendix/King KAP140 Autopilot. The cockpit can be illuminated at night by using the glareshield lighting, pedestal lighting and instruments/ radio lighting, controlled by two knobs. Dome lights which illuminates the cabin in a realistic way are in work. The knobs have two modes each, which can be used by clicking and dragging horizontally or vertically.

Also, if the user has enabled ALS (Atmospheric light scattering) in the Rendering Options, some effects are activated such as cockpit shadows, visible landing lights from the cockpit and rain effect on the windshield.

The Cessna 182S comes with static objects which can be activated via the Ground Equipment dialog in the aircraft menu. These include a fuel tank trailer, ladders to access the fuel caps (and which the walker can climb(only in FG Versions before 2017.3.1 !!), ground power unit and a Dragon Engine Pre-Heater. Security cones are also available. Special Feature: The ground equipment will stay on ground where placed, independent from the movement of the aircraft! The aircraft can also go through a pre-flight check: wheel chocks, tie-downs and the pitot tube cover can now be added or removed.

Cessna 182S with static elements

Feature-List:

For details and usage hints, please also read the documentation.

  • accurate flight model based on real test aerodynamic coefficients and POH
  • accurate fuel flow numbers, engine power, airspeed and climbrate in nearly all pressure altitudes and temperatures with less than 5% difference from POH
  • realistic stall behavior
  • calculation of real KIAS based on KCAS, based on POH
  • accurate weight and balance behavior
  • New Start-up States: aircraft can be initialized in cruise, landing, takeoff and more states
  • autostart for beginners
  • fully simulated fuel system: fuel flow by gravity, engine pump and fuel pump simulated for each of the two tanks,; engine needs correct priming procedure according POH, fuel contamination simulated
  • realistic electrical system, battery charge state depending on temperature, working circuit breakers
  • fully simulated oil management (temperature, ....)
  • simulation of cabin heat and defrost
  • simulation of icing to wings, propellers and engines in icing conditions
  • detailed damage and failure simulation
  • High quality 3d-model, textures and animations
  • Realistic exterior reflection shaders with fresnel effect and normalmap
  • selectable chromed spinner and wheel fairings
  • Very detailed 3d-interior
  • moveable sun-visors
  • all cockpit switches are working
  • fully working audio panel
  • fully simulated Bendix/King_KAP140_Autopilot
  • fully simulated Davtron M803 digital clock
  • fully simulated Bendix King avionics stack
  • Realistic interior light effects in ALS-Renderer
  • Interior shadows in ALS-Renderer
  • interior glass frost and fog effects in ALS-Renderer
  • Exterior 3d-shadow in ALS-Renderer
  • selectable and fully simulated Winterization kit
  • External equipement like ladders, safety cones, tie ups, pitot cover, wheel chocks, external power source, simulated external engine pre-heater with sound - they keep their position on ground!
  • aircraft can be preflight checked outside (free movement check of flight control surfaces; oil, fuel, pitot heat, ....)
  • Walker - can be used to follow the Checklist outside
  • Towbar connecting to the nosewheel for ground handling
  • Save states: aircraft remembers last switch, systems and configuration state
  • Many liveries

Aerotowing gliders

The C182S and C182T are capable of aerotowing over multiplayer by the glider pilot pressing Ctrl+o while behind the Cessna. The Cessna pilot can release the hook anytime by pressing Shift+O

Dual control

The plane supports Dual control where a copilot can ride along in another multiplayer plane. The copilot needs to start the C182 copilot variant and then select the pilots plane from the multiplayer dialog. The pilot also need to select the copilot this way.

Currently the copilot is view-only and cannot take over controls.

Parachuters

Via the aircraft options menu you can remove the right cabin door and seats, to haul parachuters. When clicking on your passengers, they will climb out to the strut and jump off. The parachuters are even visible to other multiplayer aircraft (for that to work they need the C182s/t model installed)!

Note: The climb out procedure is modeled in regards to weight shift and drag, but not yet animated (see FR issue ticket #515).

Extended failures / surprise mode

The plane features a very detailed failure simulation and optionally can surprise you on the fly (if you wish, without notifying you). The failures dialog can be accessed by the aircraft menu, but you can also configure this for startup in your launcher by adding configuration options there. Please see the documentation for details.

Handling The Aircraft (beginner version)

You can activate more realistic handling at any time in the aircraft dialog, like fuel contamination, engine oil management and priming needs.

The full checklists are available ingame in the checklists dialog.

Pre-Flight Inspection

Cessna 182S ready for take off

It's recommended to use any exterior view or activate the walker for these procedures.

  • Cockpit: remove wind gust lock
  • Check fuel quantity on both tanks (click on the red caps top of the wings)
  • Left wing: remove pitot tube cover
  • Left wing: remove tie-down
  • Left wing: check for fuel contamination by clicking under the wing and take a fuel sample. If the sample is light blue, the fuel is not contaminated and can be returned to the tank. If the sample is transparent or partially transparent, you must discard it and take new samples until they are completely light blue
  • Left main wheel: remove chocks
  • Tail: remove tie-down
  • Right wing: remove tie-down
  • Right wing: check water contamination
  • Right main wheel: remove chocks
  • Right nose: check water contamination of fuel selector (below plane) and fuel strainer (right nose)
  • Nose: remove wheel chocks
  • Nose: check oil level (more than 6.0 quarts)
  • Nose: remove chocks

Engine Start (manual and complex startup)

  • Mixture: Idle cut-off (red lever full out)
  • Propeller: High RPM (blue lever full in)
  • Throttle: Open 1/4 inch (black lever ~5%-8% setting inSim)
  • Parking Brake: Applied ( Shift+B)
  • Prop Area: Clear
  • Master switch: ON (both)
  • Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switch: ON
  • Advance mixture to full rich, keep it 3-5sec
  • Then Idle Cutoff
  • Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switch: Off
  • Magnetos: Both (Press } three times)
  • Ignition: crank engine (S until engine fires)

If the engine was warm already, it usually starts without priming by just setting Mixture to rich and cranking.

If engine floods, then set mixture to idle cut off and throttle to 1/2 to full open and crank. When engine fires, set mixture to full rich and throttle to idle.

Takeoff

  • no flaps or flaps 10deg
  • cowl flaps open ( Shift+F several times)
  • full throttle
  • rotate at 50-60 KIAS


Climbout

  • no flaps
  • cowl flaps open
  • full throttle
  • 80 KIAS
  • Reduce power to stay in the green arcs as soon as obstacles are clear
    • Fuel flow: max 15Gph
    • Throttle: max 23 in.Hg

Cruise

Cessna 182S in the air
  • 2000-2400 RPM
  • 18-23 mp
  • mixture rich of peak as recommended lean mixture setting for cruise or 125°F rich for best power
  • speed between 120-140 knots depending on the power settings
  • cowl flaps closed (f as appropriate -> watch CHT gauge)

Landing

  • flaps 20deg or full flaps
  • 60-70 KIAS

Airspeeds

See also Aircraft speed#V speeds
Airspeed IAS
Stall speed, landing configuration, VS0 36 kt
Stall speed, clean, VS1 43 kt
Rotation speed, VR 55 kt
Best angle of climb speed, VX 63 kt
Best rate of climb speed, VY 80 kt
Maximum flap extended speed, VFE 100 kt
Manoeuvring speed, VA 110 kt
Maximum structural cruising speed, VNO 140 kt
Never exceed speed, VNE 175 kt
Max. Crosswind at landing 15 kt

Performance

Cruise, 80% power, 6,000 ft 140 kt
Cruise, 65% power, 8,000 ft 130 kt
Cruise, 55% power, 10,000 ft 121 kt
Range, 75% power, 6,000 ft 820 nm
Range, 65% power, 8,000 ft 910 nm
Range, 55% power, 10,000 ft 968 nm
Best Climb[1] 924fpm
Service Ceiling 18,100ft
Takeoff ground roll: 795ft (242m) over 50ft obstacle 1,514ft
Landing ground roll: 590ft (180m) over 50ft obstacle 1,390ft


Cessna 182S panel illumination

FAQ

I wonder why would the 182s be easier to fly than the c172p?

Is it? If you think the fdm is wrong: A fdm is only so good as the datas available. The c182s-fdm uses real coefficient data where available, but not all needed coeeficients could be found. Where not available, pilot reports had been used. And they are from a subjective view of the pilot.

According to google, most pilots agree that the 182s is actually harder to fly than the 172p

Not because of its flight characteristics. Though many pilot bends their firewalls on touchdown, due the nose heaviness of that aircraft. But a lot pilot likes the C182 more because of more power, more speed, higher possible altitudes, constant speed propeller, cowl-flaps and the IFR-equipement. And that`s the reason - due to that all it is much more challenging to fly than the Cessna 172. So FAA counts the Cessna 182 to the high perfomace aircraft. Imagine beeing in a crowded area like KLAX, approaching the airport while listening to Radio calls every few seconds, watching speed, altitude, manage the engine and prop speed, chasing VOR-needles and watching the traffic around at the same time in bad weather condition - challenging! You might wanna read this: Stepping Up to a C182

Is the C182S made easier to fly, instead of more realistic to fly?

No. The authors uses real numbers, datas, coefficients and more where available, aiming to get everything realistic as it can be. As an example it matches all the numbers given in the POH, and uses real aerodynamic coeffcients for the fdm where available. If it doesn`t fly as you expect, you might be used to FSX? Just kidding... Anyway, if encounter something you think it isn`t right, file an Issue-report here, and we will find out.

Why do I always make bouncy landings?

The C182 is quite nose heavy, especially compared to a 172. This makes it harder to flare correctly, and you actually need a high pitch attitude to not touchdown too early. Also airspeed is a critical factor, don't try to land too fast (aim for 60-70 KIAS, depending on flaps and wind). Most importantly: Don't try to force the plane down with the elevator and never land on the nose gear first. You had a perfect landing, when you hear the stall horn shortly before the main wheels gently touch the runway, and when you managed to lower the nose wheel gently afterwards.


At 3,000 ft, I can't get over 110 knots. MP: 23 RPM: 2450 FF: 14. What am I missing?

The checklist! If it doesn`t get the speed as you expect, check: Mixture, prop rpm, cowl flaps, oil temp, icing, engine damaged or cold,... Probably you simply forget to close the cowl flaps. Another reason could be that you mistake KTAS (Knots True AirSpeed) with KIAS (Knots Indicated AirSpeed). The tables and many publications gives the speeds in KTAS. So you have to read the KTAS-values from your instruments, not the KIAS. How to?- just read below.

Where I can see my True Airspeed (KTAS)? The Air Speed Indicator has a dial at the upper part of the instrument face. So you simply dial in the pressure altitude (=Altimeter set to 29.92) in ft via the knob, and align it with the temperature mark just below. Now you can read your true airspeed in the lower left window of your instrument. There is a screenshot showing an example of using the TAS disc.

I flew in cold weather, but suddenly crashed because the aircraft slowed down. Where is the carb heat?

The Cessna 182S uses an fuel-injected engine - like many modern cars. So there is no carburetor. But what you experienced is the icing of the prop and the aircraft body. Unfortunately there is indeed a bug: propeller icing of constant speed props can`t be simulated yet with JSBSim. The C182S-team tried to find a work-around, but might not have yet found the best solution....Not everything can be perfect! Anyway: with this type of aircraft you are not allowed to fly in known icing-conditions!

Cessna 182S refuses to start

The following might be happening:

  1. you probably didn`t follow the checklist.
  2. you might have flooded the engine. Follow this procedure: Pull back mixture to cut off, advance throttle to about about little more than 50-60%, then operate the starter again for a while. If the engine fires, promptly advance the mixture to full rich and return throttle to Idle.
  3. you may encounter spark plug icing in cold environment after a misfired start. Preheat the engine, wait 5-10 (simulated) minutes and try again.
  4. the engine might simply be too cold to be able to start. Preheat the engine.
  5. you damaged the engine previously to a state where it won't start again (have you seen black smoke from the cowling?)

I always overheat my engine at takeoff/climbout!

Reduce power when you cleared all takeoff obstacles. Closely watch your CHT gauge: reduce at latest when approaching the upper CHT limit. See the "Normal enroute climb" checklist section for details on power settings (in short: keep manifold pressure and fuel flow in the greens, open cowl flaps).

Why I can`t see the wingtip and the cowl?

The eye level position has been carefully set comapring informations from pictures showing the Cessna 182S or Cessna 182T and pilot reports. If you compare, you can see that the eye level of the pilot is sitting at the level of the upper edge of the side window frame. The wing root sits much higher, the wingtip even more. So it is impossible to see the wingtip. The glareshield is quite high on the newer Cessna, and from you usual position you are not able to see the engine cowling in front of you. And the eye level position is also set to the fact that a good landing is provided why you flare just before the touchdown. Your flare will be correct, when the upper edge of the glareshiels is virtually touching the horizon.


Versions

Stable release

The Last official release for your matching FlightGear version can be downloaded from the Launcher (FGAddon default Hangar). There you can also easily update the plane, once updates get published.

Alternatively, GIT releases (and changelogs between versions) are here: https://github.com/HHS81/c182s/releases

These releases are usually also synced to FGAddons trunk hangar (used by fgfs next, which gets stable together with the next fgfs release and can be updated to from the launcher)

Development status/Issues/TODO

This aircraft is undergoing a constant development, which can be followed on its repository, where a list of issues and future enhancements can also be found. Worth a visit!

  • Damaged Gear in Multiplayer: The damage model was updated recently (5/2021 for 2020.4.0) to also simulate gear collapse. Older versions (2020.3 and before) do not simulate this and thus do not transmit the necessary MP packets. This makes the "gear-OK" Property constantly showing a damage gear, if you use a newer model. The solution is that the pilot using the version showing the "crippled" gear to update his flightgear and plane to the latest FGAddon version OR use the GitHub release 1.4.

Using the latest development/git version

Note  This may not work properly with the current stable (and older) flightgear versions. Development usually targets the latest flightgear stable, but may use also fresh features of flightgears "next" version.

If you want to use the latest github versions, they can be obtained here (master-branch): https://github.com/HHS81/c182s/archive/refs/heads/master.zip

  • Make a new "Aircraft" folder (in case you don't already have one). Then add that directory to your launchers "Addons" tab as aircraft folder.
  • Download a zipped version you want to use (links below).
  • Extract the zipfile into your "Aircraft" folder.
  • Rename the extracted c182s-<version> folder to c182s.

Gallery


External links

References
  1. POH 5-19; with 3100lbs, sea level, 2400 RPM, Full Throttle, mixture set to Maximum power Fuel Flow placard, Cowl Flaps Open, Std. Temperature