Is there anyway to visually distinguish a Cessna 172 and 182?

TheRealMarkMessier

TheRealMarkMessier

Filing Flight Plan
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Mark Messier
Or do they both look identical on the outside and simply have different engines and instrument panels?

I found this article but the author simply lists technical specs only, http://pilotian.com/cessna-172-vs-182/.

Lots of people think a 1967 Camaro and a 1968 Camaro are exactly the same but I can tell them apart just by looking.

Is there any small detail to tell them apart?
 
The firewall forward is where I look initially. Noticeable difference in size.
 
The 182 is noticeably bigger in the front.

It's also much bigger inside if you are asking whether there are actual size differences.
 
There are a few things that you'll find on certain 182's that you won't typically see on a 172: ventiports in the side of the cowl, cowl flap at the bottom, three blade props, two exhaust pipes. However, their absence doesn't mean it's a 172.
 
Rear windows. Rear window in a 182 is a one-piece and is sloped a bit more, a 172 rear window is 2-piece and more upright. The front windscreen on the 182 is also more angled.
 
It is tricky to quickly identify one from the other because there is a close family resemblance. The continuous styling evolution of both models over the last sixty years makes it even more difficult. But there are actually very few common components between them, and when you get up close, the 182 is noticeably beefier, and the 1962 and later 182s are four inches wider.

One difference is consistent, though -- on a 172, the fuselage tailcone ends at the leading edge of the rudder, and the rudder extends down to the bottom of the fuselage. On a 182, the rudder "rides" on top of the fuselage tailcone.

Here are a few samples for comparison:

1950s-era 172:

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 9.27.03 AM.png

1970s/80s (to present) 172:

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 9.27.33 AM.png

1950s-era 182:

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 9.28.03 AM.png

1970s/80s 182:

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 9.28.35 AM.png
 
labbadabba said:
Rear windows. Rear window in a 182 is a one-piece and is sloped a bit more, a 172 rear window is 2-piece and more upright.
Click to expand...
Not on the 182E and 182F (1962-63 model years). Those models had two-piece rear windows (below) . They weren't very attractive, so the stylists went back to work on the '64 182G and came up with the rear window design that continues with the current models.

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 9.41.38 AM.png

coloradobluesky said:
182 has cowl flaps.
Click to expand...
Some 172s do, too -- the P172D Skyhawk Powermatic (1963), 172RG Cutlass RG (1980-85), and R172K Hawk XP (1977-81)

flyingron said:
There are a few things that you'll find on certain 182's that you won't typically see on a 172: ventiports in the side of the cowl, cowl flap at the bottom, three blade props, two exhaust pipes. However, their absence doesn't mean it's a 172.
Click to expand...
Continental-powered 172s (all models up through 1967 172H) have two exhaust stacks.
 
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flyingron said:
There are a few things that you'll find on certain 182's that you won't typically see on a 172: ventiports in the side of the cowl, cowl flap at the bottom, three blade props, two exhaust pipes. However, their absence doesn't mean it's a 172.
Click to expand...
Some 182s have two blade props; virtually all the older ones do.

But they are all constant-speed props, so a good look at the hub will give it away. Some 172s also have CS props, but those are rare.

The cowl flaps are also a giveaway -- except 172RGs have them.
 
Pilawt said:
Not on the 182E and 182F (1962-63 model years). Those models had two-piece rear windows (below) . They weren't very attractive, so the stylists went back to work on the '64 182G and came up with the rear window design that continues with the current models.
Click to expand...

I agree the two-piece rear window isn't attractive but is still continued on current productions 172, the 177/RG all have a rear window like the later 182.
 
Do all 182s have two holes in each wing for fresh cabin air?

172XP has a single cowl flap and a constant speed prop.

I don't think there is a 182 with two exhaust pipes but maybe on the early ones that don't have cowl flaps.
 
Easiest difference looking at the two from afar is the tail.
182 vs.
VH-OBW%20Cessna%20182Q.JPG

172
skyhawk.jpg


Notice the difference. The empennage is a bit different as well as firewall forward.
 
The 182 looks like what a 172 would be if it were to hit the gym for awhile. Mostly the same - just a bit more beefcake. :)

beefcake.jpg
 
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My secret shame is not being able to tell most GA aircraft apart. "What airplane is that?" "Um... Cessna."
 
bnt83 said:
Do all 182s have two holes in each wing for fresh cabin air?

172XP has a single cowl flap and a constant speed prop.

I don't think there is a 182 with two exhaust pipes but maybe on the early ones that don't have cowl flaps.
Click to expand...

The latest 182s all have two exhaust pipes.
 
Mistake Not... said:
My secret shame is not being able to tell most GA aircraft apart. "What airplane is that?" "Um... Cessna."
Click to expand...
It really isn't that hard.

For single engine airplanes:
If it has a high wing, it is a Cessna. All high wings look alike, so it doesn't really matter what it is.
If it isn't a high wing, then it is either a Bonanza V-Tail or it is some other low wing. And again, it doesn't matter because all the others look alike.

There are a few exceptions when it comes to experimentals, but that doesn't really make much difference because they are all going to crash soon anyway.

If you want an airplane that people can look at and positively identify, get a V-Tail Bonanza.
 
The difference is, 172, (Toyota Prius) 182, (Cadillac SRX) 206 (Cadillac Escalade)
 
The easiest way I've found:

Straight tails:

The mating surface between the rudder and vertical stab is sloped at 45* (ish) on the 182 and is horizontal on the 172. (175s are horizontal like the 172s. They can be differentiated from 172s by the lower engine placement and larger cowl mouth).

Swept tails:

This is reversed. 182s are flat (horizontal), 172s are sloped.

I believe this holds true for all fixed gear models, even the restarts. You can see this difference in Pilawts illustrations in post #7 above.
 
Ryanb said:
Easiest difference looking at the two from afar is the tail.
182 vs.
VH-OBW%20Cessna%20182Q.JPG

172
skyhawk.jpg


Notice the difference. The empennage is a bit different as well as firewall forward.
Click to expand...

And this whole time I thought it was as simple as having Skylane versus Skyhawk written on the tail.... :rollercoaster: :stirpot: :cheers:
 
JOhnH said:
It really isn't that hard.

For single engine airplanes:
If it has a high wing, it is a Cessna. All high wings look alike, so it doesn't really matter what it is.
If it isn't a high wing, then it is either a Bonanza V-Tail or it is some other low wing. And again, it doesn't matter because all the others look alike.

There are a few exceptions when it comes to experimentals, but that doesn't really make much difference because they are all going to crash soon anyway.

If you want an airplane that people can look at and positively identify, get a V-Tail Bonanza.
Click to expand...

Funny, I thought V-Tail's were easy to identify because they had bigger doors to help get that enormous ego most of their owners/pilots are carrying around out of the plane after landing.... :rolleyes: :p

Cheers,
Brian
 
Ryanb said:
Easiest difference looking at the two from afar is the tail.
182 vs.
VH-OBW%20Cessna%20182Q.JPG

172
skyhawk.jpg


Notice the difference. The empennage is a bit different as well as firewall forward.
Click to expand...


rear windows...look at shape. triangle = 182 rectangle = 172
 
182= fuel filler cap is just a couple inches proximal from where the wing struts connect to the wing.
172=fuel filler cap is just a few inches distal from the wing root.

Usually I can tell by the cowl flaps and the slope of the windscreen.
 
flyingron said:
Could be a 210, but the 177 is a low rider compared to the 210 pickup truck appearance.
Click to expand...

Had a cantilever-wing Cessna take off from KMKC this morning over the Louis and Clark viaduct while I was driving into work. It was head on and I couldn't tell if it was a 177 or a 210. Once it flew past I got a look at the side and it was definitely a Cardinal. Pretty birds.
 
Guys, I'm -really- bad. I bought the mooney so I can find it on the ramp (look for the backwards vert stab.)
 
jaybee said:
67 has vent windows, that's the easiest way
Click to expand...
For me it's usually the side marker lights on the front of the car. They became a Government mandate in 1968.

I can tell most Thirdgen's apart too. Telling 88 from 89 is the hardest though. A 1986 Camaro is the easiest, it has a light on the rear hatch.
 
Ryanb said:
Easiest difference looking at the two from afar is the tail.
182 vs.
VH-OBW%20Cessna%20182Q.JPG

172
skyhawk.jpg


Notice the difference. The empennage is a bit different as well as firewall forward.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the type of tell I am looking for! Thank you for the side by side comparison pictures.
 
kayoh190 said:
The 182 looks like what a 172 would be if it were to hit the gym for awhile. Mostly the same - just a bit more beefcake. :)

beefcake.jpg
Click to expand...

So basically the Cessna 172 looks like it could kick your @ss and the 182 and the Cessna 182 will come over and do it!

(excuse my french but it's how my old Boss compared the 98-02 Camaro and Trans Am. For the record, the Trans Am was the one that would come over and do it).
 
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