The Cessna 182 airfame with Continental’s reli- able O-470 has proven a durable combination. ûBut many owners want better climb and slightly ûhigher cruise speeds.

by Lionel Lavenue

After purchasing a Skylane a few years ago—my first airplane—I replaced all of the avionics with the latest and greatest, spiffed up the interior and paint and added some speed mods. But one thing was still lacking: a big, more powerful engine.

Fortunately, for the Skylane owner, there are plenty of choices when it comes to upgrading the engine, testimony to the 182’s market appeal. In fact, there are almost too many choices when you try to sort through prices and features across what turns out to be a diverse set of considerations. …