New Production 185 Available for the Home Builder

By Gene Yarbrough

The Cessna 185 has proven a capable aircraft in the many decades it has been in service and when production stopped there was still a large demand for the aircraft. In the 1990s, following the discontinuation of the Skywagon 185, the Cyclone aircraft emerged as an innovative improvement over its predecessor. Cyclone introduced advancements to the original design and gained popularity, offering aircraft as kits to builders.

In a significant development, in 2021, Bushliner Aircraft successfully acquired the manufacturing rights to the Cyclone. This pivotal acquisition brought together Bushliner’s vision, talent, and capabilities with the Cyclone design, paving the way for the mass production of the all-new Bushliner Cyclone 1850. The 1850 is available in two versions, an experimental amateur built kit (1850EX), or factory assisted completion (1850FX).

Boasting impressive performance numbers of 3500 lbs gross weight, 170 mph max speed, and about 1200 mile range, the Bushliner is a favorite of those serving the rough and tumble bush all over the world. In addition to certain airframe and system improvements the Bushliner sports a full G-suite of electronics as standard equipment.

From the company’s buyers guide “Our history in certified aircraft has led us to upgrade the Cyclone 1850’s systems to that of a Part 23 Certified aircraft. The Bushliner 1850 incorporates various features and components to ensure safety, performance, and comfort. Main upgraded features include a cabin with more shoulder room, headroom, and cargo doors that allow the loading and unloading of items directly into the aft cargo bay. Our core belief is to leave nothing to chance. Each aircraft is constructed from the finest materials. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering a product that exceeds modern quality standards even for certified aircraft. Our staff is comprised of seasoned Pilots, A&P’s, IA’s, former Boeing employees, and engineers that are at home working on projects ranging from piston aircraft to satellites. While most certified aircraft were designed nearly 20 years ago, the flexibility of the experimental class allows us to deliver a cutting-edge aircraft, modern equipment packages, and continually refine our process.”

As the original 185 airframes are eliminated through attrition the Bushliner appears to fill a niche market need, the company reports order books are filled for the foreseeable future. The company is located north of Seattle Washington and has all vendors within a few minutes’ drive of their shop. This helps contain quality issues and bodes well for quick kit production and factory assisted kit builds which costs begin in the $300k range.

FMI: www.bushliner.com