The Cessna 185, also known as the Skywagon, is a six-seat, single engined, general aviation light aircraft manufactured by Cessna. It first flew as a prototype in July 1960, with the first production model being completed in March of 1961. The Cessna 185 is a high-winged aircraft with non-retractable conventional landing gear and a tailwheel. Over 4,400 were built with production ceasing in 1985. Production ceased in large part in 1985 due to two factors: the demise of the general aviation boom that characterized the post World War II years in the United States, and the growing awareness by insurance companies that tail wheel aircraft were harder to insure due to their handling characteristics during takeoff and landing. When Cessna re-introduced some of its most popular models in the 1990s, the tailwheel equipped Cessna 180 and 185 were left to the history books and not resurrected.

Design
The aircraft is basically a Cessna 180 with a strengthened fuselage. The main difference between the two aircraft is the larger vertical fin on the 185 and the 300 hp (224 kW) Continental Motors IO-520-D engine as opposed to the 230 hp (172 kW) Continental Motors O-470-S fitted in the Cessna 180. The exception was that a Continental Motors IO-470-F engine of 260 hp (194 kW) was initially fitted until midway through the 1966 production year. The later model Skywagon II has a factory fitted avionics package.

The Skywagon can also be fitted with floats, amphibious float, or skis. The AGcarryall variant of the 185 adds a 151-gallon belly chemical tank and removable spray booms for aerial application. It is also possible to fit a cargo pod under the fuselage that can carry an extra 300 lb (136 kg).

The 180 and 185 are widely used in bush flying, the commercial transport of people and freight to remote austere airstrips and floatplane accessible lakes primarily in Canada and Alaska.

The ICAO designator as used in flight plans for the Cessna 185 is C185.

Military operators
As part of the United States Military Assistance Program, Cessna received a contract to supply the United States Air Force with the Skywagon. These were intended for delivery overseas and were designated U-17A and U-17B.
Other military operators include Bolivia, Greece, Iran, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and Uruguay.

Specifications (Cessna 185 landplane)

General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 5 passengers
- Length: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
- Height: 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
- Wing area: 174 ft² (16.16 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 2412
- Empty weight: 1,600 lb (725 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,350 lb (1,520 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Continental Motors IO-520-D , 300 hp (224 kW)

Performance
- Maximum speed: 155 knots at sea level (177 mph, 287 km/h)
- Range: 573 nautical miles (655 mi, 1,061 km) at maximum cruising speed with standard tanks and no reserve
- Service ceiling 17,150 ft (5,230 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,010 ft/min at sea level (5.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 19.3 lb/ft² (94.2 kg/m²)