Quantcast

Cessna's legacy: Understanding the evolution of the Pressurized Centurion

Engine maker agrees to compensate WizzAir for grounded planes
Turkish Airlines’ flights are riddled with bedbugs, passengers say
British Airways frequent flyers react to Executive Club changes
Inside the short-lived, men-only flights where kids and women were banned but cigar and pipe smoking were rife
China steps up drive to break Boeing, Airbus grip on plane market
Heathrow’s New York service clings to spot in top aviation routes
Airline praises pilots in crash-landing where both died but nearly half the passengers survived
Mexico state airline to buy five Embraer planes next year
A record number of people are expected to fly over the holidays. That's good for travel stocks, but not for passengers.
American Airlines technical issue sparks travel chaos on Christmas Eve as flights heavily delayed after being grounded
Why United Airlines has had such a stellar year despite being Boeing's biggest customer
JetBlue nixing routes between multiple major cities, reducing several others
Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
All of the strikes at European airports this winter – find out if you are affected
Meet the CEO trying to turn around Air India, the 92-year-old airline with a pile of problems
Skiplagging: Unpacking the Risky Travel Trend That Involves Tricking Airlines
Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
China Southern returns to Adelaide
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
Here's Why Analysts Say It's a Good Time to Buy Airline Stocks
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
Cessna's legacy: Understanding the evolution of the Pressurized Centurion
Policy
Webp iy1i7qwocvuspdub382rez39haa6
Sumit Singh Editorial Lead | Simple Flying

The Cessna P210, a pressurized version of the Cessna 210, was produced from 1978 to 1986, offering improved comfort and performance at higher altitudes. The P210 was designed to meet the demand for high-performance, single-engine aircraft capable of flying at higher altitudes with cabin pressurization. The Cessna P210 provided a combination of comfort, performance, and reliability, making it a popular choice among pilots who needed to fly at higher altitudes and in various weather conditions.

The Cessna P210, also known as the Pressurized Centurion, was produced from 1978 to 1986. This model was a pressurized version of the popular Cessna 210, designed to offer improved comfort and performance at higher altitudes. The standard non-pressurized Cessna 210—an upgrade from the Cessna 182—had a substantial production run from 1957 to 1986. The P210 was introduced for the 1978 model year and continued production until Cessna retired the model 210 type in 1986. During this period, 873 P210 aircraft were produced, with the P210R variant being the rarest and most advanced but only produced during 1985 and 1986.

Cessna designed and built the P210 to meet the demand for high-performance, single-engine aircraft capable of flying at higher altitudes with cabin pressurization. Consequently, P210 pilots and their passengers would typically fly at FL230 instead of the 8-12,000-foot altitude common to unpressurized models.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

General aviation buyers were impressed with the airplane and were buying it in large numbers; so why a pressurized variant? The short answer is market share. By 1978, Cessna was manufacturing every type of general aviation aircraft. If there were a market niche for a fast, high-performance, pressurized single-engine airplane, Cessna would feel compelled to fill it.

The P210 enabled high-altitude flight for more comfortable and less fatiguing flights. This feature reduces the need for supplemental oxygen and allows flight above weather and turbulence. It utilized a well-proven engine/turbocharger system making it reliable for pilots needing to maintain schedules and fly in IFR weather conditions.

There was growing interest in pressurized single-engine aircraft during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The introduction in 1984 of the Piper Malibu pushed Cessna to enhance the P210's capabilities to remain competitive. This led to progressively more powerful engines, improved aerodynamics, and increased fuel capacity.

Overall, the Cessna P210 offered a combination of comfort, performance, and reliability. In all, 9,240 Cessna 210 aircraft were built during its production run. Richard Collins said: “The 210 was simply an airframe that was adaptable to a lot of different things.”

Original prices ranged from around $30,000 for early models to over $200,000 for later variants. Current used prices vary widely based on condition and model.

Owners have mixed feelings about their aircraft due to cockpit control complexity and maintenance issues involving various systems. However, they appreciate its speed capability above bad weather with superb visibility due to its high cantilever wing design.

Modern single-engine aircraft easily eclipse its performance capabilities but come at significantly higher prices.

The Cessna P210 remains as a vestige of boom times in general aviation when manufacturers produced an airplane for every budget and purpose.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

EVA Air has announced the return of the 2025 EVA Marathon in Taipei, with registration now open for race distances ranging from 3K to 42K.

May 12, 2025

Airlines for America announced its support for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's commitment to modernizing the national air traffic control system and maintaining airspace safety.

May 12, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a 15% discount on flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur from select destinations.

May 12, 2025

Cathay Pacific has announced the reopening of its redesigned lounge, The Bridge, at Hong Kong International Airport.

May 12, 2025

Emirates has announced the launch of a new daily direct flight between Dubai and Hangzhou, marking its fifth gateway into mainland China.

May 12, 2025

Aeroméxico has announced the launch of a social media trivia contest, offering participants an opportunity to win prizes associated with the Tecate Emblema Festival.

May 12, 2025