One giant proof that the Cessna 180 aircraft is one reliable air vehicle is that it was the chosen aircraft by Geraldine Mock when she made that successful flight around the world. Geraldine Mock is the first woman pilot who made the first successful round the globe flight and she did it using the 1953 Cessna 180 model back in 1964. That Cessna 180 plane was named the Spirit of Columbus model number N1538C and her exploits in that particular flight was recorded in her autobiographical book Three-Eight Charlie. That specific Cessna 180 aircraft was first stored at the Cessna plant in Wichita, Kansas hung on the ceiling of the production floor and later on was put on display (and still is) at the National Air and Space Museum.
In the aircraft industry, within experienced pilots' circles, the Cessna 180s and the 185s along with the very popular Super Club are deemed as the best bush planes in the world. Bush planes are the kind of planes used to fly over remote and almost uncharted areas such as the African Bush areas, the Alaskan tundra, and areas like these. Although not as easily maneuvered as the Super Club, the Cessna 180 has the upper hand when it comes to the number of passengers you can carry (the Cessna 180 can accommodate four persons whereas the Super Club can fit in only two). There are Cessna 180 models where the baggage compartment was converted into seats but it turns out that the last two seats are quite uncomfortable and cramped so the idea of fitting in six passengers is usually discouraged. And like the Super Club, the Cessna 180 can be fitted with water skis and floaters for water landing, and some are even equipped with tundra tires. However, the very last Cessna 180 was produced in 1981.
St-Just Aviation, a Canadian aircraft builder, made some awesome revisions on the Cessna 180 and it fitted the original aircraft with more powerful engines, much stronger than the stock Cessna 180 engines and longer wings, and it named this revised model the Cyclone. There are at least 25 Cyclones produced.
You would notice that the Cessna 180 and 185 are quite the same in looks and features except for the large dorsal fin that is attached to the vertical surface of the Cessna 185, however you may be surprised to see that there are some 180s which were built with larger fins as well. Rivet fasteners on semi-monocoque aluminum design is the material that was used on the Cessna 180. Although in the plant, it would seem that the assembly process of the Cessna 180 looks quite easy, if it were a kit and you try to pull together the entire plane, you would be surprised to discover that it would baffle even the best puzzle solver among us.