Install a set of amphibious floats should your flight needs include water-based take-offs and landings. Fishermen use floats on the 182 to access deep wilderness lakes and rivers. Use the amphibs to land on water and tarmac as the amphibs have retractable wheels. If your flying needs include snow and glacier landings, modify the 182 with retractable skis for the landings and take-offs on snow.
Upgrade the steam-gauge instrument panel to the modern "glass cockpit." A glass cockpit is not a cockpit made of glass; it is a new form of the standard gauges in a touch-screen computer readout. Glass cockpit modifications make navigation and pilotage easier with GPS, radio communication and digital readouts of the gauges. The 182 has the needed panel and fixtures to modify the instruments to the glass cockpit.
Design a custom paint job and scheme for your Cessna 182. Plan out the paint job using online templates, or hand draw. Provide the design to a certified aircraft body mechanic to make your custom design a reality on your aircraft.
Upgrade the engine. The engine itself may not be modified, but it may be replaced or upgraded. For example, the standard 182 uses a Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 powerplant (engine), but it could be upgraded to a turbo TIO-540-AK1A. This gives the 182 better climbing and faster airspeeds. In addition, the TIO-540-AK1A. allows the 182 to go to a maximum ceiling of 20,000 feet.
