The Cessna 185F Skywagon that carries Nomi across the Caribbean in No Time To Die is a real, plain-spoken workhorse, from a line built between 1961 and 1985 for people who needed to get a load somewhere with no runway. It is not a prop made for the screen, and it is not beyond reach. In our view it is the most useful aircraft in the film, and one that can still be owned.
In the film
In No Time To Die (2021), Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch, flies a silver and red Cessna 185F on floats from Jamaica to Cuba. Daniel Craig’s Bond later uses the same aeroplane to meet Felix Leiter, and Logan Ash uses it to bomb the ship. The aircraft carries registration 2-GDDC, construction number 185-0652.
The details of the Cessna 185F Skywagon
A high wing and a tailwheel. The 185 is a high-wing taildragger approved for up to six seats. Almost all owners remove the rear bench and carry cargo instead. It is a utility aeroplane first, and it looks it.
Power to spare. The 185F carries a Continental IO-520-D producing 300hp. That gives it a top speed of about 145 knots and a range of around 720 nautical miles, and more than 800 with long-range tanks and careful engine management. The useful load can almost match the empty weight, which is why it earned its place in Canada and Alaska.
Surfaces of every kind. On wheels, skis or floats it can operate from gravel, grass, snow or water. The floatplane in the film shows the type at its most characteristic: a Skywagon is a way of reaching somewhere, not of being seen arriving.
Not a beginner’s aeroplane. One long-time owner told AOPA he had about 100 hours of tailwheel flying when he bought his, and needed 50 more before he felt comfortable. The 185 asks for a firm hand on the rudder, big and timely control movements, and a patient approach to landing.
Owning it now
There is no maker page or shop for a type that left production in 1985, and the film aircraft is a single privately registered airframe, so the button searches eBay for the model. Cessna built 4,448 Skywagons, and about 2,500 are registered in the United States and Canada. None are made today, so every purchase is a used one. That makes the history of the airframe matter more than the paint: complete logbooks, a clean damage history and a recent annual inspection are what the better listings lead with.
We would look for an example with a seaplane history already behind it, rather than convert a wheeled aircraft yourself. A swap to the larger Continental IO-550 is among the most sought-after modifications, so expect to meet it. A pre-purchase inspection by someone who knows the type is not optional.
This is not a purchase to make because of a film. It suits a pilot who already has tailwheel hours, who owns or has access to water, and who wants a machine that is useful before it is handsome. For everyone else, it is a very good aeroplane to know about.
Specifications
| Model | Cessna 185F Skywagon (floatplane in the film) |
|---|---|
| Film aircraft | Silver and red, registration 2-GDDC, construction number 185-0652 |
| Production | 185 series built 1961 to 1985; 4,448 Skywagons in total |
| Seats | One pilot, up to five passengers |
| Engine | Continental IO-520-D, 300hp |
| Dimensions | Length 25ft 9in, wingspan 35ft 10in, height 7ft 9in |
| Maximum take-off weight | 3,350lb |
| Performance | Maximum speed about 145 knots; range about 720 nautical miles |
| RRP | None: out of production. Used examples listed on Trade-a-Plane at the time of writing (October 2026) were mostly priced between US$100,000 and US$499,999 |
Questions
Is the plane in No Time To Die a real Cessna?
Yes. It is a Cessna 185F Skywagon on floats, finished in silver and red, with registration 2-GDDC.
Who flies the Cessna in No Time To Die?
Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch, flies it from Jamaica to Cuba. Bond later uses it to meet Leiter, and Logan Ash uses it to bomb the ship.
Can you buy a new Cessna 185 Skywagon?
No. Cessna ended production in 1985, so every Skywagon for sale is used. Prices vary widely with engine, condition and equipment.
Is the Skywagon hard to fly?
It is demanding on the ground. It is a tailwheel aeroplane with a powerful engine, and it rewards pilots who already have tailwheel experience.
More of the vehicles from the film are in our vehicles collection; the full story is on the No Time To Die page, with Daniel Craig and the other films beyond.
