Cessna 180 Named Most Important Aircraft in Icelandic Aviation History

When asked which aircraft left the deepest mark on Iceland’s aviation history, some point to the trijet or the Boeing 757. Others argue that a small Cessna 180 deserves top recognition. The director of the Aviation Museum in Akureyri has now declared a specific Cessna 180, the TF-HIS, as the museum’s most important artifact. In a recent episode of the radio program Flugþjóðin, Hörður Guðmundsson highlighted the role of small single-engine tailwheel aircraft like the Cessna 180 in shaping Iceland’s air transport network. He began flying such planes with Flugfélagið Ernir in Ísafjörður back in 1970. According to Hörður, these aircraft filled a crucial gap as seaplane use declined, enabling the creation of more small airstrips around the country. Steinunn María Sveinsdóttir, director of the Icelandic Aviation Museum, identified TF-HIS, a Cessna 180 once used for medical flights by Björn Pálsson, as the standout item in the collection. “TF-HIS represents so much in Icelandic aviation history,” she said. “If I had to pick just one, and you forced my hand, I’d say TF-HIS.” The aircraft symbolizes a pivotal era when light planes expanded access to remote areas across Iceland.