How much does a single-engine airplane cost?

Used single-engine piston aircraft range from $18K for a basic Cessna 150 to $700K+ for a new Cirrus SR22T. The most popular models — Cessna 172 Skyhawk ($50K-$150K), Piper Cherokee ($40K-$100K), and Cessna 182 Skylane ($80K-$200K) — offer the best balance of price and capability. Glass cockpit aircraft command a $30K-$80K premium over steam gauge versions.

What is the best first airplane to buy?

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most popular first airplane — forgiving handling, low operating costs ($100-$140/hr), widely available parts and training. A good used Cessna 172 costs $50K-$120K. The Piper Cherokee PA-28 ($40K-$90K) and Diamond DA40 ($120K-$220K) are also excellent choices for new owners looking for reliable, easy-to-fly aircraft.

How much does it cost to own a small airplane?

Budget $12,000-$25,000 per year at 100 flight hours, including fuel ($4,500-$7,000 at $6/gal), hangar ($2,400-$6,000 depending on region), insurance ($1,500-$3,000), annual inspection ($1,500-$3,000), and maintenance reserves ($2,000-$5,000). Total hourly cost works out to $120-$250/hr depending on the aircraft type and how much you fly.

What is the cheapest airplane to buy and fly?

The cheapest airplanes to buy are Cessna 150/152 trainers ($18K-$45K) and older Piper Cherokee 140 models ($25K-$50K). Operating costs run $80-$120/hr. For a four-seater, the Cessna 172 offers the lowest total cost of ownership. Luscombe, Aeronca Champ, and Piper J-3 Cub are even cheaper to operate but carry only two people.

Single engine piston vs. multi engine — which should I buy?

For most private owners, a single-engine piston offers lower purchase price (50-70% less), lower operating costs (single engine overhaul vs. two), lower insurance, and simpler maintenance. Multi-engine aircraft provide engine redundancy but require a multi-engine rating and have higher total costs. A Cirrus SR22 with CAPS parachute offers comparable safety to a light twin at half the operating cost.

322 Used Piston Aircraft for Sale

(322)

Category

Airplanes

Single Engine Piston 6907 Multi Engine Piston 1093 Single Engine Turboprop 577 Multi Engine Turboprop 530 Experimental / Homebuilt 549 Light Sport 839 Warbirds & Military 198

Jets

Very Light Jet 399 Light Jet 868 Midsize Jet 378 Super-Midsize Jet 265 Large Cabin Jet 465 Ultra-Long Range Jet 158 Airliners 53

Helicopters

Piston Helicopters 722 Single Turbine Helicopter 486 Twin Turbine Helicopter 310

Other

Gliders 96 Amphibians 53 Agricultural 30 Gyrocopters 50

Popular

Cessna 2179 Piper 1357 Cirrus 879 Beechcraft 606 Mooney 309 Diamond 167 American Champion 113 Socata 107 De Havilland 81 Aviat 70

All (A–Z)

Aero 10 Aeromere 3 Aeronca 27 Airbus Helicopters 1 Alon 3 American Champion 113 American Legend 4 Antonov 12 Aquila 13 Auster 9 Australian Aircraft Kits 1 Aviat 70 Bakeng Deuce 1 Beagle 5 Beechcraft 606 Bellanca 32 Boeing 41 Boisavia 1 Bolkow 2 Bucker 14 Bush Caddy 1 Bushcaddy 1 Bölkow 2 Cessna 2179 Christen 4 Cirrus 879 Coavio 1 Comco Ikarus 15 Commander 50 Commonwealth Aircraft Corp 3 Corben 2 Cubcrafters 58 Daher 1 De Havilland 81 Deperdussin 1 Diamond 167 Dornier 4 Druine 3 Dyn Aero 5 Eagle 1 Ercoupe 13 Europa 1 Extra 44 Fairchild 8 Fokker 3 Found 1 Fuji 1 Game Composites 6 Gardan 7 General Avia 1 Gippsaero 6 Globe 4 Great Lakes 6 Grob 4 Grumman 66 Hawker 1 HB-Flugtechnik 2 Helio 3 Hirth 1 Howard 2 Jodel 23 Just Aircraft 1 Klemm 1 Luscombe 16 Maule 48 Messerschmitt 2 Meyers 1 Micco 1 Miles 4 Monocoupe 1 Mooney 309 Mudry 8 Naval Aircraft Factory 1 Navion 6 Noorduyn 1 Nord 4 North American 1 Nzaero 5 Pacific Aerospace 1 Pelegrin 1 Percival 2 Piel 5 Pilatus 5 Piper 1357 Pipistrel 10 Pitts 37 Porterfield 2 Pottier 2 PZL 5 Pzl-Okecie 3 RANS 1 Republic 2 Robin 56 Rockwell 12 Ryan 8 SAAB 5 Sai 1 Scottish Aviation 3 SIAI-Marchetti 13 Sipa 1 Skyreach 3 Sling 5 Slingsby 8 Socata 107 Sonaca 11 Spartan 1 Stampe 5 Stinson 18 Stits 1 Swift 1 Taylor 1 Taylorcraft 14 Tecnam 61 Thorp 1 Utva 1 Valentin 3 Vashon 5 Vulcanair 6 Waco 22 Wag-Aero 3 Xtremeair 9 Yakovlev 15 Zivko 1 Zlin 34

North America 4954 Europe 1107 Asia-Pacific 275 South America 27 Africa 56 Middle East 5

United States 4678 United Kingdom 419 Canada 269 Australia 233 Germany 177 France 108 Switzerland 65 South Africa 54 Poland 52 Italy 43 Czech Republic 35 New Zealand 25 Denmark 22 Austria 21 Belgium 21 Sweden 20 Spain 18 Netherlands 17 Brazil 15 Mexico 7 Ireland 6 Hungary 6 Norway 5 Argentina 5 Portugal 4 Colombia 4 Israel 3 Philippines 2 Chile 2 Japan 1

United States

Texas 544 California 499 Florida 418 North Carolina 174 Ohio 142 South Carolina 140 Arizona 131 Kentucky 129 Georgia 111 Colorado 101 Idaho 99 Oklahoma 98 Tennessee 86 Illinois 83 Washington 82 Kansas 77 Michigan 74 Oregon 73 Virginia 68 Arkansas 66 Pennsylvania 66 Wisconsin 64 New York 64 Minnesota 62 Indiana 61 Nevada 55 Missouri 53 Alabama 47 Utah 46 New Jersey 46 Louisiana 44 Maryland 42 Massachusetts 41 Mississippi 34 Nebraska 32 Alaska 30 Iowa 25 Maine 24 Wyoming 23 Montana 22 Connecticut 21 New Mexico 20 New Hampshire 18 South Dakota 18 North Dakota 14 Delaware 8 Vermont 8 West Virginia 7 District of Columbia 4 Usa 4 California 3 Kansas 2 Carolina 2 BC 2 Rhode Island 2 On K6a1a2 2 Florida 1 2011 Philippines Telephone: 1 Ab T5v1j7 1 ARI 1 Aspen 1 CA. 1 Hawaii 1 Kentucky 1 Mb R0j 1e0 1 NA N37 D8Y7 Ireland / Eire Telephone: 1 New Hampshire 1 New Jersey 1 ON 1 On N0p 1w0 1 Sk S0l0y0 1 Texas 1 Tokyo 1

Canada

Ontario 98 British Columbia 50 Alberta 44 Quebec 19 Saskatchewan 12 Manitoba 5 Ontario 3 New Brunswick 3 Newfoundland and Labrador 2 Yukon 2 Alberta 1 Chile 1 Columbia 1 Nova Scotia 1 Northwest Territories 1 Quebec 1 Usa 1 X0E 1

United Kingdom

England 40 South East 30 South West 24 East Midlands 13 East of England 10 North West 10 Scotland 9 West Midlands 9 Yorkshire and the Humber 7 Wales 5 North East 4 Channel Islands 2 London 2 Warwickshire 1

Australia

Queensland 23 New South Wales 22 South Australia 16 Victoria 13 Western Australia 7 Australia 2

__OTHER__

North Carolina 10 Texas 8 South Carolina 5 Florida 4 Germany 3 California 2 Georgia 2 Oregon 2 Spain 2 Washington 2 Wisconsin 2 Arizona 1 Argentina 1 Chile 1 France 1 Illinois 1 KE 1 Kansas 1 Minnesota 1 Missouri 1 Mexico 1 New York 1 Switzerland 1

Switzerland

Ticino 27 Switzerland 12 Zurich 3 Basel Land 1 Lucerne 1 Schwyz 1 Valais 1

Germany

Bavaria 13 Hesse 11 Germany 4 North Rhine-Westphalia 2 Baden-Württemberg 1 Berlin 1

South Africa

Gauteng 26

New Zealand

North Island 6 South Island 4 Auckland 2 Nelson 1 New Zealand 1 Otago 1

France

Bourgogne-Franche-Comte 2 All Regions 1 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 1 France 1 Ille-et-Vilaine 1 Limousine 1 Nouvelle-Aquitaine 1 South Carolina 1 Seine-et-Marne 1 Val-D'oise 1 Yvelines 1

Italy