A staple of the general aviation fleet, the Piper PA-28 series is among the easiest types to own. Plentiful spare parts, widespread qualified maintenance, and do-it-all flight characteristics make it a true Jack of all trades. Accordingly, it comes as no surprise that some 33,000 examples have been produced – and continue to be produced – since its introduction in 1960.

Over the years, the PA-28 has morphed into many subtypes and derivations. From the two-seat, 140-horsepower Cherokee 140 to the big six-seat, 300-horsepower Cherokee Six, the basic design spans a wide range of performance and capability. 

• READ MORE: Plane Facts: Piper PA-28s

This particular example is one of the most highly regarded engine/airframe pairings. With four seats and the 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360, it provides a fantastic blend of performance and economy. With only 2,465 hours on the airframe and 464 hours since major overhaul of the engine, it’s likely to provide its next owner with trouble-free flying for years to come.

While there are less expensive Cherokees out there, few combine a low-time airframe with such a nice interior and modern panel. With clean, neutral colors and intact trim pieces, the cabin presents well, particularly for a 58-year-old airplane. 

The panel has been modernized with some of the latest Garmin avionics. A GNX 375 provides GPS and transponder duties, as well as ADS-B in and out. This feeds data to a GI 275 HSI, and a GTR 200 provides primary radio duties. 

With this panel setup, the new owner could add a single GI 275 attitude indicator to completely eliminate the airplane’s vacuum system. This would add functionality, increase reliability, and save significant weight in one shot. 

Well maintained with current IFR certification and complete logbooks, this Cherokee provides a well-balanced set of strengths with well-known and well-liked flying qualities to boot.

• READ MORE: Flying Over An Egyptian Air Base

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance and quickly calculate your monthly payment using the airplane finance calculator. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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With a design dating back to the late 1930s, the Ercoupe was designed with fun, safety, and economy in mind. The unique H-tail reduces the left-turning tendencies during takeoff while also minimizing the weathervaning effect prevalent in crosswinds. While the original Ercoupes lacked a rudder and rudder pedals entirely, this example has had them installed as an aftermarket kit, making the airplane a bit more familiar for newcomers to fly.

Despite its age, this is an airplane with plenty of life left. With only 2,264 hours on the airframe and 785 hours on the Continental C75 since major overhaul, the new owner can expect many years of trouble-free enjoyment – enjoyment that’s multiplied when the canopy windows are lowered for an open-cockpit flying experience. The original fabric wing covering has been replaced with metal, eliminating the need for costly $10,000+ fabric replacement in the future.

Remarkably, this Ercoupe includes all logs since new. So, in addition to receiving a well-maintained airplane with new windows, brakes, exhaust, fuel tank, and battery, the new owner will also have nearly 80 years of documented history to reference. The presence of every logbook is as much a testament to the fastidiousness of all the previous owners as it is a source of documentation. 

Inside, this Ercoupe has been refreshed with a new floorboard, new interior, and even a new, minimalist panel. The panel was designed to provide a clean, uncluttered look that compliments the airplane’s art-deco aesthetic while providing all the instrumentation necessary for fun VFR flight. The layout even provides ample space in the center for a tablet to be mounted in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.

It’s not every day that a classic icon of aviation’s golden age becomes available at a price less than that of many Harley-Davidson motorcycles. And it’s even rarer for such an icon to come in such meticulously maintained condition. But this Ercoupe checks all of the boxes and is ready to provide its next caretaker with an economical and uniquely vintage flying experience. Learn more about Ercoupe ownership here.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 2000 Micco SP-20 

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance and quickly calculate your monthly payment using the airplane finance calculator. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com. 

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First flown in 1991, the Model 4 improved on the preceding three Kitfoxes by utilizing a laminar-flow airfoil and improved flaperons. The Model 4-1200 was the final version of the Model 4 and added a strengthened airframe that increased the gross weight significantly to 1,200 pounds. The -1200 also incorporated a larger rudder and vertical stabilizer for improved control authority.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1965 Cessna 150E

With 7,363 hours on the airframe, this particular Kitfox has seen significant use, but it appears to have been very well cared for. With no reported damage history and an airframe and fabric rated at 8/10, it appears to be a well-sorted and well cared for example with plenty of life left. 

Kitfoxes are available with a variety of engines, and this example sports a four-cylinder Jabiru. One Kitfox owner with the same setup reports a 95 mph cruise speed while burning only 3 gallons per hour. The same owner reports seeing healthy climb rates of 1,200 feet per minute. 

Unlike many aircraft types, the Kitfox has foldable wings. This enables the airplane to be tucked into a small corner of a standard aircraft hangar, presenting the option of subletting a section of another renter’s hangar for relatively little rent. Alternatively, the excellent short-field performance opens up the possibility of landing in a large backyard and using a standard car garage as a hangar.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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First flown in 1946, some 3,700 Super Cruisers were manufactured between 1946 and 1948. It resembles a slightly larger Piper Cub, with a fabric-covered steel tube fuselage and tandem seating. Unlike Cubs, however, the Super Cruiser may be flown solo from the front seat, where the pilot can enjoy substantially greater outward visibility. In back, the wide seat was designed to accommodate two passengers side-by-side.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1964 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser

This Super Cruiser comes equipped with a 115-horsepower Lycoming O-235. With a 2,500-hour recommended time between overhaul (TBO), this engine–flown only four hours since the recent major overhaul–will likely provide its new owner with decades of reliable service.

Similarly, the airframe is said to have been given a museum-quality restoration by a professional restorer. This effectively results in an airplane that’s as good as, or perhaps even better than new, for far less than any factory-new aircraft available on the market today.

Inside, the restorer kept the panel true to its vintage design, utilizing ivory-colored gauges and grouping a modern radio and transponder in a small central stack.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1969 Cessna 172K Skyhawk

This Super Cruiser’s asking price is little more than the cost of the airframe restoration and engine overhaul. But it’s available now for $89,000 on AircraftForSale, without having to wait a year or more for such services to be rendered.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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Built between 1958 and 1962, some 2,100 examples of the Skylark were produced. This relatively high number, combined with a great deal of commonality with the popular 172, makes sourcing parts and qualified service straightforward. Additionally, a number of modifications, such as STOL kits and even tailwheel conversions, are compatible with the type.

• READ MORE: Cessna 175 Skylark

The Continental GO-300 engine produces 180 horsepower, and while it does have a slightly lower time before overhaul (TBO) than comparable engines at 1,200 hours, multiple options exist for engine upgrades. Many owners, faced with the prospect of a $35,000+ engine overhaul, opt to source a used, midtime Lycoming O-360 or Continental IO-360 as an alternative. Such a modification would make this aircraft a budget 182 in many ways.

Inside, the panel is exceptionally clean and well laid out. The vacuum system and instruments have been removed and two Garmin G5s have been installed in their place, increasing reliability and reducing weight and complexity. Unlike many aircraft of the era, the radio stack is positioned up high in the pilot’s field of view. A modern transponder with ADS-B out ensures class B and C airspace remains within reach.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1969 Cessna 172K Skyhawk

As it stands, this Skylark is a lot of airplane for the money. With an engine upgrade, a tailwheel conversion, and tundra tires, the value could easily increase to well over $100,000, making it an attractive canvas for future modifications.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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Today’s bargain provides nearly unbeatable STOL and off-airport capability for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than comparable airplanes and $20,000 less than the Aircraft for Sale PlanePrice Estimate. Dating back to the mid-1980s, Maule’s M-7 series has proven itself as an aircraft with outstanding performance and load-carrying capability. Perhaps best of all, factory support is readily available when the time comes to source parts or qualified, skilled maintenance.

Built in 2004, this relatively new Maule lacks the concerns associated with older aging types, such as aging fabric and deteriorating wiring, and is likely to provide decades of trouble-free ownership. Always hangared with complete logs and zero damage history, it would be difficult to find an off-airport machine as well cared for as this example. 

• READ MORE: Maules Are All That

With 3,315 total hours on the airframe, 1,395 hours on the 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 since major overhaul, and a fresh annual inspection, this Maule is said to fly well and need nothing. 72-gallon long-range fuel tanks enable long forays into the backcountry with fewer concerns about sourcing fuel, and ADS-B in and out ensures populated areas and busy airspace remain within reach, as well.

Inside, an expansive interior and ample cargo space welcome both people and cargo, while a panel chock full of new Garmin avionics creates a pleasant and capable workspace for the pilot. The overall condition reflects the fact that the airplane has had only three owners since new, yet it has been flown 75 hours in the past six months, ensuring no issues are lurking from sitting unused for extended periods.

Tailwheel Maules have a reputation of being challenging to handle in crosswinds, and their high insurance rates often reflect this. Fortunately, this Maule’s tricycle landing gear minimizes both concerns.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 2003 Zenith CH 2000 Alarus

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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Introduced in 1948, three versions of the Cessna 170 were manufactured. The initial “ragwing,” built in 1948 only, had a fabric-covered wing and was essentially an upsized 140. The 170A, built from 1949 to 1951, incorporated an all-metal wing. All 170s built in 1952 and beyond were B-models and introduced the most significant upgrades, including massive, semi-Fowler flaps that noticeably improved both takeoff and landing distances. The 170B also added dihedral to the wing and a balanced elevator, which provided improved handling qualities. 

• READ MORE: Cessna’s Magnificent Model 170 Turns 75

Among B-models, a few additional improvements arrived in 1953, including improved cabin heat that’s evenly distributed to the front and rear passengers, a modernized panel that can be more straightforward to upgrade, and stiffer landing gear legs. This 1954 model incorporates all of these upgrades, making it among the most desirable 170s available for purchase.

The stock Continental C-145 is a robust, smooth-running six-cylinder engine, and this one is relatively low time, with 508 hours since major overhaul. Although the airframe has just over 4,000 hours, it presents well with well-maintained, glossy paint in a traditional scheme. A set of vortex generators and drooped wingtips round out the small assortment of modifications.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1952 Cessna 170B

Inside, the headliner, carpet, and upholstery are in good shape and coordinate nicely with the exterior paint. The panel is otherwise fairly original but appears well-kept and should be straightforward to modernize, should the new owner opt to do so. 

Overall, this 170B provides a tailwheel flying experience that is both welcoming and docile to new tailwheel pilots and also capable for those interested in exploring more challenging, off-airport strips. With a flatter-pitch seaplane propeller and low-pressure tundra tires, it will unlock many new destinations, or it can be enjoyed as is for enjoyable trips to airport diners and fly-ins.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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First flown in 1975, just two years after the nearly identical-looking Piper Tomahawk, the Skipper was sold between 1979 and 1981, with some unsold examples selling as 1982 models. Like the Tomahawk, the concept was born from an evaluation of what people wanted out of a two-place plane with about 100 horsepower. The overwhelming answer was something less cramped and more comfortable than a 150, so Beechcraft designed the Skipper, outfitting it with a slightly more powerful Lycoming O-235.

For a shopper who values solid mechanicals over fresh paint and the latest avionics, this particular Skipper is just what the doctor ordered. The centerpiece of the airplane is the engine. Freshly overhauled in 2023, it has flown regularly since then and now has 250 hours since major overhaul. 

• READ MORE: BEECHCRAFT BE-77 SKIPPER

While the exterior is far from new, it looks decent with only a few blemishes here and there. Inside, the interior plastics appear to be largely intact with no obvious signs of abuse. This is possibly a result of the relatively low 2,370 hours on the airframe. As an added bonus, the airplane is presented as having no damage history.

What the panel lacks in modernization is makes up for in tidiness, retaining the orderly factory layout and providing plenty of space for easy avionics upgrades. A uAvionix skyBeacon brings the Skipper into ADS-B compliance, and a small throttle quadrant with levers rather than push-pull knobs makes the little airplane feel larger than it is.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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