The Dart was unique from the beginning. Designed in the 1930s with the help of Al Mooney, it sported several different engine options, mostly 90-horsepower radials and the slightly more powerful Continental O-200 of Cessna 150 fame. With a fabric-covered wooden airframe, nicely rounded tips on the wing and horizontal stabilizer, and a jaunty stance on its tailwheel gear, it looks as though it’s enthusiastically anticipating the next opportunity to fly.

• READ MORE: Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1948 Cessna 120

This particular Dart is especially unique. Rather than leaving the pilot with only around 100 horsepower and precious little excess thrust to clear departure-end obstacles, it has a one-time STC for a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320. This notable increase in power is sure to deliver bigger climb rates and bigger smiles alike, particularly as it’s fully stressed for aerobatic flight.

The Dart’s new owner will likely go many years without significant scheduled maintenance concerns. With only 1,000 hours on the airframe, 466 on the engine since major overhaul, and entirely new Polyfiber fabric installed in 2004, the most significant items have been addressed.

Although fewer than 100 Darts were produced, some 20 remain on the FAA registry today. So, while the type is indeed rare, a small community of owners exists that might be leveraged for ownership support. It’s not every day a unique and nearly pristine golden-age classic becomes available, and it’s especially rare that one comes up for a price on par with a new pickup truck.

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. 

The post Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1946 Culver Dart GC appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

Over the decades, Luscombes have become known for two things: a simple, pure flying experience devoid of any extraneous weight or complexity and snappy, responsive controls that do precisely what the pilot commands – for better or for worse. Compared to many comparable types, the Luscombe is one you fly with your fingertips.

• READ MORE: 1946 Luscombe 8E and Mt. Rainier

This particular example is deluxe as Luscombes 8s go. It’s equipped with a peppy Continental C90 that has a new alternator and voltage regulator—a far cry from the bare-bones Luscombes that lack electrical systems entirely. In the past few years, the C90 has had the carb rebuilt and the exhaust replaced.

Elsewhere, intelligent mods abound. New inertia-reel shoulder harnesses keep you safe without restricting forward movement to peer to the right or left in turns. The brakes have been upgraded to dependable Groves, and the interior is clean and tidy

The panel offers a fantastic blend of simplicity and modern functionality. A modern Garmin radio and transponder comprise the avionics stack, and a uAvionix skyBeacon provides ADS-B out. Should the new owner wish to add a bit more functionality, the VOR receiver, mounted front and center, could be cleanly replaced with a modern, lightweight multifunction flight display such as the Garmin GI 275 to retain the vintage look.

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

The post Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1947 Luscombe 8E appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

Several different manufacturers produced nearly 6,000 Ercoupes between 1940 and 1969, making replacement parts relatively easy to source and relatively inexpensive to purchase. Additionally, the Continental C85 engine sips fuel at a rate of about 5 gallons per hour, helping to minimize operating costs. Vibrant owners groups offer new owners a wealth of knowledge and know-how.  

This particular example has a low airframe time of only 2,871 hours and an even lower engine time of 305 hours since major overhaul. It is configured as new, without rudder pedals, but has been modified with a metalized wing. At the expense of a bit of useful load, this eliminates the need for costly wing fabric replacement, which can easily exceed $10,000. Perhaps best of all, this Ercoupe sports the original canopy design that enables flight with the top and side windows wide open.

• Read more about Ercoupe ownership here.

Pilots interested in a unique vintage aircraft with economical operating costs should consider this 1946 Ercoupe 415D, which is available for $39,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

The post Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1946 Ercoupe 415D appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

With an airframe total time of 4,450 hours, this aircraft has proven its resilience in the skies. Its Continental 0300D engine, paired with a McCauley borer prop, ensures reliability and performance for your missions. 

Equipped for exploration, the Cessna 170B comes fitted with a range of navigation equipment, including a KLN 90B, VOR, ILS, DME, 2VHF, KT70 Mode C, Garmin 196, and a 406 ELT. The communication setup features a KX 155, ensuring reliable contact during your flights.

• READ MORE: Cessna 170A: Rebuild Of A Lifetime, Literally

Step into a comfortable interior, upgraded in 2015, offering front shoulder harnesses, a folding rear bench, and an extended baggage area for added convenience. The polished aluminum exterior with highlights adds a touch of elegance to this aviation classic.

As a tailwheel predecessor to the iconic Cessna 172, the Cessna 170 played a pivotal role in aviation history. Despite initial hesitations, Cessna’s decision to explore the modification of the 170 led to the birth of the immensely popular Cessna 172, revolutionizing general aviation. Now, for $85,000, you can own a piece of this historical journey and experience the joy of flying in a true aviator’s delight.

Explore the skies with the Cessna 170B, where history meets the thrill of flight.

Interested in more deals like this? Check out AircraftForSale.com and our new PlanePrice feature that gives you a window into the opportunities that are out there.

The post Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1952 Cessna 170B appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

Over the weekend my wife and I experienced the magical power of a light piston airplane to add hours to the day. At least that is how it felt.

On Sunday morning our college-age son’s rowing team was competing close to home in New Jersey where it was easy for us to watch and spend a few minutes catching up before he had to get on the bus and head back to campus in New Hampshire. It is a five-hour drive by car, longer on the bus. But there was a tempting wrinkle.

• READ MORE: Six Modern High-Performance Piston Singles

After the racing ended, our son’s coach mentioned that local athletes could spend the rest of the day with their families as long as they had a way of getting back to school, since the bus could not wait. Indeed, we had a way, called general aviation.

One of the reasons we bought “Annie,” our Commander 114B, was to figuratively shorten distances between us and the family members and friends we like to visit, many of whom are hundreds of miles and a day’s drive away. We wanted to spend more time together at destinations and less in transit. And we wanted the transit to be more fun and satisfying. Annie certainly has taken care of that. Every trip is an adventure, never a slog.

But having our older son away at college for the first time and missing him very much upped the sense of urgency regarding airplane ownership. I convinced my wife that having the option of flying would result in easier, more regular visits. Any weekend could become our own special Parents’ Weekend, I told her. And a flight of about an hour and 15 minutes does not eat up the day and leave you exhausted the way a five-hour drive does. In this way the airplane is a time machine, turning out minutes and hours that we would not otherwise have.

• READ MORE: 10 Cheapest Planes in the Sky

That is what happened on Sunday. We drove our son home after the races, went out for lunch, visited friends in town and, around 5 p.m., got to the airport. We lifted off about 30 minutes later and, with a headwind, landed in Lebanon, New Hampshire (KLEB) around 7. Had we driven instead, we would not have reached Hartford, Connecticut, yet and would have spent another three hours or so on the road.

And what about getting home? We almost certainly would have needed to spend the night in New Hampshire, which would have been a disruptive start for the work week. But as aircraft owners my wife and I simply shuttled our boy back to campus in the airport crew car, said our good-byes and were airborne again by 8:30 or so (long good-byes). The Commander saved us so many hours of travel that we were able to pack in real quality time with family and friends that would not have been impossible otherwise.

The bottom line is that the airplane gave us the option of spending the whole day with our son instead of just an hour or two watching him race. At this point in life, such opportunities are increasingly rare, and precious.

The post How To Find Your Ideal Aircraft and Make Time Fly appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.