Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Cessna T310R.

Many people involved in GA, from aircraft manufacturers to private pilots shopping for their next airplane, are aware of a notable trend in the so-called step-up market. In short, the type of pilot who used to step up to a light twin decades ago is more likely to choose a turboprop single these days.

The change makes sense when we consider that many pilots step up mainly to increase their cruising speed, and new turbine singles generally outrun older piston twins. But there are exceptions.

Cessna’s 310 series of light twins, manufactured from the mid-1950s until 1980, is known for lots of reserve power and high speeds. When you add turbocharging that boosts performance at altitude, as with this 1978 T130R, your cruising speeds might have ATC mistaking you for an airliner.

On the practical side, piston twins can offer good value on a dollar-per-knot basis when compared with turboprops, which arguably are in a different league in terms of budget. They also provide the security of a spare engine should one fail as you travel over water, in mountainous terrain, or at night.

When it comes to style, aesthetics, and perhaps a smidgen of vanity, the 310 is perceived by many as one of the best-looking GA aircraft ever built. Taxiing to the FBO in this turbocharged six-seater will give any pilot the Sky King experience. They also tend to receive affection from line personnel and fellow pilots who appreciate vintage iron.  

This 1978 Cessna Turbo 310R has 5,100 hours on the airframe and 1,200 hours since overhaul on each of its Continental TSIO-520 engines. The six-seat aircraft is equipped with a built-in 76-cubic-foot supplemental oxygen system. The IFR panel features a Garmin G 500 flight display panel with Garmin GTN 750 and GTN 650 GPS/nav/comms, S-Tec 55X autopilot, and JPI EDM 960.

Pilots looking for a piston twin that offers good value should take a detailed look at this 1978 Cessna T310R, which is available for $235,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Cessna 310 ‘Songbird III’ Still Attracts the Fans
• FLYING Magazine: Flight Simulator’s Cessna 310 Offers Up Realistic Weather Lesson
• FLYING Magazine: Things to Think About When Moving Up to a Light Twin
• FLYING Magazine: Garmin Achieves STC for GFC 600 for Cessna 310R, Pilatus PC-12/47
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 310
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 310
• The Aviation Consumer: Cessna 320 Skyknight
• AVweb: Jimmy Stewart Cessna 310 Monument Dedicated

The post This 1978 Cessna T310R’s Power and Versatility Make It an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2016 Piper PA-46R-350T M350.

For many pilots who are looking to step up from their four-seat piston singles, turboprops are the stuff of dreams. Often, though, a turbocharged piston with a pressurized cabin is closer to reality.

Besides, many of us prefer the familiarity and relative budget friendliness of pistons. We just want to fly a bit higher and faster. Piper’s long-running range of PA-46 models was developed with this market in mind.

One of the best things about the PA-46 might be that it was designed to please passengers as much as pilots. Those of us who like to load up our families for long trips know how important it is to keep everyone comfortable and at ease.

A large, smooth-flying aircraft with a roomy six-seat cabin is a good place to start. Adding pressurization means you can operate at 20,000 feet and above without having to breath supplemental oxygen through cannulas—something few passengers enjoy. Turbocharging helps keep the pace high as altitude tries to sap the engine’s power. A robust climate control system can keep just about everyone comfortable.

Like many aircraft, especially complex models, the PA-46 has benefited from continuous improvement during its 40 years on the market, so later models like this M350 have long had the “bugs” worked out.

This 2016 PA-46 M350 has 735 hours on the airframe, its 350 hp Lycoming TIO-540 engine, and Hartzell propeller. The aircraft has a useful load of 1,170 pounds and carries 120 gallons of fuel.

The panel features a Garmin G1000 avionics suite with an Aspen standby EFD 1000, Garmin GTX33ES transponder, GMA 350C audio panel, GWX weather radar, GFC 700 autopilot, Jeppesen Chartview Flite Charts, Synthetic Vision, TAWS-B terrain warning system, Safe Taxi, dual AHRS computers, XM Satellite Weather, and WX500 Stormscope

The aircraft is FIKI-equipped and comes with an automatic wings-level mode, enhanced stability protection, speedbrakes, integrated digital cabin pressurization, air conditioning, pulse oximeter, executive writing table, 110-volt paper outlets, USB outlets, and relief tube.

Pilots who want to treat family and friends to an airline-style experience in a roomy, pressurized cabin traveling in the flight levels should consider this 2016 Piper M350, which is available for $975,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Piper Launches M600 and M350
• FLYING Magazine: Garmin’s G1000 NXi Now Certified on Piper M350 and M500
• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Piper M600/SLS Halo
• Plane & Pilot: Choosing a Six-Seat Single
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Malibu & Cessna 210N, 1978
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper PA-46 Malibu/Mirage/Matrix
• AVweb: Aero: Piper’s M-Class Sales Strong, Factory Bulks Up

The post This 2016 Piper PA-46R-350T Is a Stable, Passenger-Pleasing ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2021 Tecnam Astore.

Last year I visited a pilot friend who had flown a Beechcraft Baron for decades. But the high-performance, six-seat twin no longer occupies his hangar.

He traded it for a Tecnam Astore, a light sport aircraft (LSA) with just two seats. He said the smaller aircraft is a better fit for the missions he flies these days, typically solo or with his wife. It also operates more easily from the 2,000-foot runway at his home airport in Maine.

And while it will not keep up with a Baron or Bonanza, the Astore’s turbocharged engine helps move it along at speeds up to 130 ktas.

My friend, who is what some might call a senior citizen, fits the buyer profile that marketers often associate with light sport airplanes. Private pilots with doubts about qualifying for a medical certificate can find more favorable options in the light-sport category. The GA community has been buzzing about the connection between aging pilots and LSAs for two decades.

The generously equipped aircraft for sale here, though, is not necessarily aimed at that same audience.

It has the most powerful engine option available, top-spec avionics, the most luxe interior and a premium factory paint scheme. The Astore is meant to appeal more widely to pilots who want performance but wish to avoid paying for extra seats that they do not need. 

This 2021 Tecnam Astore has 140 hours on the airframe, its turbocharged Rotax 914 engine, and its ground-adjustable Sensenich three-blade propeller. The panel includes dual 10.4-inch Garmin G3X screens, Garmin GTX 45R transponder with ADS-B In and Out, SiriusXM weather, and autopilot featuring Garmin’s return-to-level mode button, better-known simply as the “blue button,” which automatically levels the wings during cases of pilot disorientation.

Pilots looking for a light sport aircraft that performs and operates more like a standard category machine but without the expense should consider this 2021 Tecnam Astore, which is available on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Taking Off in Public: Getting to Know My New LSA Tecnam Astore
• FLYING Magazine: Tecnam Astore Achieves Certification
• FLYING Magazine: Tecnam Introduces Astore LSA
• Plane & Pilot: It’s Fast, Flashy and Flexible
• Plane & Pilot: Light Sport for 2015
• The Aviation Consumer: Tecnam Astore: An LSA, but Barely
• AVweb: Tecnam Astore Flight Trial

The post This 2021 Tecnam Astore Is a Fast, Fetching, Low-Time ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket.

While the long-running Mooney M20 series of four-seat retractables is known for efficient aerodynamics that allow them to post impressive performance numbers with relatively little horsepower, there are always certain pilots who want more.

Rocket Engineering is among a number of companies that perform conversions on Mooney’s that include larger, more powerful engines, and other systems aimed at boosting climb performance, cruising speed, and service ceiling.

The aircraft for sale here was converted in 1999, swapping its 210 hp Continental TSIO-360 engine for a 305 hp TSIO-520. The additional power made a big impression. Mooney M20Ks were fine performers, but the Rocket-modified versions did most things faster and better.

Additional modifications make this airplane well-suited for fast, high-altitude travel. It is also an ideal vintage platform for competing with modern speedsters like the Cirrus SR22T.

This 1979 305 Rocket has 2,650 hours on the airframe, 940 hours on its Continental TSIO-520-NB engine, and 705 hours on its McCauley three-blade, full-feathering propeller. The aircraft is certified to FL 240 and is equipped with a TKS anti-ice system, speed brakes, and Monroy long-range tanks giving a total usable fuel capacity of 101 gallons. The Mooney received new paint earlier this year and a new interior in 2001.

The panel features dual Garmin GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Comm radios, MX20 MFD, Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, KFC200 autopilot, flight director, and engine monitor. 

Pilots who are attracted to Mooney aircraft because of their efficient design but would like a bit more power inside the cowling should consider this 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket, which is available for $189,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: BendixKing to Offer Autopilot for Mooney M20-series Airplanes
• FLYING Magazine: STC Approved for Hartzell Propeller Three-Blade Mooney Bravo Prop
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 231/252
• The Aviation Consumer: Mooney Missile
• AVweb: Mooney Under New Management

The post This 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket Is a Souped-Up ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2023 BRM Aero Bristell LSA.

When the FAA established the light sport aircraft category in 2004, its rules appeared to emphasize limitations. Light sport airplanes would be lighter, smaller, and less powerful than traditional light aircraft and would have relatively modest performance and range. The BRM Aero Bristell was among a group of sleek two-seaters that reached cruising speeds comparable to those of bigger airplanes, and often even faster.

Because of its speed and styling, pilots have compared the BRM Aero Bristell with the fast-flying Cirrus SR 22. When judged on speed and efficiency this LSA is a worthy rival to traditional fast four-seat retractables such as the Beechcraft Bonanza, and modern composite machines like the Cirrus.

If we had to pick one thing about the BRM Aero Bristell that sets it apart from other light sport models it would be its capability as a traveling airplane. For a long time light sport airplanes were defined by their limited range that made them impractical for long-distance travel. The Bristell is a departure, with turbocharged power that allows it to climb high quickly and cover vast distances. 

This 2023 BRM Aero Bristell has five hours on the airframe and its turbocharged, 140 hp Rotax 915iS engine. The panel features dual Garmin G3X Touch 10-inch screens, GNX 375 GPS, GTR 20R remote-mounted com radio and Garmin autopilot.

Pilots interested in high-performance climb rates and cruising speeds in a compact light sport package should consider this 2023 Aero Bristell, which is available for $410,574 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: BRM Aero Bristell SLSA
• FLYING Magazine: Michelin Aviation Partners with BRM Aero Bristell
• FLYING Magazine: Bristell LSA Makes U.S. Debut
• Plane & Pilot: Bristell: An LSA Traveling Machine
• Plane & Pilot: Bristell Aircraft Appoints North American Distributor
• Plane & Pilot: 2017 Bristell NG 5 LSA
• The Aviation Consumer: Bristell NG5 – Another LSA Speedster

The post This 2023 BRM Aero Bristell Is a Speedy Light Sport ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Piper PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole.

Piper’s PA-44 Seminole received its type certificate in 1978, arguably at the height of niche formation in general aviation. Aircraft makers were determined to fill every perceived gap in their lineups, and demand for light twins with easier handling, simple systems, and economical operation was strong.

The Seminole readily checked those boxes while its counter-rotating propellers gave pilots relief from worries about the possible failure of a critical engine and the resulting handling challenges.

It is no surprise that Seminoles became popular multiengine trainers and are still common on the ramps at flight schools across the country. The airplane can also perform well as a personal mount, especially for travelers who appreciate the redundancy of two engines when flying at night, over water, or while traversing remote, forbidding terrain. The turbocharged version, like the aircraft for sale here, provides the added flexibility of flying easily at higher altitudes to take advantage of favorable winds or escape traffic.

This 1981 PA-44-180T has 6,141 hours on the airframe, 1,647 hours on its left 180 hp Continental TSIO-360 engine, and 632 hours on the right since overhaul. There are 1,626 hours on the left Hartzell propeller and 3,294 hours on the right.

The panel features a Garmin GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Com, King KY-197 TSO Com, King KN-53 TSO Nav, KMA-24 TSO audio panel with three-light marker beacon, Sandel SN3308 digital EHSI, Garmin GTX 330 transponder, King KN-64 DME, Bendix weather radar, Century 41 autopilot, and dual ECI graphic engine monitors.

Additional equipment includes a uAvionix ADS-B solution, Bob Fields inflatable door seal, 60-amp alternators, propeller synchronizer, oxygen system, front-seat shoulder harnesses, and four-place intercom.

Pilots looking for an economical twin with forgiving handling for training, travel, or time-building should consider this 1981 Piper PA-44-180T, which is available for $189,900 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Piper Seminole Certified for Garmin GFC 700
• FLYING Magazine: Piper Seminole Goes G1000
• FLYING Magazine: Piper Introduces Diesel Seminole DX
• Plane & Pilot: Our 2021 Roundup of Light Twin Aircraft
• Plane & Pilot: Piper PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
• Plane & Pilot: Used Light Twins Roundup
• AVweb: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Seminole

The post This 1981 Piper PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole Is a Versatile ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2007 Lancair ES-P

Lancair is well known for the aerodynamically efficient, amateur-built experimental aircraft kits it produced for decades. Many of its most popular aircraft are compact, two-place machines that can be effective traveling airplanes as long as the occupants know how to pack lightly. The four-place ES models helped the company move closer to the mainstream in terms of equipment, accommodations, and passenger expectations.

In the familiar quest to cut travel times, the ES-P adds pressurization to allow more comfortable cruising at high altitudes. Turbocharging keeps the power high as the air thins. This combination of speed, comfort, and convenience makes the ES-P an attractive proposition to pilots who want to travel long distances with their families and friends while saving time and avoiding the use of tubing and cannulas to deliver supplemental oxygen in the flight levels.  

This Lancair ES-P has 430 hours on the airframe and on its Continental 400 hp TSIO-550 engine and MT four-blade propeller since overhaul. The aircraft was built from a kit with assistance from RDD Enterprises and features an extended rear pressure bulkhead that provides additional space in the pressurized cabin.

The panel includes dual Garmin G3X Touch displays with 10.6-inch screens, GTN 750 WAAS GPS, GFC 507 autopilot, SL 30 panel-mount Nav/Com, GMA 245R audio panel and a GEA-24 engine monitor module. Additional equipment includes a heated pitot and AOA probe, RDD Thermawing de-ice, prop de-ice, and RDD air conditioning.

Pilots who are interested in well-equipped, high-performance kit-built aircraft should consider this 2007 Lancair ES-P, which is available for $475,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: The Lancair Turbo Mako
• FLYING Magazine: Corvalis TTx
• FLYING Magazine: JetEXE Buys Lancair, Plans Sustainable Designs
• Plane & Pilot: You Won‘t Believe What They‘re Doing To The Lancair IV
• Plane & Pilot: The Lancair Evolution: An Evolving Standard Of High Performance
• AVweb:  First Pressurized Owner-Built Lancair ES Flies
• KITPLANES: Lancair ES-P

The post This 2007 Lancair ES-P is a Kit-Built Composite ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Cessna P210N Centurion.

Cessna’s 210 Centurion has a well-earned reputation as a fast and flexible personal transport machine. It can carry heavier loads than many competing piston singles and maintains the short-field performance for which the Cessna high-wing family of designs is known. A wide, roomy cabin has long been among its selling points. Adding the comfort of pressurization allows pilots to give their passengers more of an airline experience when traveling at higher altitudes while taking advantage of smooth air and favorable winds.

The Centurion for sale here is considered the top of the line among Cessna singles because it has the high-altitude performance and accommodations that match many larger twin-engine models. It makes an ideal family airplane because its ability to fly high without the need for supplemental oxygen means passengers can enjoy the convenience of not having to wear oxygen cannulas in addition to the impressive transit speeds. Pilots will enjoy the airplane’s forgiving flight characteristics and stability, especially when flying IFR.

This 210N has 5,073 hours on the airframe, 324 hours since overhaul on its 310 hp Continental TSIO-520 engine, and 324 hours since new on the Hartzell propeller. The aircraft is equipped with GAMI injectors, Turboplus intercooler, pressurized magnetos, and auxiliary vacuum pump.

The panel includes an Aspen EFD-1000 Pro PFD EFIS system and EFD-1000 MFD, Aspen synthetic vision, 400B Navomatic autopilot, backup HSI with ILS and glideslope, backup altimeter, backup transponder, backup GPS-396, GME 347 audio panel, GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Com, Garmin SL 30 Nav/Com, GTX 330 transponder, ADS-B In and Out and an EDM-700 engine monitor.

Pilots who want to step up to pressurized comfort and flexibility when traveling in the flight levels should consider this 1979 Cessna P210N, which is available for $234,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: FLYING’s Air Compare: Cessna 206 vs. Cessna 210
• FLYING Magazine: Panel Planner 101 Live: Cessna T210 Avionics Upgrade
• Plane & Pilot: Big Approvals For Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot: Cessna 210s, Mooney M20s and Beech Bonanza Vee Tails!
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 210 Centurion
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 210 Silver Eagle By O&N Aircraft Modifications
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 210

The post This 1979 Cessna P210N Centurion Is a Family-Friendly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1994 SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad TC.

The SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad TC represents the top of what many call the French manufacturer’s “Caribbean series,” which also includes the less-powerful, fixed-gear Tampico and Tobago. All of the TB models are stylish designs that look great on the ramp while providing pilots and passengers with roomy, comfortable cabins. The turbocharged TB-21 TC is well suited to high-altitude cruising, where pilots often can take greater advantage of favorable winds and thinner air.

While the TB-21 is a fairly rare aircraft in the U.S. and has an exotic, unfamiliar look, it is not an obscure oddball with hard-to-find parts. Indeed, parent company SOCATA, which builds the TBM single-engine turboprop, has made a point of supporting its older models. This means owners do not have to worry about their aircraft becoming “orphans.”

This TB-21 Trinidad TC has 2,380 hours on the airframe, 229 hours since overhaul on its Lycoming TIO-540 engine, and 1,830 hours since overhaul on its two-blade Hartzell CS propeller.

The panel includes a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 345 ADS-B transponder, GNS 530 GPS Nav/Com, Bendix-King KX165 Nav/Com, KN64 DME, KFC150 autopilot, Insight GEM engine monitor, Shadin fuel flow computer, Horizon Instruments P1000 digital tachometer, BFG WX950 Stormscope, and standby electric attitude indicator.

Additional equipment on the aircraft includes a TKS ice protection system, factory oxygen system, Tanis engine preheater, sun visors, CO Guardian carbon monoxide detector, and Kenwood CD player and AM/FM radio.

Pilots looking for an uncommon four-seat retractable airplane with a stylish design and comfortable cabin should consider this 1994 SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad TC, which is available for $249,900 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: DAHER-SOCATA’s Caribbean Line Gets Glass Cockpits
• FLYING Magazine: A Fellow New Airplane Owner Starts with an Unusual Choice
• FLYING Magazine: Panic Over Pacific Thunderstorms
• Plane & Pilot: Socata Trinidad GT
• Plane & Pilot: SOCATA Trinidad TB-20 GT/Trinidad TC/Trinidad TB-21 GT

The post This 1994 SOCATA TB-21 Trinidad TC Is a Rare, Stylish ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Cessna 414 Chancellor.

Cessna’s 414 Chancellor was the last of the company’s pressurized 400-series twins and was meant to bridge the price gap between its nonpressurized models and the flagship 421 Golden Eagle. Many 414s were pressed into Part 135 service with small charter and air taxi operators, but the model was also popular with owner pilots as a personal aircraft for business and leisure travel. Pilots who have flown the 414 regularly generally sing its praises because of its combination of performance, comfort, and economy.

Flying in the roomy, cabin-class 414 is a pleasure in part because there is plenty of space to move around and find a comfortable seating position. The pressurized cabin is quiet enough to hold conversations without headsets, and there is a lot of storage space inside for provisions and personal items needed during the flight.The Chancellor also performs well on fairly short strips, giving pilots an extra measure of flexibility when choosing destinations. The thought of long cross-country family trips in a 414, flying high above the Rocky Mountains and other potentially threatening terrain, is inspiring. 

This 1975 414 has 7,140 hours on the airframe, 1,120 hours since overhaul on each of its 335 hp RAM Vi-modified Continental TSIO-520 engines, and 35 hours since overhaul on the propellers. The aircraft received a new interior and paint in 1994 and is equipped with air conditioning and vortex generators.

The panel features King KMA 24 audio panel and KX 155 Nav/Com, Garmin 430W GPS/Com, Garmin 200 MFD, 330ES transponder, and Collins AP107 autopilot with Flight Director.

Pilots who need more power, speed, and load-carrying capacity than a typical entry-level light twin should consider this turbocharged, pressurized 1975 Cessna 414, which is available for $100,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Like New Cabin-Class Twin: A Cessna 414A Restoration
• FLYING Magazine: Cessna 414A Chancellor Restoration
• FLYING Magazine: Mackinac Island Is Especially Stunning by Air
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 411/414 Chancellor
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 414

The post This 1975 Cessna 414 Chancellor Is a High-Flying, Cabin-Class ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.