Today’s Top Pick is a 2008 Epic LT.

The Epic LT is an experimental kitbuilt ancestor of the latest certified Epic E1000 GX.

The aircraft, which probably is not what most people picture when thinking about amateur-built airplanes, generally were built in part by owners who did enough work, under company supervision, to meet the 51 percent owner-built requirement. Company experts then complete the build, so you wind up with a factory-finished product.

Known for short-field performance as well as cruising speeds that challenge some jets, the Epic LT is an attractive proposition for families that regularly take long cross-country trips. Those who cross mountainous terrain and visit high-elevation airports will appreciate the Epic’s pressurized cabin and performance in the flight levels.

The spacious, comfortable interior will keep most passengers happy while the aircraft’s impressive power makes the trip shorter than with many competing models.  

This 2008 Epic LT has 1,675 hours since new on the airframe, its Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A engine, and four-blade Hartzell propeller.

The panel features dual Garmin G3X touchscreens, a GTN 750 GPS/nav/comm, GNC 255A, dual Garmin G5 standby instruments, GMA 245 audio panel, GMC 307 autopilot with yaw damper, GTX 45 transponder, GTS 800 TCAS, and  MVP 50 engine monitor.

Pilots looking for a modern, composite, 300-knot six-seater in the experimental category should consider this 2008 Epic LT, which is available for $1.9 million 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: Watch Our Report on the Epic Aircraft E1000 GX
• FLYING Magazine: Epic Aircraft’s E1000 GX Earns Its FAA Type Certificate
• FLYING Magazine: Epic Aircraft Expands Service Center Network
• Plane & Pilot: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Epic Aircraft Hits Big Milestone
• Plane & Pilot: Epic Earns FAA Production Certification for E1000
• The Aviation Consumer: Epic E1000: Big Power and Speed
• AVweb: Epic Aircraft Debuts Mock-up Of Production Model

The post This 2008 Epic LT Is a High-Altitude, Experimental ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2007 Fantasy Air Allegro LSA.

The arrival 20 years ago of the FAA regulations establishing the LSA category sparked a wave of new aircraft designs in the U.S. from established manufacturers and a number of startups. The new rules also opened the door to many aircraft that already were on the market in other countries, such as the Fantasy Air Allegro for sale here.

Designed and built in the Czech Republic, the Allegro had an established following and a reputation for quality that attracted prospective business partners in the U.S. Arranging to import complete, ready-to-fly LSAs such as the Allegro looked like a faster route to market than starting an aircraft business from scratch. While that theory made sense, the process of bringing the Allegro to the U.S. market was complicated and lengthy. Still, the aircraft has sold well with pilots who want an LSA with strong performance for the category and the ability to travel cross-country with reasonable comfort and speed.

The Allegro’s fuselage is built with Kevlar-reinforced composite around a steel-framed cockpit. Its wing and tail are aluminum. As LSAs go, the Allegro is known for its relatively roomy two-seat cabin and engaging, sporty flight characteristics. The airplane can climb at 1,000 fpm and cruise at more than 100 mph while burning about 3.5 gph.      

This 2007 Allegro has 375 hours since new on the airframe and its 80 hp Rotax 912 engine. The aircraft holds 16.5 gallons of usable fuel and can operate on 100LL or automotive gasoline. Its basic “steam gauge” panel includes a Garmin 396 GPS and a transponder with ADS-B Out.     

Pilots interested in owning a light sport aircraft with impressive climb performance and good cross-country cruise speeds should consider this 2007 Fantasy Air Allegro, which is available for $55,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Avionics for Your LSA
• FLYING Magazine: Pilots, Aircraft Manufacturers Connect as Midwest LSA Expo Opens
• Plane & Pilot: Allegro LSA: Fly, She Said
• Plane & Pilot: Allegro 2000: Light Sport and Fun!
• AVweb: Video: Allegro Comes to the U.S.
• AVweb: LSA Update — Allegro Moves to Oregon; New Online Tool Helps Shoppers
• AVweb: Sport Pilot: An Option for Seniors

The post This 2007 Fantasy Air Allegro LSA Is a Performance-Minded ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2017 Glasair I.

The sleek, composite airplane for sale here is a descendant of the original Glasair I that Tom Hamilton developed during the 1970s. That innovative design was a watershed for the kitplane industry and continues to influence amateur-built composite experimental aircraft today. Using layers of foam and fiberglass to construct the Glasair, Hamilton wound up with a two-seater that was light and aerodynamic enough to fly at nearly 200 mph using small, fuel-efficient general aviation engines such as the Lycoming O-235 and IO-320.

The Glasair design has benefitted from continued development and numerous improvements since its first flights in 1979—growing larger and gaining retractable landing gear (the original was fixed gear). Customers have bought thousands of kits of this and other Glasair models, making them fairly regular sights at GA airports—the 300-hp Glasair III is an air-racing staple in the Sport Class. Glasairs are still well represented in the used market and a strong user group helps owners source parts no longer available from the factory, which closed in late 2023. 

This 2017 Glasair I has 200 hours on the airframe and its Lycoming IO-320 engine. The engine uses a Precision Airmotive Silver Hawk EX fuel injection system and an E-Mag Model P113 electronic ignition. The panel includes dual Dynon EFIS D-100s, Garmin 695/696 GPS, Garmin GDL 82 with ADS-B Out,  Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver, dual Icom IC-A200 VHF transceiver radios, Advance ACS 2002 engine monitor, and Dynon Avionics intercom.

Pilots looking for high performance in a light, aerodynamic, and fuel-efficient two-seat experimental aircraft should consider this Glasair I, which is available for $150,000 on Aircraft For Sale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Tom Hamilton and the Glasair
• FLYING Magazine: Expanding the Campaign at Reno
• FLYING Magazine: Advanced Aero Components Acquires Glasair II and III Assets
• Plane & Pilot: New Glasair
• Plane & Pilot: New Glasair Glastar
• Plane & Pilot: The Homebuilt Aircraft Advantages and Other Considerations
• AVweb: Randy Lervold Is Glasair Aviation’s New CEO
• KITPLANES: Safety Is No Accident: Glasair and GlaStar
• Owners Association: Glasair Aircraft Owners Association

The post This 2017 Glasair I Is a Kitbuilt ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2004 Lancair Columbia 400.

The Columbia 400 marked a move by Lancair, a longtime airplane kit manufacturer, to certified, factory-built aircraft. The sleek composite craft was so aerodynamically clean that, like the Cirrus SR series, it did not need to retract its landing gear in order to go fast. At the time of its introduction the Columbia 400 was the fastest production piston single on the market.

In 2007, Cessna acquired the Columbia operation and continued to develop the aircraft as the Cessna TTx. The deal was part of a plan to compete directly with the fast-selling Cirrus SR 22, though Cessna eventually halted TTx production. Fans of the aircraft continue to tout the model’s impressive speed, handling, and efficiency.

This 2004 Columbia 400 has 1,560 hours on the airframe, 34 hours on its 310 hp Continental IO-550 engine, and 34 hours on the propeller since overhaul. The airplane’s engine comes with a factory-tuned induction and exhaust system, tuned fuel injectors, engine oil preheater, and air/oil separator. 

The panel includes an Avidyne Entegra FlightMax PFD with flight director and Avidyne FlightMax EX5000 MFD, dual Garmin GNS 430 Nav/Com/GPS, GTX 335 ADS-B transponder, S-Tec 55X autopilot with autotrim, GPSS, and altitude preselect.

Additional equipment includes a Kelly Aerospace ThermaWing deice system, factory installed four-place oxygen system, and speedbrakes.

Pilots interested in an innovative, unusually fast piston single that is ideal for long cross-country trips should look into this 2004 Lancair Columbia 400, which is available for $305,000 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: Columbia 400
• FLYING Magazine: Cessna TTx Gains Icing Approval
• Plane & Pilot: From Lancair 200 To Columbia 400
• Plane & Pilot: Columbia 400 Gets Certified
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Columbia/Cessna 300/400 Series

The post This 2004 Lancair Columbia 400 Is an Innovative ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1999 Diamond DA20-A1 Katana.

For many pilots in North America the Diamond DA20 served as an introduction to the Austrian aircraft manufacturer that more recently brought us advanced models such as the DA62 light twin and DA50 RG high-performance single. The DA20, which dates to the early 1990s, is a distinctive composite design that incorporates a T-tail and several features reflecting the company’s history building gliders. At a time when a lot of flight students were learning in decades-old Cessna 150s, the DA20 made a big impression on the ramp.

While this DA20 would be a sensible addition to a flight school’s fleet it also makes a strong case as a personal airplane for one or two people who like to travel efficiently and on a budget. It cruises faster and has a more modern, comfortable cockpit than older two-seat light aircraft yet still appeals to traditionalists who prefer a control stick over a yoke. The airplane’s combination of responsive handling, control feel, and visibility helped it develop a following over the decades.

This DA20 has 735 hours since new on the airframe, its 125 hp Continental IO-240-B engine, and Sensenich propeller. The panel includes a BendixKing KX125 TSP nav/com, Garmin GNS 430, GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 330 transponder, davtron M800 digital chronometer, and digital OAT gauge.

Pilots looking for a modern, economical 2-place personal aircraft for commuting, time-building, training or travel should consider this 1999 Diamond DA20-A1 Katana, which is available for $99,900 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Academy to Buy 10 Diamond DA20s from LifeStyle Aviation
• FLYING Magazine: Diamond DA20-C1 Relaunched With New Avionics System
• FLYING Magazine: LIFT Academy Takes Delivery of a Diamond DA20
• Plane & Pilot: Diamond Makes First SAF Flight in Germany
• Plane & Pilot: Skywings Modernizes Fleet with Diamond Aircraft
• AVweb: FLT Flight School Signs For 10 New Diamond DA20 Trainers

The post This 1999 Diamond DA20-A1 Katana Is an Efficient, Responsive ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Seawind 3000

The Seawind series of amphibian aircraft dates back to the late 1970s when aircraft designers, engineers, and experimenters were discovering the impressive properties of composite construction. Composites offered a range of options for kit makers and the homebuilt community. The materials were also well-suited for amphibian aircraft. The kit-built Seawind 3000 is powered by a 300 hp Lycoming IO-540 engine while the earlier 2000 model packed a 200 hp Lycoming IO-360. A number have been converted to turbine power. 

Engine placement can be a challenge with single-engine amphibians. A number of designs, from the Republic Seabee to the Lake Buccaneer, have mounted the engine and propeller in a pusher configuration, sitting atop the wing or on a pylon. The Seawind is a notable departure from tradition, with its engine and prop facing forward and blended into a large vertical fin. Proponents of this layout say it has advantages, including a reduction in cabin noise.   

This Seawind 3000 was built by Plane Makers, a company based in Sarasota, Florida, whose services include assisting aircraft builders with construction and repairs. It has 335 hours on the airframe, IO-540 engine, and composite propeller. The panel includes a G3X multifunction display, GNX 375 transponder, GPS, ADS-B, autopilot, and more.

Pilots looking for a unique seaplane with four seats and more speed than typical floatplanes should consider this 2006 Seawind 3000, which is available for $219,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• Kitplanes: Super Seawind – Turbine Power!

The post This 2006 Seawind 3000 Is a Unique, Kit-Built ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

MT said one of its goals in designing and manufacturing the propeller, called the MTV-4-1, is to help keep the vintage aircraft flying as airworthy parts for the original propellers are “becoming increasingly difficult” to find.

• READ MORE: Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft Meet European Noise Regs with 7-Blade Prop

The new propeller looks like the original, with a similar blade shape, but the blades are made of a natural composite and certified and tested for an unlimited lifespan, according to MT. The F-82 used for testing has helped demonstrate the propellers’ capabilities this year while flying to airshows across the U.S. The composite warbird propellers are moving through the FAA certification process.

MT is a renowned manufacturer of a range of composite propellers, including hydraulically controlled models with two to seven blades designed for engines of up to 5,000 hp and electrically controlled props with two to four blades for engines up to 350 hp. The company also makes two-blade, fixed-pitch propellers.

• READ MORE: MT Flight-Tests Propeller With 11 Blades On A Piper Cheyenne

MT said its props—30 models in all—are designed for traditional piston- and turbine-powered aircraft, ranging from motor gliders to regional airliners. They are also made for airships, hovercraft, and for use in wind tunnels.

MT holds more than 220 supplemental type certificates (STCs) and is an OEM supplier for more than 90 percent of the European aircraft industry and about 30 percent of the U.S. aircraft industry. The company said it has more than 28,000 propeller systems delivered, with more than 100,000 installations in service.

The post MT-Propeller Builds Composite Warbird Props for North American P-51, F-82 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Cirrus SR22 G2

The sleek, teardrop shape of this Cirrus SR22 marks it as a modern pioneer in general aviation design and technology. Its airframe is so aerodynamically efficient that there is no need to retract its landing gear. This detail, among others, helps set the Cirrus apart on the typical airport ramp.

Cirrus Aircraft caused a sensation in the 1990s with the introduction of its sleek SR series of high-performance four-seat singles. Composite construction, free of the joints, seams, and rivets that characterized previous generations of GA aircraft, gave the new Cirrus models a futuristic look that continues to turn heads today. The integration of an airframe parachute in its design made the Cirrus a one-of-a-kind product with an extra margin of safety that attracted new customers to light aircraft.

This SR22’s panel includes Avidyne primary flight and multifunction displays and an Avidyne DFC90 autopilot, dual Garmin GNS 430W nav/coms, Stormscope, CMAX electronic approach charts, EMAX engine monitoring and ETAWS terrain avoidance and warning system. The cabin is air-conditioned, and the airframe has TKS ice protection.

The aircraft has 1,280 hours on its airframe and on its 310 hp Continental IO-550 engine, which has a 2000-hour TBO. The engine is equipped with a Tanis preheater. Its Hartzell PHC-J3YF-1RF 3-blade propeller with a polished spinner has 615 hours since overhaul.

Free transition training (Cirrus Embark) is included with the purchase from Southwest Aero.

Pilots seeking comfort, speed, and modern technology throughout an aircraft, not just in its panel, can take a closer look at this Cirrus SR22 G2, which is available for $419,000 on AircraftForSale. 

You can arrange financing of the airplane through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Why I Fly a Cirrus SR22
• FLYING Magazine: Cirrus SR22 Turbo Charged
• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: The Generation 2 Cirrus Vision
• Plane & Pilot: Cirrus SR22-G2
• Plane & Pilot: We Fly The Cirrus Vision Jet Generation 2
• The Aviation Consumer: Cirrus SR22
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cirrus SR22

The post Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 2006 Cirrus SR22 G2 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

At EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Hartzell announced it will deliver its 30,000th replacement prop in the conversion program in 2023. The Top Prop catalog boasts more than 100 options, aggregated over the course of 30 years, including from OEMs like Beechcraft, Cessna, Diamond, Piper, Mooney, Pilatus, Daher, and others.

New Top Props

Hartzell announced the latest supplemental type certificates awarded in the program, starting with the three-blade Polaris carbon fiber prop now offered as a factory option on the Diamond DA40 NG. The lightweight prop replaces the MT-Propeller wood/composite one that comes standard. The 74-inch diameter prop pairs with the Austro E4-A and has an aluminum hub, along with a 2,400-hour/six-year TBO. According to company president JJ Frigge, the prop delivers a 3 knot faster true airspeed and a 74.1 dB noise level. 

“We’re extremely excited about this platform, the Diamond DA40 NG,” said Frigge. He noted that the prop checks in at 35 to 40 pounds and “brings a new technology carbon fiber propeller” to the airplane. It’s also available as a retrofit.

The company—along with partner Wipaire—also expects STC approval “soon” on its Yukon four-blade propeller for the Cessna 208 and 208B Caravan on floats or wheels, hopefully in the third quarter. The composite 110-inch diameter prop is available with or without TKS ice protection or electric deice boots. It weighs about 19 pounds less “on the nose of the Caravan” and increases cruise speed at lower power settings.

“On the Caravan with a Yukon prop, Wipaire flight test results showed there is up to a 26 percent decrease in total takeoff distance from land and up to a 31 percent decrease in takeoff from water,” said Frigge. “This translates into safer takeoffs and landings on smaller lakes and shorter runways.” It’s available on all of the -114 and -140 Caravans on the market.

Included in the Top Prop program as well is the update to the Daher Kodiak 100 announced earlier this week.

The post Hartzell Expands Composite Prop Series in Top Prop Program appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The point made? The composite structure is no more fragile than a similar aluminum prop, with the same ground-handling operations and repair categories as well. And the performance gains shown by the transition to the new props on its TBM 960, Kodiak 900, and Kodiak 100 Series III models prove their worth. “We are getting lighter weight,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s Aircraft Division, “and, of course, the low noise and vibration is something that we’re particularly interested in, on the highest power output on the Kodiak 900,” where the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140A tops out at 950 hp. 

• READ MORE: We Fly the Daher Kodiak 900, Ready for Grand Adventures

The weight savings of 6.3 pounds translates into greater takeoff performance—and reasonable maintainability in the field as operators of the Kodiak 100 have experienced since 2014. The nickel-cobalt edge can be stripped and replaced, said J.J. Frigge, CEO of Hartzell, “and so you’re getting a brand-new leading edge—and also you’re adding material back to the blades, so that you’re restoring the blade to factory dimensions.”

Made for the Backcountry

“The goal was to…go in and out of backcountry runways the same way we had done it previously, but now we are significantly reducing the noise impact,” said Chabbert. “So we are having a huge benefit when it comes to places not only in Europe but also around the world where noise matters.” Daher’s corporation as a whole has invested a great deal in composites manufacturing as well, particularly in thermoplastics that can be recycled, repaired, and even welded like more traditional materials.

Daher debuted its Kodiak 900 last year at Oshkosh to great response—including from agencies taking on special missions, though it has struggled a bit to translate the momentum into production as it faces similar supply chain issues plaguing the aerospace industry as a whole. Still, Chabbert noted that Daher expects to deliver eight of the 900s in 2023 and twice that in 2024. FLYING honored the 900 with its Editors’ Choice Award for Aircraft this year.

• READ MORE: Daher Shows Off Kodiak 900, 100 & New TBM 960 Styles 

The 900 has created its own category, in a way. It was positioned as a larger, faster, more upscale version of the Kodiak 100 series, and though this has certainly been true, Daher’s flight ops pilots have witnessed even better results in remote, unimproved strips than they originally uncovered during the testing prior to Part 23 type certificate approval. 

This means the 900 can be used to support a wide variety of the humanitarian and relief missions for which the 100 was first developed—though both models continue to serve. 

“We care to support associations—especially nonprofit associations—that are really after something that is good for aviation,” said Chabbert. “One that is absolutely natural for us is the Recreational Aviation Foundation…We are super happy to be able to provide the use of the Kodiak 100 to cover all of the northwest activity for RAF…and to load and carry some of the heavy stuff into places that are literally impossible to get to by road.”

Daher recently supported two of the RAF’s rehabilitation projects, including one at the Moose Creek Ranger Station (1U1) in Idaho earlier this summer. The U.S. Forest Service strip was originally created 92 years ago using heavy equipment but now must be supported without mechanized equipment—save for aircraft. Daher donated the use of a Kodiak 900 to move materials, including tractor parts and shingles, that normally would have required mules or a helicopter to put into position. The RAF 100 is one display at AirVenture along with the 900 and TBM 960.

TBM Milestones

The TBM 960 launched out of the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in April 2022, and it has now logged its 80th delivery of the model to a private customer in the U.S. this month. It also marks a total of 488 aircraft in the TBM 900 series—the 900, 910, 930, 940, and 960—brought to the market overall since the TBM 900’s first flight a decade ago.

• READ MORE: Quest to Daher

The 960 debuted with the first dual-channel FADEC turboprop engine, the PT6E-66XT, with its proprietary engine and propeller electronic control system (EPECS) automating engine start and other management, and a data transmission and control unit streaming more than 100 data points to internal memory. Now, with Garmin’s official release of PlaneSync this week, the TBM 960 can come out into the open as having the GDL60 datalink controller at the heart of PlaneSync. The data transfer facilitated by the GDL60 transfers engine and other data upon landing, allowing for deep analysis and trend monitoring.

Daher Growth

Daher continues its growth and expansion into the U.S. market as well as in France, with more strategic acquisitions in the past few months, including Assistance Aeronautique et Aerospatiale (AAA) in France to strengthen its industrial services proposition globally. 

“We want to grow the business. We want to grow the company,” said Didier Kayat, CEO of Daher. “The group altogether will be at 1.8 billion next year—1.7 billion this year—with half of the business as manufacturing and half of the business as services. We need to become more international—we did the grand opening of our new headquarters in the U.S. in February, and we need to innovate in order to decarbonize, because it’s becoming more and more important.”

In this vein, Daher presented its EcoPulse hybrid-electric technology demonstrator at the Paris Air Show in June.

The post Daher Celebrates Milestone TBM Deliveries, Kodiak Success appeared first on FLYING Magazine.