Today’s Top Pick is a 1943 Stinson Vultee V-77.

When pilots think about the golden age of general aviation, small, two-seat, high-wing Pipers, Porterfields, Taylorcrafts, and Aeroncas tend to come to mind.

The era also produced more substantial models with space for a family of four (or five) and enough power to take them aloft easily. This 1943 Stinson Vultee V-77, more commonly known by its civilian name, the Reliant, was one such aircraft.

Machines like this Reliant were the high-performance traveling airplanes of their time, much like a Cirrus SR22 or Beechcraft Bonanza of today. For antique-aircraft enthusiasts who also like to take longer flights to a variety of destinations beyond vintage fly-ins will find the Reliant to be a robust and capable vehicle that also happens to draw crowds wherever it goes.

As a later-model Reliant, this aircraft has the distinctive gull wing that has a wider chord around mid-span that tapers toward the fuselage and tips. Earlier “straight wing” versions have a constant chord wing.

This 1943 Stinson has 1,447 hours on the airframe, 110 hours since overhaul on its 300 hp Lycoming R-680-13 9-cylinder radial engine and 11 hours since overhaul on its Hamilton Standard propeller. The aircraft is also equipped with a Brackett air filter, Cleveland wheels and brakes, Jasco alternator and regulator, navigation and landing lights, and Aeroflash strobe.

The VFR panel includes a Garmin GTR 225 comm, Garmin GTX 335 transponder with ADS-B Out, and PS Engineering PM1200 two-place intercom.

Pilots looking for a classic design from aviation’s golden age that can hold its own in modern times should consider this 1943 Stinson Vultee V-77, which is available for $115,000 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: Pilots Gather at the 2022 Stinson Summit
• FLYING Magazine: Pepsi Stinson SR-7 Turns Heads at EAA AirVenture
• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: Stinson 108
• FLYING Magazine: An Old Airplane Gets a Familiar New Owner
• Plane & Pilot: Stinson Reliant
• Plane & Pilot: This Incredible Pilot: Katherine Stinson
• The Aviation Consumer: Antiques and Classics: Owning and Operating

The post This 1943 Stinson Vultee V-77 Is a Gull-Winged ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1945 Grumman American F8F-2 Bearcat.

Have you ever gotten your airplane going as fast as it will go, with power, prop, and mixture settings just right, and imagined you were Lyle Shelton setting a new speed record for piston-driven aircraft?

Or maybe you were thinking of Darryl Greenamyer, another record setter and SR-71 driver who strung together a bunch of consecutive wins at Reno. Perhaps you were performing your best impression of Mira Slovak, who won the first National Championship Air Races in 1964.

If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, this might be the airplane for you. After all, those pilots soared to glory in souped-up Grumman F8F Bearcats. If you long for a taste of what they experienced, this is a chance to start with the right hardware—a rare chance.

If warbirds make up a small segment of the general aviation market, then warbirds modified for air racing and airshows account for barely a sliver. And Bearcats, well, they are the hen’s teeth of the bunch.

Their rarity stems from their failure to enter service in time to see action in World War II. The bulk of production was canceled, and while many postwar squadrons flew Bearcats, new jet fighters soon eclipsed them. Obsolescence couldn’t keep the Bearcat down completely, though, because to many unlimited class air racers, it was a dream come true.

The compact fighter grew out of talks between Grumman officials and Navy fighter pilots early in the war—what we would call focus groups today. The pilots wanted a high rate of climb more than anything else, so Grumman trimmed weight and drag from the F8F. Its Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine took care of the rest.

While this potent combination did not go to war, it was a tailor-made racing platform.

This 1945 Bearcat has 992 hours since new on the airframe and on its R-2800 twin-row, 18-cylinder engine.

Pilots who are ready to move into the high-performance warbird community and prepared to become caretakers to a rare, renowned, nearly 80-year-old single-seat fighter should consider this 1945 Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, which is available 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: Reno Air Race Gets Ready for Action
• FLYING Magazine: First Reno Air Race Winner Mira Slovak Flies West
• FLYING Magazine: In Memory of Howard Pardue
• AVweb: Record-Breaker Darryl Greenamyer Passes Away 
• Plane & Pilot: Bear 360: Living the Warbird Dream
• Plane & Pilot: Restored Bearcat Flies Again
• Plane & Pilot: Grumman F8F Bearcat

The post This 1945 Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Is a Rare, Elite ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Varga Aircraft 2150A Kachina.

When was the last time you spotted a Varga 2150 on the ramp? How about a Shinn or a Morrisey?

These are all related, and one can argue that they are the same aircraft whose name changed as it moved from one manufacturer to another. Still, even when you combine all of the versions and evolutions, this is a rare machine.

After checking out some of its thoughtful features, pilots might wonder why this airplane is not more popular.

During the 1950s William Morrisey, an aircraft designer and test pilot, built an airplane called the Morrisey 1000C Nifty. He developed the aircraft into the 2000C before selling the design to Shinn Engineering.

By the late 1960s Shinn had ceased production, and Varga Aircraft acquired the design rights. Over the course of ownership changes the airplane gained power, from a Lycoming O-235 in the beginning to a 150 hp O-320 and finally a 180 hp O-360.

Because it is small and light, the airplane flies well enough on any of the three engines, but the O-360 version is a bit of a muscle car with wings.

Many people will be stumped as they try to identify the Varga, perhaps thinking it is a Grumman Tiger or, from a distance, a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. That large, airy canopy gives it the look of a military trainer. Indeed, some clever folks call it the poor man’s AT-6.

This 1978 Varga 2150A has 1,810 hours on the airframe and 308 hours since overhaul on its 150 hp Lycoming O-320 engine. The panel includes a Garmin GNX 375, Garmin 795 GPS touchscreen transponder/GPS/moving map with ADS-B In and Out, GTR 225 comm, intercom, and basic analog flight and engine instruments.

Pilots looking for a compact personal aircraft with tandem seating for two and control sticks that give it a sporty, almost fighter-like feel should consider this 1978 Varga 2150 Kachina, which is available for $79,500 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: Down to Empty Fuel Tanks
• Plane & Pilot: Varga Kachina
• Plane & Pilot: Varga 2150/2180 Kachina
• Plane & Pilot: Shinn 2150-A

The post This 1978 Varga 2150A Kachina Is a Rare-but-Reliable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS.

The EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel serves as a reminder that there are amphibian light sport aircraft (LSA) in the air that are not ICON A5s. Indeed, this unusual biplane design has been on the market for more than 20 years and evolved from kitbuilt amphibians as far back as the early 1980s.

The Super Petrel is known for its combination of high lift, thanks to its two wings, and maneuverability, due in part to its relatively short wingspan. Built in Brazil, the composite aircraft is also renowned for its build quality.

Owners, however, are likely to love the Super Petrel for all of the truly out-of-the way destinations it can reach with relative ease.

The aircraft’s retractable landing gear allow pilots to kick off adventurous itineraries from their local airport and wind up moored in a scenic remote cove an hour or two later. How many times have you been at a waterfront restaurant, watching diners arrive by boat, and pictured yourself pulling up in a seaplane?

Perhaps your time has come.

This Super Petrel has 50 hours on the airframe and on its Rotax 912iS engine. Pilots who want an amphibian LSA with unique design features that enhance handling while also turning heads should consider this 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS, which is available for $68,000 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: What Is the Best Amphibious Aircraft?
• FLYING Magazine: Here’s a Look at Some Affordable Aviation Favorites
• FLYING Magazine: Photos: DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase
• Plane & Pilot: Beyond ICON: 5 Seaplane Alternatives
• Plane & Pilot: Top Picks in Today’s Light Sport Aircraft Market
• AVweb: Podcast: Super Petrel Gathers a Crowd

The post This 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS Is a High-Lift ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1955 Cessna 180 Skywagon.

The Cessna 180 is a true classic, having transformed the image of the high-wing taildragger and opened up new frontiers for adventurous pilots.

In the middle of the 20th century, most general aviation aircraft had tailwheels, flew slowly, carried two people and not much else, and were covered with fabric.

The all-metal Cessna 180 was sleek, sturdy, powerful, and could carry more people farther afield to remote hunting and fishing camps, or haul families to vacation destinations. The 180 changed aviation in some of the same ways that modern SUVs and crossovers changed family road trips 50 years later.

Today this 180 reflects the same form-follows-function elegance and flair for adventure that set the model apart when it arrived on the market.

This 1955 Cessna 180 has 5,950 hours on the airframe, 155 hours on its 230 hp Continental O-470 engine since overhaul, and 1,289 hours since overhaul on its McCauley two-blade propeller.

The aircraft is equipped with numerous upgrades that make it well suited for backcountry travel, including a Sportsman STOL kit, 24-gallon Flint tip tanks in addition to standard 60-gallon main fuel tanks, Cessna 185 gear legs and tailwheel stinger, P-Ponk landing gear strengthening kit, heavy-duty brakes, 850×6 main tires, XP Modifications 10-inch tailwheel, shoulder harnesses, BAS folding jumpseats, BAS tail cone lift handles, door stewards and abrasion boots on the horizontal stabilizer. Useful load is 973 pounds.

The panel includes a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GNS 430W GPS/nav/comm, Garmin VOR/localizer/glide slope indicator, GTX 327 transponder, GDL 82 ADS-B, King KX 155 nav/comm, King KI 208 VOR/localizer indicator, Electronics International oil, vacuum, fuel flow and electrical instruments, 12-volt power outlet, and EDM 700 engine monitor

Pilots looking for an early 180 with updated equipment that is ready for traditional cross-country travel or more adventurous itineraries should consider this 1955 Cessna 180, which is available for $183,500 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: One Iconic Cessna 180 Has Quite a Story to Tell
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Scimitar Prop Approved for Cessna 180 and 182
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Voyager Propeller Approved for Cessna 180s
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 180 Skywagon
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 180
• The Aviation Consumer: Cessna 180 Skywagon
• AVweb: Air Plains Services Gains PMA for Replacement Cessna 180, 182, 188 Airboxes

The post This 1955 Cessna 180 Is a Cross-Country, Backcountry ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Bellanca 17-30A Viking.

About a decade ago I was on a cross-country flight, seemingly with no traffic around, when a friend scooted past in his Bellanca Viking. He was not too close, but close enough that I could see the bracing struts on the airplane’s tail.

How could an airplane with such a draggy, old-fashioned feature be so fast? Turns out those struts are among the Viking’s many points of interest and mystery.

Like many high-performance four-seaters that first appeared during the 1960s, the Viking has a big, powerful engine and lots of loyal, loving owners who will tell you why it is the best airplane you can own. Unlike the others, it has a wooden wing and steel-tube fuselage with fabric covering.

There are numerous other traits that set the Viking apart, but the one owners talk about most is its smooth, harmonious handling. While other pilots describe the “heavy” control forces of their big piston singles, Viking drivers use words such as “light” and “responsive.”    

This 1979 Viking has 3,295 hours on the airframe, 1,481 hours on its 300 hp Continental IO-520-K engine, and 246 hours since overhaul on its McCauley three-blade prop. 

The aircraft’s IFR panel includes a Collins AMR 350 audio panel with markers, Garmin 430 GPS/nav/comm (non-WAAS), Century NSD 360 HSI, King KRA 10 radar altimeter, Century III autopilot, Century I backup autopilot, Appareo ESG transponder with ADS-B Out, Stratus ADS-B In, Insight 602 engine monitor,  Shadin Miniflo digital fuel flow indicator and totalizer, Collins VHF transceiver, Collins VOR/LOC receiver and VOR/LOC/GS indicator and Stormscope, and PS Engineering PM 1000 four-place intercom.

Pilots looking for a high-performance four-place retractable aircraft with unique features, a notable family tree, and looks that will help you make friends on the ramp should consider this 1979 Bellanca Viking, which is available for $97,000 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: Challenging Common Aircraft Buying Tips
• Plane & Pilot: Bellanca Super Viking
• Plane & Pilot: Bellanca Junior, Cruisair, Cruisemaster
• Plane & Pilot: Bellanca 300 Viking
• Plane & Pilot: Plane Speed: How Fast Do You Need to Fly?
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Bellanca Viking
• AVweb: Speed: Buying 180 Knots for $180,000

The post This 1979 Bellanca 17-30A Viking Is a Harmoniously Handling ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Mooney M20J 201.

A good cross-country airplane is in the eye of the owner-operator. Different pilots prioritize a diversity of traits when shopping for the aircraft that suits their mission best.

While many GA travelers look for models with large, comfortable cabins, others are interested primarily in speed, with other qualities taking a back seat. A subset of these speed aficionados is also having a fondness for efficiency, and for them, there are few options better than a Mooney M20J.

From their introduction in the mid 1950s, the Mooney M20s have reliably done more with less, typically outrunning other four-place aircraft with much more horsepower. Early M20s came with the 150 hp Lycoming O-320, essentially the same powerplant found in Cessna 172s. The Mooney, however, became renowned for nearly reaching 150 ktas with the engine.

The M20 series really came into its own when matched with the 180 hp Lycoming O-360 and later the 200 hp IO-360, like the one in this 1981 M20J 201. The “201” is part of a Mooney naming convention indicating the airplane’s top speed in miles per hour, burning relatively little fuel while generating impressive speeds. Later turbocharged models took advantage of higher altitudes in gaining even more speed and becoming favorites among serious cross-country pilots.

This 1981 Mooney M20J 201 has 4,103 hours on the airframe and 301 hours on its Lycoming IO-360 engine and propeller since overhaul. The aircraft has a useful load of 914 pounds and carries 64 gallons of usable fuel.

The IFR panel includes a King KMA 24 audio panel, King KY 197 comm radio, KNS 80 nav with localizer and glideslope, KX 165 nav/comm with localizer and glideslope, KR 87 ADF, KLN 89B GPS, Garmin GTX 335 transponder with ADS-B Out, King KFC 200 autopilot with flight director and Stormscope.

Pilots who want to travel at a quick pace without burning 15 to 20 gallons of fuel per hour should consider this 1981 Mooney M20J 201, which is available for $124,900 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: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• FLYING Magazine: Life Lessons of an Iced-Up Mooney
• FLYING Magazine: Inside Manny the Mooney’s Much-Needed Paint Job
• FLYING Magazine: Mooney Expands Customer Service Offerings
• Plane & Pilot: This Incredible Plane: Mooney Porsche M20L PFM
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 201/M20J
• AVweb: Mooney Under New Management

The post This 1981 Mooney M20J Is a Model of Efficiency and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza.

The Beechcraft Bonanza has been turning heads and setting performance standards since its debut in 1947. And while the market is crowded with sleek, speedy four-seaters today, the decades-old V-tail design still looks fresh and goes fast.

The model also maintains a healthy following that includes pilots who were not born yet when the production of the V-tails ceased in 1982. The distinctive design harks back to the GA boom of the 1960s and ’70s, and its vintage aesthetic is popular now across generations.

There are many Bonanzas on the market that seem like time capsules, beautifully preserved and looking much as they did decades ago. Sometimes the originality extends to instrumentation, which is not ideal for modern pilots accustomed to GPS navigation and other up-to-date digital avionics systems.

The aircraft for sale here maintains its period-perfect paint and upholstery while its panel houses newer Garmin and Aspen electronics that place it on par with much of the modern fleet. A new owner could plan on plenty of serious travel in this machine. 

This 1965 S35 Bonanza has 5,108 hours on the airframe, 1,370 hours on its 285 hp Continental IO-520-BB since overhaul, and 1,730 hours on the propeller since overhaul. The aircraft carries 74 gallons of fuel in the main tanks and a total of 104 gallons with tip tanks. Its useful load is 1,125 pounds.

The IFR panel features an Aspen Evolution 1000 PFD, Garmin GMA 35 audio panel, GTN 750 GPS/nav/comm, GNC 255A nav/comm, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, S-TEC autopilot with GPSS and yaw damper, and JPI EDM 700 engine monitor.

Additional equipment includes aftermarket engine baffles, tip tanks, windshield, side windows, oil separator from Beryl D’Shannon, and Brackett air filter. The aircraft was stripped and painted in 1994 and has an original interior.

Pilots looking for renowned Bonanza performance with the unmistakable and charismatic mid-century styling of the V-tail 35 series should consider this 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza, which is available for $154,900 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: Air Compare: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza vs. Bonanza V-tails
• FLYING Magazine: Used Airplane Report: Bonanza vs. Baron
• FLYING Magazine: Pilot Proficiency: Fear of Flying
• Plane & Pilot: Beechcraft V-35 V-Tail Bonanza
• Plane & Pilot: Plane Facts: Beech Bonanzas
• Plane & Pilot: The Ultimate V-Tail
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Model 35 Bonanza

The post This 1965 Beechcraft S35 Bonanza Is a Well-Preserved ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Answer: The LSA rule as it stands limits aircraft to a gross weight of 1,320 pounds for land aircraft.

• READ MORE: Pilots Have Questions When It Comes to MOSAIC

Gross weight is determined when the aircraft is certificated. The Cessna 140 GW is 1,450 pounds, and the Cessna 150 is between 1,500 and 1,600 pounds, depending on the year of manufacture. You can take the other seat out and fly partial fuel, and that will make the aircraft lighter, but it won’t change the certificated gross weight.

Understand that the LSA rule is under review with MOSAIC, and if approved as written, will increase the gross weight of aircraft to 3,600 pounds.

When that transpires, many of the single-engine light trainers flown today in the utility and normal category will likely become LSA compliant.

The post Why Aren’t Cessna 140s/150s Considered Light Sport Aircraft? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

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.