Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F.

A veteran instructor said that owning a light twin is a big step up from piston singles, in both performance and expense. However, for those who find themselves flying ever-longer distances over terrain not suited for emergency landings, the measure of security a second engine offers can easily be worth the cost.

The aircraft for sale here has a roomy, six-place cabin with good-looking upholstery and a panel with a number of modern upgrades. The F model is the last of the Aztec types, and 1981 was the aircraft’s last year of production. The first Aztecs arrived on the market in 1960 and each successive version, with a new letter suffix, brought new features. Many people prefer the F model over the rest because it has most of the desirable features, such as the long nose housing an extended baggage compartment.

This 1981 Piper Aztec F has 3,242 hours on the airframe, 493 hours on each of its 250 hp Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 engines since overhaul, and 26 hours on both propellers since overhaul. A one-piece windshield, long-range fuel tanks, and electric trim are among the aircraft’s upgrades.

The panel features Garmin GNS 530 WAAS and GNS 430 WAAS GPS/Nav/Comms, GMA 340 audio panel, King KCS 55 HSI, Garmin GTX 327 transponder STEC 55X autopilot, King KN DME, Bendix RDR 159 color radar, JPI EDM 760 engine monitor, and Shadin fuel flow instrument,      

Pilots looking for a reliable, six-seat light twin with a nice combination of load-carrying capacity, short-field performance, and cruising speed should consider this  1981 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F, which is available for $280,000 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.

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The post This 1981 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F Is a Well-Kept ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Mooney M20B.

Albert Mooney designed several aircraft for a variety of missions during his career. A number of them were well-known, including the Culver Cadet and Mooney M-18 Mite. The M20 series, which debuted in the 1950s, was by far the most popular. Based somewhat on the single seat Mite, the M20 was larger, had four seats and engines that increased in power and displacement over time. For most of its life, the M20 was known for providing a lot of performance in an efficient, economical package.

While the M20’s exterior is trim and compact, I would not call its cabin “cramped” or “tight.” Inside, the airplane feels like a lot of thought went into allocating the available space. Mooney owners I know talk mostly about their airplanes’ smooth, nimble handling, and how they perform like big-bore models while sipping fuel more like a Cessna 172.

This 1961 Mooney M20B has 3,215 hours on the airframe, 20 hours since overhaul on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1D engine and 20 hours since new on its Hartzell Scimitar propeller.

The panel includes dual Uavionix AV-30Cs with a magnetometer and OAT, uAvionix TailBeaconX transponder with ADS-B out, Bendix King KY97A com, Terra TN200/TX720 nav/com, Terra Tri NavC, Apollo GX55 GPS, S-Tec 30 autopilot, and JPI EDM 700 engine monitor.

Pilots looking for style and speed in an efficient, economical package should take a look at this 1961 Mooney M20B, which is available for $67,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• FLYING Magazine: The Mooney M20U Ovation Ultra is a Product of Big Investment
• Plane & Pilot: The Marvelous Mooney M20
• Plane & Pilot: 2017 Mooney M20 Ovation
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 231/252

The post This 1961 Mooney M20B Is a Fast, Fuel-Sipping ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.