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.

• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Has Top Prop Available for Aztec Operators
• FLYING Magazine: MT-Propeller Receives STCs for Composite Props on Piper, Cessna Twins
• FLYING Magazine: Things to Think About When Moving Up to a Light Twin
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Aztec 
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• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Aztec
• AVweb: Record-Breaking Aviator Fran Bera Dead At 93

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 1972 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six.

Piper’s Cherokee Six appeals to pilots for some of the same reasons that other Cherokee models are popular, including stability, predictable handling, and reliability. But the Six offers bonuses, including a larger cabin, more horsepower, and room for six. This is a utility airplane that few others can match in terms of all-around capability.

Certified in 1965, the PA-32 Cherokee Six is largely the same as the later model Saratogas that have retractable landing gear and typically offer luxury interiors. The Six is clearly more utilitarian and tends to carry fewer adornments and interior upgrades.

This 1972 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six has 5,226 hours on the airframe and 790 hours on its 300 hp Lycoming IO-540.

The panel features dual Garmin G5 electronic flight instruments, Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen GPS/Nav/Com, MX 170C digital Nav/Com with glideslope, Garmin GMA 345 audio panel, GTX 320 transponder, uAvionix TailBeacon ADS-B, Auto Control III autopilot with Nav coupling, S-Tec 30 PSS altitude hold, and Electronics International digital CHT/EGT gauge.

Additional equipment includes electric pitch trim, rudder trim, Flightcom six-place intercom, cabin ventilation fan, auxiliary power receptacle, and aileron gap seals.

Pilots looking for a large piston single with generous interior space and useful load that is ideal for family travel should consider this 1972 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, which is available for $244,900 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six
• FLYING Magazine: Getting Sucked into Aviation with a Piper Cherokee Six Owner
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• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Piper Lance vs. Saratoga
• Plane & Pilot: New Piper‘s Saratoga II TC
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Cherokee Six 260/300
• The Aviation Consumer: Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six/Saratoga

The post This 1972 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six Is a Sturdy, Reliable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1980 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F.

At least a few pilot friends who have owned several airplanes over the years regularly wax nostalgic when recalling Piper Aztecs that passed through their lives decades ago. They all say the same thing: “I never should have sold that one.”

While the PA-23-250 might not be the fastest or most glamorous light twin, most pilots who have spent a lot of hours in the aircraft say it is fast enough and quite endearing, especially when you have significant loads to carry, need to operate from short fields, or are seeking a stable IFR traveler. The airplane’s docile flight characteristics made it a popular multiengine trainer, while its performance impressed small cargo, charter, and air taxi operators. People say it is difficult to load the Aztec beyond its maximum gross takeoff weight. They also say it flies like a Cub, thanks to a chunky airfoil that produces lots of lift and allows slow approach speeds.     

This 1980 Aztec F has 6,163 hours on the airframe, 322 hours since overhaul on each of its Lycoming IO-540-C4B engines, and 322 hours since overhaul on the propellers. The aircraft is equipped with factory deice boots, hit props, hot windshield, and long-range fuel system.

The custom panel features a Garmin GTN 750 touchscreen GPS/Nav/Com, King KX-155 digital Nav/Com, Garmin GMA 340 audio panel with intercom, GTX 335 ADS-B transponder, Collins weather radar, King HSI, King KFC 200 autopilot, and JPI EDM 930 engine monitor. 

Pilots who want to step up to a light twin that is known for reliability, forgiving handling and load-carrying capacity should consider this 1980 Piper Aztec F, which is available for $289,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: MT-Propeller Receives STCs for Composite Props on Piper, Cessna Twins
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Has Top Prop Available for Aztec Operators
• Plane & Pilot: Used Light Twins Roundup
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Apache
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Aztec
• AVweb: Landing Gear Checks: Hit the Books

The post This 1980 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec F Is a Short-Field, Load-Carrying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2004 Maule M-7-260C.

Maules stand out on the ramp for a number of reasons. Even people accustomed to spotting taildraggers might not recognize these Georgia-built backcountry airplanes. They do not look like Piper Super Cubs, Cessna 180s, or any of the usual suspects at your favorite grass strip. But for bush-flying enthusiasts and pilots whose travels take them regularly to short fields, Maules are objects of desire.

The M-7-260C for sale here combines Maule’s reputation for lifting heavy loads from short runways with a roomy, versatile cabin and cruising speeds that make longer trips more attractive. This rugged aircraft is at home whether traveling to paved runways or challenging off-airport destinations.

This 2004 Maule M-7-260C has 1,058 hours since new on the airframe, its 260 hp Lycoming IO-540 engine and Hartzell Scimitar propeller. The aircraft is equipped with 29-inch Alaskan Bushwheels, a Tundra Tailwheel assembly, and vortex generators.

The panel includes a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GNS 530W GPS/nav/com, SL40 nav/com, GTX 330 transponder, Electronics International CGR 30P engine monitor, dual Garmin G5s, GI-106 glide slope, S-TEC 30 autopilot with altitude hold, and dual USB ports.

Pilots looking for an over-the-counter bush airplane from a company that has specialized in backcountry flying for decades should consider this 2004 Maule M-7-260C, which is available for $320,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Choose Your Mount—The Maules Do it All
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• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Tailwheel Maules

The post This 2004 Maule M-7-260C Is a Direct Route to Adventure and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

1975 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec E.

When the first PA-23s rolled out of the factory, they marked a departure for Piper. In contrast to the company’s long line of high-wing, tube-and-fabric singles, the new model, called the Apache, was all metal with a low wing and two engines. While it represented “a lot of airplane” compared with the Cubs, Cruisers, and Pacers in which many pilots had trained, some considered it underpowered with a pair of Lycoming O-320s rated at 150 hp each. Single-engine performance was marginal.

Piper made many improvements, but the tide truly turned when the Aztec appeared in 1960. Even though it was still labeled as a PA-23, the Aztec performed like a completely different aircraft. With 250 hp engines, six seats, and a baggage compartment in the nose, it developed a reputation as a strong load carrier and comfortable traveling airplane.

This 1975 Piper Aztec E has 7,640 hours on the airframe, 249 hours on each of its Lycoming IO-540 engines, and 119 hours on its propellers since overhaul. The panel includes a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GNS 430 GPS, GNS 150 GPS, MX 20 MFD, King KX 155 nav/com, KN 64 DME, KT 76A transponder, KR 85 ADF, S-Tec 50 autopilot, and JPI EDM 760 engine monitor. The aircraft also has de-ice boots and long-range tanks.

Pilots seeking a light twin that handles well, is relatively easy to fly, and has the power to haul big loads should take a look at this 1975 Piper PA-23-250, which is available for $200,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: MT-Propeller Receives STCs for Composite Props on Piper, Cessna Twins
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Has Top Prop Available for Aztec Operators
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Aztec

The post This 1975 Piper PA-23-250 Aztec Is a Roomy ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Travelers appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Piper PA-32R-300 Lance.

A longtime PA-32-300 owner once told me he was so confident in his aircraft’s stability and reliability that he could turn on the autopilot, put his feet up, and take a nap. As is true with a lot of hangar talk, this was an exaggeration. He would never do such a thing. However, the message was clear: This airplane is easy to fly, travel in, and live with. It was comfortable as well, with a wide cabin and lots of windows that endear the PA-32 to passengers.

The retractable Lance evolved from the fixed-gear Cherokee Six, a utilitarian six-seater aimed at giving pilots more room for carrying their families, friends, and baggage than the two-place and four-place Pipers in which they might have trained. When pilots began looking for extra speed in addition to extra space, Piper added retracts and a few other tweaks to boost the airplane’s performance. The popular airframe continued as the Saratoga until 2009. 

This 1976 Lance has 4,027 hours on the airframe, 2,368 hours since overhaul on its Lycoming IO-540 engine, and 248 since overhaul on its Hartzell propeller. The panel includes a Garmin GNS 430 nav/com, King KX-155 nav/com, King KMA 20 audio panel, KN 62A DME, KR 85 ADF, Century IIB autopilot, Garmin GTX 330 transponder Mode S transponder, and Sigtronics SPA-400 intercom.

Pilots who need to carry more people and cargo than the typical four-place single can handle should check out the specs for this 1976 Piper PA-32R-300 Lance, which is available for $118,900 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
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• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Saratoga/Lance

The post This 1976 Piper PA-32R-300 Lance Is Spacious, Passenger-Friendly appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company said the damping characteristics of the new props result in nearly vibration-free operation. The composite blades have unlimited service life and can be repaired if damaged by foreign object debris.

• READ MORE: MT-Propeller Builds Composite Warbird Props for North American P-51, F-82

The STC is also likely to elevate the Aztec’s ramp appeal. The type typically sports two-blade props that can look bland and old-fashioned.

The German propeller manufacturer also announced it has received an EASA STC for the installation of its four-blade MTV-14 propellers on Cessna 414 Chancellors with or without RAM IV and VII upgrades. The company said an FAA STC is “in progress.”

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

When installed on the 414, the four-blade MT props can shorten takeoff distance by 6 percent and improve climb by 5 to 8 percent. Cruise performance gets a 3 to 5 knot boost. The props also weigh about 20 pounds less than the originals, turn with “turbine smoothness,” and significantly reduce noise inside and outside of the cabin, MT said.

MT produces 30 certified propeller models for piston and turbine aircraft. The product range includes hydraulically and electrically controlled variable-pitch props with up to seven blades as well as fixed-pitch, two-blade props.

The post MT-Propeller Receives STCs for Composite Props on Piper, Cessna Twins appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1976 Bellanca 17-30A Viking.

Bellanca Vikings are famous for their wooden wings made of Sitka spruce, and their fabric-covered frames. When you walk up to one of these four-seaters on the ramp, the first impression is not necessarily one of speed. The fuselage clearly is a rag-and-tube structure and seems like it is tied more closely to aviation’s golden age than modern times. The outlines of frame members show through the covering. There are even old-fashioned struts supporting the horizontal stabilizer.

Opening the cowling reveals the truth about the Viking. The 17-30 models came with 300 hp Continental IO-520s, while the 17-31s had Lycoming IO-540s. These airplanes pack major muscle that leads owners to describe them in sports car terms. Acceleration and short-field performance are impressive and handling is light and crisp. With fewer than 1,400 built, the Viking is not an everyday sight for most pilots. They are rare and visually fetching enough to attract attention and start conversations when their pilots arrive at the airport cafe, especially on warm days when people are sitting outside.

This 1976 Bellanca Viking has 2,950 hours on the airframe and 10 hours on its engine since overhaul. The panel includes a King KX175B nav/com, King KMA20 audio panel and market beacon, Sigtronics SPA 400 four-place intercom, Garmin SL40 VHF radio, Garmin GTX 335 transponder, Century IIB autopilot, King KN64 DME, King ADF, JPI fuel flow monitor and Horizon Instruments digital tachometer.

Pilots looking for a high-performance, four-seat retractable aircraft with flying characteristics that have given it a loyal following should check out this 1976 Bellanca Viking, which is available for $99,500 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Challenging Common Aircraft Buying Tips
• Plane & Pilot: Bellanca Viking: Wood, Fabric & Genius
•  Plane & Pilot: Bellanca 300 Viking
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Bellanca Viking
• The Aviation Consumer: Bellanca Viking

The post This 1976 Bellanca 17-30A Viking Is a Speedy, Wood-Wing ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.