Today’s Top Pick is a 1977 American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon.

The basic American Champion Citabria excels at making introductions. Whether pilots are seeking tailwheel endorsements, practicing short-field technique, or learning about backcountry flying, Citabrias have always been a good place to start in part because of their wide range of equipment and performance.

Pilots who want to get serious about aerobatics are likely to gravitate toward the Super Decathlon, which serves as a versatile stepping stone between basic flight training and the possible acquisition of a dedicated aerobatic aircraft such as an Extra or a Pitts.

A Super Decathlon can be a good mount for any pilot who wants a more traditional, tactile flying experience. Without the digital instrumentation, navigation and automation that are increasingly common in today’s GA aircraft, this Decathlon demands constant engagement. You will spend most of your time aloft looking outside, scanning your surroundings instead of monitoring screens. 

If you have been flying for a long time, an airplane like this can take you back to your earliest days of hand-flying.

This Super Decathlon has 2,258 hours on the airframe and 345 hours on its 180 hp engine. The aircraft is certified in the standard and aerobatic categories and is equipped with inverted fuel and oil systems. During 2015 the wing spare was inspected and revarished, and the wing was repainted. The fuselage was repainted in 2023, and the interior was refurbished in 2022. The panel is equipped with basic flight and engine instruments.

Pilots interested in pursuing aerobatics or just looking for a traditional taildragger with performance well above average should consider this 1977 American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon, which is available for $117,000 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: American Champion Unveils Xtreme Decathlon
•  FLYING Magazine: The Family That Flies Together
• FLYING Magazine: Over, Under, Sideways, Down: The Art and Science of Aerobatic Flight
• Plane & Pilot: Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon
• Plane & Pilot: American Champion Super Decathlon: Flight With Greg Koontz
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Decathlon and Citabria

The post This 1977 American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon Is an Entry-Level Aerobatic ‘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
• FLYING Magazine: Best Used Six Seaters
• 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 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.

The Duluth, Minnesota-based company said it is updating its brand identity to further emphasize its particular approach to private aviation, called “Everything in Reach.” The recent changes are part of a broad strategy to grow the aviation industry and move toward a new era in personal aviation. Cirrus manufactures and sells the SR series of piston singles and the Vision Jet.

• READ MORE: The Big Reveal: Cirrus Shows Off the SR G7

“Since [being founded in] 1984, Cirrus’ legacy of innovating, transforming, and defining the ‘personal aviation’ category has changed the way people experience aviation,” said Todd Simmons, Cirrus’ president of customer experience. “Now, in addition to its state-of-the-art aircraft, Cirrus provides a comprehensive ownership experience for world-class flight training, product services and support, aircraft management, upgrades and accessories, sales, finance, insurance, and more.” 

According to Cirrus, personal aviation serves pilots and nonpilots by offering a path of entry into the aviation community for seasoned pilots, people interested in flight training, and those who wish to own and operate a Cirrus aircraft with a professional pilot.

“Cirrus continues its legacy of delivering innovative products and services that make aircraft ownership easy and synonymous with premium car ownership,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus. “The new brand identity honors Cirrus’ history while positioning itself for the future where the company will leverage its intelligent aircraft and connected digital ecosystem.”   

Cirrus is known for a number of innovations in aircraft design, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which was the first FAA-certified, whole-airframe parachute safety apparatus installed as standard equipment on an aircraft. The company said its worldwide fleet has accumulated more than 17 million hours and 250 people have “returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft.”

The post Cirrus Revises Logo to Signal ‘Next Era’ of Personal Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1999 Pilatus PC-12​/​45.

The PC-12 single-engine turboprop was a revolutionary concept when Swiss aerospace company Pilatus developed it in the late 1980s. Most large, pressurized turboprop transports were twin-engine designs such as the popular Beechcraft King Air. Pilatus sought to demonstrate that a single-engine aircraft could provide similar reliability and performance while also operating from short,  unpaved strips.

The airplane grew to be known as a jack-of-all-trades, becoming a standard in corporate fleets, charter and air-taxi operations and in air-ambulance and other special missions. Quite a few pilots own PC-12s for personal use, often mixing business-related travel with family vacation trips. I know of at least a couple of PC-12 pilots who regularly take their families to destinations in Florida on weekends, noting how the aircraft’s speed and pressurized comfort make the trip reasonably easy compared with long-distance travel in the typical high-performance piston single.

This Pilatus PC-12-45 has 15,665 hours on the airframe, including 9,679 landings, 1,100 hours and 798 cycles on its Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67P engine, and zero time since overhaul on its five-blade propeller. The aircraft’s useful load is 3,309 pounds.

The panel includes Garmin GNS 430W and GNS 530W nav/com radios, Garmin GTX 345 and Bendix/King KT 70 transponders, Honeywell KMD-850 MFD and KRA-405B radar altimeter, Bendix/King KAC-501 WX radar, KDR-610 datalink weather receiver, Bendix King KHF-950 high-frequency com system,  

Bendix King KA-44B ADF, Bendix/King 325 autopilot, and Honeywell DME.

Additional equipment includes supplemental air conditioning, FD200CPU-7 flight display, and True Blue Power dual USB charging ports.

Pilots seeking a higher level of single-engine utility and performance, from short-field operations to high-altitude, long-distance travel, should consider this 1999 Pilatus PC-12-45, which  is available for $3.2 million on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Pilatus PC-12 Fleet Logs 10 Million Flight Hours
• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Pilatus PC-12 NGX
• FLYING Magazine: Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft Meet European Noise Regs with 7-Blade Prop
• Plane & Pilot: NBAA 2019: Pilatus Unveils New PC-12
• Plane & Pilot: Blackhawk Announces Engine Program for the Pilatus PC-12
• AVweb: Ontario-Based Ornge Air Ambulance Updates Its Pilatus PC-12 Fleet
• AVweb: AirVenture 2023: Honeywell Anthem Pilatus PC-12 Tour

The post This 1999 Pilatus PC-12-45 Is a Multimission ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2022 Vans RV-14.

When the first Van’s RV-14s reached the market about a decade ago, some fans of the company’s long line of aircraft wondered what made this side-by-side two-seater different from others in its fleet such as the RV-7. The two do appear similar, at least to the untrained eye. Closer inspection reveals that the RV-14 is larger, with a more powerful engine and more baggage space.

For people who like to draw comparisons between aircraft and cars, one might call the RV-7 a classic, compact, two-seat sports car while the RV-14 is more of a GT, or grand touring machine. Indeed, the larger aircraft’s wing is designed to operate efficiently on longer cross-country trips. While not all customers had noticed, Van’s felt there was a gap to be filled in the fleet somewhere between the RV-7 and the large, four-seat RV-10. Today the many pilots flying RV-14 appear to agree.    

This recently built RV-14 has an airworthiness date of March 22, 2022, and has logged 65 hours on the airframe, its Lycoming YIO-390-EXP76 engine, and  Hartzell two-blade, constant-speed propeller. The aircraft has a 50-gallon usable-fuel system.

Its panel includes a Garmin G3X IFR avionics suite with dual 10-inch screens, GMC 507 autopilot, GMA 245R remote audio panel, GNX 375 IFR navigator with ADS-B In and Out transponder.

Pilots seeking a high-performance, homebuilt aircraft with decades of development and market experience behind it should consider this 2022 Van’s RV-14, which is available for $298,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: RV-14A Full Performance
• FLYING Magazine: DeltaHawk Is Developing a Package for Installing Its DHK Engines in Van’s RV-14s
• FLYING Magazine: Buying Experimental Aircraft, Demystified
• KITPLANES: Kitplanes Flies the New RV-14
• KITPLANES: Van’s Introduces New IO-390 Variant for RV-14, Plus Updates to RV-10 Kit
• KITPLANES: RV-14 Passes NKET 51% Rule Evaluation
• KITPLANES: Building and Flying an RV-8

The post This 2022 Van’s RV-14 Is a Homebuilt, Cross-Country ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1946 Cessna 140.

There were a lot of GA aircraft on the market in the years right after World War II, including a range of small, light two-seat personal airplanes such as Piper Cubs, Aeronca Champs, Luscombes, and Taylorcrafts. Some of the designs dated to before the war, while others, like the Cessna 140, had come along afterward and had a relatively new look and feel.

Having flown a number of these old classics, I can say the Cessna tops my list because of its easy handling and side-by-side seating, which I prefer because it enhances interaction with the passenger and gives the airplane a more pleasant shape to my eye.

This 1946 Cessna 140 has 7,270 hours on the airframe and 399 hours on its 90 hp Continental C90-14F engine. The panel includes a King KX-170B nav/com with OBS, King KT-76A transponder, PS Engineering PMA 4000 audio panel with two-place intercom, and uAvionix ADS-B.

Pilots looking for a handsome, economical vintage taildragger that will transport them almost all the way back to aviation’s golden age should consider this 1946 Cessna 140, which is available for $43,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Approachable Aircraft: The Cessna 120/140
• FLYING Magazine: Man Sells Old Cessna 140 at Garage Sale
• FLYING Magazine: Five Taildraggers That Are Easy To Buy, Fly, and Insure
• Plane & Pilot: This Incredible Plane: Cessna 140
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 120/140
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 120/140

The post This 1946 Cessna 140 Is a Sweet Vintage Taildragger and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1968 Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

Cessna’s 172 Skyhawk is a legend among trainers, having taught more people to fly than any other single airframe. It evolved from the Cessna 170, a 1940s taildragger that was already easy to fly but perceived as tricky to land because of its conventional (for the time) landing gear. Engineers and designers fitted a nosewheel, reshaped the surfaces to make them more angular and modern, and rolled out the new model in 1956. While it never was possible to land the 172 well by “driving” it onto the runway, it was easier to land than a tailwheel aircraft.

More than excelling as a trainer, though, the 172 offered enough power, comfort, and stability to serve as a personal airplane capable of logging business trips and carrying a small family to vacation destinations. When introduced, the 172 set a higher standard for entry-level general aviation aircraft. The airplane for sale here still represents one of the most approachable routes to aircraft ownership.

This 1968 172 Skyhawk has 4,312 hours on the airframe, 1,500 hours on the engine since overhaul, and a basic VFR instrument panel with only an AV-30 ADI standing out as modern equipment from the current decade.

Pilots looking for a straightforward, economical VFR traveler that is more practical than fabric-covered vintage models should consider this 1968 Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which is available for $89,000 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: Cessna 172 Annual Maintenance and What It Will Cost You
• FLYING Magazine: How Far Would You Fly a Cessna 172?
• FLYING Magazine: Air Plains Offers Custom Avionics Panel for Upgraded Cessna 172s
• Plane & Pilot: Hacienda: A Legendary Modified Cessna 172
• Plane & Pilot: Textron Aviation Will Deliver 15 Cessna 172s to Epic Flight Academy
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 172

The post This 1968 Cessna 172 Skyhawk Is an All-Around Capable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Piper PA-28-236 Dakota.

Piper rolled out the original PA-28s in part as a response to Cessna’s popular 172. Over the decades, a series of stretches, reshapings, and engine changes transformed that basic airframe into a fleet, including four-place and six-place singles and twins often designed to compete with specific rivals in the GA market. This PA-28-236 is one such example, having arisen from a need to compete with Cessna’s no-nonsense, heavy-lifting 182 Skylane. For pilots who trained in PA-28s or simply prefer low-wing aircraft, this big-engine version of the PA-28 could be an ideal vehicle. For those wondering, the Dakota is the follow-on to the Cherokee 235 Pathfinder, with the addition of the tapered wing.

I recall seeing a photograph of a pilot standing next to a PA-28-236 with a huge pile of luggage, apparently representing the aircraft’s cargo capacity. Indeed, the collection of stuff looked like the typical load for a student heading off to college. I am sorry that I do not recall whether the photo was part of a promotion or flight review article, but either way, the message was clear. This was one of those airplanes that supposedly could lift whatever you could fit through the door. That might be an exaggeration, but these Pipers are good haulers.

This Dakota has 2,860 hours on the airframe, 850 hours on its Lycoming O-540-J3A5D engine and 1,360 hours on its Hartzell propeller. The panel includes a Garmin GTN 650 GPS nav/com, GTX 345 transponder, King KMA 24 audio panel, KX 170B VHS nav/com, FR 86 ADF, KN 62A TSO DME, Century 21 autopilot, ACK 406 ELT with GPS interconnect, Sigtronics SPA-400 4-place TSO intercom, and Davtron M877 digital clock.

Pilots who need a flying utility vehicle to complete their typical mission should consider this brawny 1981 Piper PA-28-236 Dakota, 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.

• FLYING Magazine: AeroGuard to Acquire 90 Archers from Piper Aircraft
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• Plane & Pilot: Piper Cherokee 235 Pathfinder/Dakota
• Plane & Pilot: Garmin Gets Green Light For Piper Autopilot STCs
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Cherokee 180 Archer
• Plane & Pilot: Plane Facts: Piper PA-28s

The post This 1981 Piper PA-28-236 Is a Strong-Shouldered ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Rethought from the inside out, the G7 series—including the SR20, SR22, and SR22T—takes cues from the Vision Jet to simplify operation while incorporating added safety and luxury features. All three 2024 models have completed the FAA type certification process and are ready for delivery.

FLYING took an exclusive first series of flights with the striking new G7 in the SR22 version in early December for a We Fly pilot report that will debut in Issue 945/February 2024, reaching subscribers later this month. Till then, a quick reveal…

• WATCH: Cirrus Updates SR Series

Central to the updates is the reimagined Perspective Touch+ integrated flight deck with 12- or 14-inch high-resolution displays, and twin GTC touchscreen controllers, to mimic the functionality and redundancy available in the Vision Jet SF50. Engine start has transformed into a push-button interface, preserving the ability to check mags and set mixture while making the process feel similar to that of the SF50. The updated automated flight control system (AFCS) incorporates smart servos and includes an optional yaw damper. 

Updated synoptic pages and streamlined checklists aid the pilot in monitoring both systems and procedures throughout all phases of flight. And the Cirrus IQ app gives the pilot remote viewing and control of certain aircraft functions. Cirrus Global Connect delivers worldwide text messaging, telephone service, and global weather.

SUBSCRIBE: Get the We Fly Report in Issue 945

It’s telling that Cirrus Aircraft looked up the model line to its Vision Jet to drive out complexity from its core single-engine pistons, sending its engineers on a journey to find ways to make the SRs as straightforward to operate as the jet. While that sounds like a contradiction, perhaps, pilots like FLYING’s Dick Karl have opined about the complexity involved in stepping down from a light jet back into the high-performance piston world.  

To this end, Cirrus has introduced a new shallower menu structure in the touchscreen controllers, along with a scroll wheel for turning through the CAS-linked, on-screen checklists smoothly. Still on the ground, Taxiway Routing and a contextualized 3D Safe Taxi guide the pilot around complex airport layouts, decluttering and slewing the PFD imagery to match the airplane’s speed and position on the airport. In the air, the automatic fuel selection system automatically switches between fuel tanks every 5 gallons.

Additional Safety Features

Pilots will also find an improved flight control, incorporating a stick shaker function to piggyback on the other envelope protection features in the Perspective+ series, for enhanced low-speed situational awareness. Both the left and right controls vibrate to warn of an approaching stall condition.


Another new addition to envelope protection is flap airspeed protection. The system monitors airspeed to protect the pilot from accidentally deploying or retracting flaps when the aircraft is traveling too fast or too slow for the given flap configuration change. 

A Stylish and Functional New Interior

In addition to the magic up front, Cirrus also rethought the interior, taking a page from current luxury vehicles to incorporate a host of new features, including redesigned interior panels, dimmable task lights, and ambient accent lighting. 

More rugged cup holders, more pockets, and two center console compartments efficiently store your smartphone and other key things for better cockpit organization and accessibility. Powered headset jacks and lighted high-power USB-C outlets come positioned within easy reach of each seat. 


First SR20 G7 Customer

While only one new TRAC20 (SR20) G7 has been built, it’s already wearing its school colors—those of Western Michigan University College of Aviation in Battle Creek. The Broncos are longtime Cirrus flight training operators and will incorporate the new models into their aviation degree programs. The school will take delivery in the first quarter for integration into the flightline.

Pilots across the board can opt into several training options for the new Cirrus line, including the OEM’s recently released Private Pilot Program—taking a prospective pilot from first flight to certification in their new airplane.

“Our mission is to increase participation in aviation, so more people can benefit from the freedom, productivity, and joy it provides,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “We have also developed a comprehensive ecosystem, providing global sales, flight training, maintenance, and support to ensure our owners have a seamless ownership experience. Our aircraft are truly designed with people in mind, and the new SR Series G7 is a testament to that philosophy. Our team and our aircraft provide a clear path to enter and advance within the personal aviation community by learning to fly and eventually transition to the Vision Jet with ease.” 

The post The Big Reveal: Cirrus Shows Off the SR G7 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.