Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket.

While the long-running Mooney M20 series of four-seat retractables is known for efficient aerodynamics that allow them to post impressive performance numbers with relatively little horsepower, there are always certain pilots who want more.

Rocket Engineering is among a number of companies that perform conversions on Mooney’s that include larger, more powerful engines, and other systems aimed at boosting climb performance, cruising speed, and service ceiling.

The aircraft for sale here was converted in 1999, swapping its 210 hp Continental TSIO-360 engine for a 305 hp TSIO-520. The additional power made a big impression. Mooney M20Ks were fine performers, but the Rocket-modified versions did most things faster and better.

Additional modifications make this airplane well-suited for fast, high-altitude travel. It is also an ideal vintage platform for competing with modern speedsters like the Cirrus SR22T.

This 1979 305 Rocket has 2,650 hours on the airframe, 940 hours on its Continental TSIO-520-NB engine, and 705 hours on its McCauley three-blade, full-feathering propeller. The aircraft is certified to FL 240 and is equipped with a TKS anti-ice system, speed brakes, and Monroy long-range tanks giving a total usable fuel capacity of 101 gallons. The Mooney received new paint earlier this year and a new interior in 2001.

The panel features dual Garmin GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Comm radios, MX20 MFD, Garmin GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, KFC200 autopilot, flight director, and engine monitor. 

Pilots who are attracted to Mooney aircraft because of their efficient design but would like a bit more power inside the cowling should consider this 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket, which is available for $189,000 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: BendixKing to Offer Autopilot for Mooney M20-series Airplanes
• FLYING Magazine: STC Approved for Hartzell Propeller Three-Blade Mooney Bravo Prop
• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 231/252
• The Aviation Consumer: Mooney Missile
• AVweb: Mooney Under New Management

The post This 1979 Mooney M20K 305 Rocket Is a Souped-Up ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Thrive Aviation Mission Statement

“Our company works to provide proactive services and personalized sophistication to every moment of our guests’ flight experience. The excellence of our work ensures that each customer receives more of what’s needed before they need it. More accessibility. Less interference. A reduction of risk and expansion of comfort. We ensure all elements of excellence.”

Thrive Aviation in the News

Thrive Aviation Expands Fleet With Munday Aviation’s Factory-Delivered Praetor 500
Thrive Aviation proudly announces the addition of the Praetor 500 to its managed charter fleet under aircraft owner Munday Aviation. 

Thrive Aviation Joins Southwest’s Pilot Pathways Program
The private aviation firm will give potential pilots a direct pathway to the right seat at Southwest Airlines.

Thrive Aviation Openings on FindaPilot.com

• First Officer in Henderson, NV
• Captain of Challenger 604 in Henderson, NV
• Captain of Cessna 680 (Sovereign+) in Henderson, NV
• Captain – Dassault 2000 (EXEASy) – Las Vegas, NV

More Thrive Aviation Resources:

• Career site 
• LinkedIn 
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More Help from FindaPilot.com

• Latest pilot job openings 
• Pilot directory 
• Sign-up page

The post Employer Profile: Thrive Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk.

Pilots shopping for their first aircraft after receiving their private pilot certificate often overlook the Cessna 172 even if they trained in one as students.

Often they are in a hurry to “step up” to a complex, high-performance airplane and start traveling long distances at greater speeds than the Cessna can muster. 

For many, though, simply flying as pilot in command is a significant promotion. It can take a long time to adjust to flying regularly without an instructor on board, and having a familiar aircraft can be a big advantage.

There are also those pilots who consider the 172 a classic and among the best aircraft ever designed. For them, the choice of a 172 as a personal airplane makes sense because they love most of its traits and features, from its forgiving handling and reliability to the fabulous original factory paint schemes and interiors one can find on the market.

If you learned to fly in a 172, there is a good chance that you feel a particular affection toward that model. While demand has driven prices up lately, the 172 overall remains an economical aircraft to own and operate.   

This 1974 172M has 2,524 hours on the airframe, 813 hours on its 150 hp Lycoming O-320 E2D engine since overhaul, and 2,524 hours on the propeller since new. The aircraft carries 38 gallons of usable fuel and has a useful load of  853.8 pounds.

The IFR panel includes a garmin GMA 340 audio panel, Garmin GNS 530W GPS/Nav/Comm with localizer and glideslope, Garmin SL 30 Nav/Comm, GTX 327 transponder, S-Tec 20 autopilot with GPSS, GDL 88 receiver with ADS-B In and Out, and Electronics International engine analyzer.

Additional equipment includes wheel pants, engine monitor alarm, Brackett air filter, dual shoulder harnesses, Hobbs meter, and arb ice detector.

Pilots who enjoyed training in Cessna 172s and might consider one for long-term use as a personal aircraft for travel or building time should consider this 1974 Skyhawk, which is available for $119,900 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:Cessna 172 Annual Maintenance and What It Will Cost You
• FLYING Magazine: How Far Would You Fly a Cessna 172?
• FLYING Magazine: Cessna 172: Still Relevant Today?
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 172: Secrets of the Skyhawk
• Plane & Pilot: Hacienda: A Legendary Modified Cessna 172
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna 172

The post This 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk Is a Winged Family Car and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1941 Boeing​/​Stearman PT-17.

Many pilots dream of owning a vintage biplane, complete with open cockpits, fabric covering, bracing wires, and other details that characterize the classics.

In the end, though, they decide that such aircraft, lightly built with thin struts and spindly landing gear, are too delicate to be practical. While this notion might hold true for many biplanes designed during aviation’s golden age between World Wars I and II, it does not apply to the Boeing/Stearman PT-17.

Stearman Aircraft Inc. began turning out biplanes for commercial and personal use during the 1920s and by the mid-1930s had the eye of the U.S. Army Air Corps, which was looking for a new primary trainer.

The Stearman A75, later known as the PT-17 was a near-perfect candidate for the job because it was generally easy to fly yet still demanding enough to differentiate aspiring pilots with potential from those who would be better off pursuing a different specialty.

Perhaps most important was the aircraft’s ruggedness. This is one well-built biplane that was capable of bouncing back from the many mistakes that student pilots make.

The characteristics that made the Stearman a great trainer more than 80 years ago make it a wonderful personal airplane today.

The 1941 model for sale here offers pilots a window into aviation’s past, when airplanes had round engines and fabric covering. It also gives us a new way to see those familiar stretches of earth that we fly over regularly—from an open cockpit.

This 1941 Stearman has 3,749 hours on the airframe, 330 hours on its Continental W670-6A radial engine since overhaul, and 210 hours on its Sensenich propeller since overhaul. The VFR panel includes a King KLX 135 digital GPS/Comm, KT 76C transponder and intercom in addition to traditional analog flight and engine instruments

Pilots searching for a vintage biplane that is robust enough to handle frequent modern-day sorties including fly-ins, vacation getaways, and occasional formation flying with the owner’s club should consider this 1941 Boeing/Stearman PT-17, which is available for $155,000 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: Restoration Nation: The Stearman Next Door
• FLYING Magazine: Taking Wing: Stearman Patrol
• FLYING Magazine: Tuskegee Airmen Stearman Flies Into History
• The Aviation Consumer: Antiques and Classics: Owning and Operating
• AVweb: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Acquires PT-17
• AVweb: Pilot Completes U.K.-Australia Stearman Flight

The post This 1941 Boeing/Stearman PT-17 Is a Tough, Two-Winged ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The grand prize winner will receive a $100,000 credit to be used toward the purchase of any aircraft listed on FLYING‘s Aircraft For Sale marketplace. This opens a world of possibilities allowing the winner to choose their first or next aircraft, or even add to a fleet.

But that’s not all. The giveaway also features exciting monthly prizes with an average retail value of $1,000 including gift cards, essential equipment, gear, and accessories.

Entering the sweepstakes is simple. 

FLYING Magazine subscribers are automatically entered, giving them an extra incentive to stay up to date on the latest aviation news and trends. Those who aren’t already subscribers can enter by purchasing a subscription to FLYING Magazine or one of the other participating aviation magazines: Plane & Pilot, KITPLANES, The Aviation Consumer, Aviation Safety, or IFR.

For those who prefer a free entry option, a mail-in method is also available.

The giveaway started July 21 and runs until May 31, 2025. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to take flight toward your aviation dreams. No purchase necessary. Making a purchase does not increase your chance of winning a prize.

For full details and official rules, visit https://www.flyingmag.com/2025-ultimate-flying-giveaway-official-rules/.

__________________________________________________________________________

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Starts 7/21/24 and ends 5/31/25, subject to 11 entry periods and Official Rules available at https://www.flyingmag.com/2025-ultimate-flying-giveaway-official-rules/. Open to legal residents of the 50 US and DC, at least 18+ or age of majority, whichever is greater. Void where prohibited. 

The post FLYING Magazine Announces 2025 Ultimate FLYING Giveaway appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Cessna P337G Skymaster.

Pilots who wish to step up to multiengine aircraft from high-performance piston singles have options that offer a range of improvements in safety and performance.

While many private pilots looking for a boost in power will find turboprop singles more attractive than piston twins, having the redundancy of a second engine under certain conditions still means a lot to cross-country travelers.

Cessna designed the Skymaster series of twins with centerline-mounted engines that avoid the challenges of asymmetric thrust that come into play when an engine fails on a traditional light twin. As with any unusual configuration, some people love the Skymaster’s styling, while others are less enthusiastic. I imagine fans of the 1988 film Bat*21 would be absolutely stoked to fly a Skymaster.

The pressurized, turbocharged version for sale here makes the most of the aircraft’s performance potential by enabling it to take advantage of greater cruising speeds and favorable winds available at higher altitudes. Pilots who travel regularly with passengers, especially family members, are well aware of the advantages of a pressurized cabin.

This 1973 Cessna Skymaster has 2,500 hours on the airframe, 800 hours on the front engine since overhaul, and 12 hours on the rear engine since overhaul. The aircraft is equipped with Continental TSIO-360 engines. The front propeller has 800 hours, and the rear propeller has 12 hours. 

The panel features dual King KX 155 Nav/Comms, King audio panel, intercom, transponder and HSI, S-Tec 60 autopilot, Garmin GPS, and JPI 760 engine monitor.

Pilots who are interested in the advantages of twin-engine aircraft for long-distance travel, including the ability to continue flying if one engine fails, should consider this 1973 Cessna P337G Skymaster, which is available for $120,000 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: Ampaire’s Hybrid Skymaster Completes First Public Flight
• FLYING Magazine: Smaller, Lighter Cessna 327 ‘Mini Skymaster’
• FLYING Magazine: Adam A500: First Flight
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 337
• Plane & Pilot: Twin Cessnas
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cessna Skymaster
• AVweb: Electric/Piston Skymaster Tested in Scotland

The post This 1973 Cessna P337G Skymaster Is a Push-Pull Pressurized ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The post EAA AirVenture 2024 in Photos appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1967 Beechcraft V35 Bonanza.

More than 75 years have passed since Beechcraft’s V-tail Bonanza entered the market, representing a swing toward all-metal modern design that would redefine the GA fleet.

The Bonanza was strikingly fast and efficient compared with other private aircraft of the late 1940s, making it an effective cross-country machine. The aircraft became a status symbol for well-to-do pilot owners and an object of desire throughout the aviation community.

The V-tails were popular for decades, so there are still many of them in the fleet, and they change hands regularly. There also is a significant range of condition and equipment levels among the Bonanzas operating today. The aircraft for sale here has a generously upgraded panel and received new paint in 2022 and a new interior in 2021.

This 1967 V35 has 3,519 hours on the airframe and 662 hours on its 285 hp Continental IO-520-BA engine. The new instrument panel features an Avidyne AMX-240 audio panel, Avidyne IFD-540, NGT-9000 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, Garmin GNC-255A Nav/Comm radio, Garmin GI-106B CDI, Aspen Avionics EFD-1000 PFD and MFD, S-Tec 20 autopilot, and Guardian Avionics 553 CO detector.

Pilots looking for a fast, capable four-place traveling aircraft with a combination of vintage styling and modern avionics should consider this 1967 Beechcraft V35 Bonanza, which is available for $229,000 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:Air Compare: Beechcraft A36 Bonanza vs. Bonanza V-tails
• FLYING Magazine: Used Airplane Report: Bonanza vs. Baron
• Plane & Pilot: Beechcraft Bonanza, 1947
• Plane & Pilot: Beechcraft V-35 V-Tail Bonanza
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Aztec
• AVweb: E-35 Bonanza Restoration

The post This 1967 Beechcraft V35 Bonanza Is a Timelessly Stylish ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2000 Quicksilver GT400.

Mentioning the Quicksilver name at a gathering of ultralight enthusiasts is a bit like talking with “traditional” pilots about Piper Cubs. Quicksilver airplanes are staples of the experimental and ultralight worlds.

They have been around for decades, and many adventurous pilots eager to get airborne on a tight budget have learned to fly in them. Some moved on to certified aircraft while others embraced ultralight culture, preferring what some consider a purer sensation of flight compared with the enclosed, insulated experience of piloting a mass-market piston single.

The Quicksilver GT400 model for sale here is considered a hot rod among ultralights, with impressive short-field performance and higher cruising speeds than typical designs in the category. While the aircraft is not designed for cross-country flights, you can travel long distances in it if you have the time and the will. 

This 2000 Quicksilver GT400 has 550 hours on the airframe and 120 hours since overhaul on its Rotax 503 dual-carburetor engine. The aircraft has basic instruments and, as is typical for this type, uses a hand-held radio for communications.

Pilots who have always wanted to try ultralights, or people who see them as an ideal pathway to learning to fly, should consider this 2000 Quicksilver GT400, which is available for $11,500 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: Quicksilver Plans Global Expansion, SLSA Certification
• FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Quicksilver Sport 2SE
• FLYING Magazine: Quicksilver Sport S2SE Gains Approval
• Plane & Pilot: Quicksilver Adds 5 Aircraft to FAA Kit List
• Plane & Pilot: 50 Years With No Crashes…and 25 of Them in a Quick!
• KITPLANES: Capturing Air-to-Air Shots
• AVweb: Quicksilver Aircraft ‘Reorganizing’

The post This 2000 Quicksilver GT400 Is a Well-Tested ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1996 Aero Commander 114TC.

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out why certain decades-old aircraft failed to thrive on the GA market when they were new. This is especially so when those airplanes seem almost perfect today.

“Perfect” might be a slight exaggeration in the Commander 114’s case, though owners will tell you it has no real competition. If this assessment sounds familiar, it is probably because many owners say the same thing about their particular brand of airplane.

Let’s sort out the real from the imagined regarding Commanders.

Rockwell, known for military aircraft, developed the Commander during the 1960s general aviation boom as a way to tap the civilian market. The initial model, called the Commander 112, was underpowered, and the later 114 fixed that problem, though cruising speed never quite matched certain competing singles such as the Beechcraft Bonanza. Yet for most pilots moving up from modest fixed-gear trainers, the Commander brings a major speed upgrade.

The turbocharged 1996 Commander for sale here offers another bump in performance over the naturally aspirated versions. With the turbo maintaining sea-level manifold pressure as altitude increases, the 114TC can reach faster cruise speeds at higher altitudes. Many pilots prefer the flexibility that turbocharging offers. 

This 1996 Commander 114TC has 1,204 hours on the airframe, Lycoming TIO-540-AG1A engine, and McCauley B3D3C419 propeller. The aircraft features factory air conditioning and a four-place oxygen system. It has a useful load of 942 pounds. 

The panel includes a Garmin GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Comm, Bendix/King KX 155 Nav/Comm, PMA 8000BTI audio panel, Bendix/King KFC 200 autopilot, KN 64 DME, KR 87 ADF, Garmin GPSMAP 696, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, EI CGR-30P primary engine monitor, Flight Stream 210, HSI, Insight Stormscope, and dual vacuum pumps.

Pilots interested in a roomy, comfortable aircraft that will make family members happy to embark on long trips together should consider this 1996 Aero Commander 114TC, which is available for $264,900 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: New Power to the Commander
• FLYING Magazine: New Fly-In Rentals Offer Open Door to Canada’s Napa Valley
• Plane & Pilot: Rockwell Commander 112/112TC
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Commander Singles
• The Aviation Consumer: Commander 114TC
• AVweb: Commander Rises Again

The post This 1996 Commander 114TC Is a Passenger-Friendly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.