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.

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.

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.

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
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• 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.

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 
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Apache
• 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 1969 Cessna 180H Skywagon.

While amphibious floats are an ingenious development, many seaplane traditionalists will tell you that straight floats are the way to go because they force a pilot to focus on water operations, stop thinking about paved runways, and fully embrace the seaplane experience. While floats that work only in water might seem restrictive, they also provide a special brand of freedom.

Knowing that you have to land on water plays a big part in how you plan trips and where you wind up going, though one can argue that seaplane bases are similar to airports in that you can pick up rental cars there and cover the last few miles to your destination just as if you had landed on tarmac. The big difference lies in all of the places you can visit that are not bases at all but beaches, sandbars, and wharfs. Just about any spot with a dock will work, though you certainly do not need that much infrastructure to pull off seaplane sorties. Clear beaches and mooring rope usually will do the trick.  

This 1969 Cessna 180H has 5,400 hours on the airframe and 550 hours on its Continental O-470R engine since overhaul. The 88-inch McCauley propeller has logged 138 hours since new. The panel features an iPad mount, Stratus transponder and ADS-B, and integrated WAAS interface kit for traffic and weather.

Additional equipment includes a seaplane exhaust, Brackett air filter, oil quick drain, Rosen visors til pull handles, and new paint, interior and windshield in 2019. The aircraft comes with standard wheel landing gear, Edo 2870 floats, and Federal 2500 skis.

Pilots interested in exploring lake country, attending seaplane fly-ins, and accessing a new list of interesting places should consider this 1969 Cessna 180H Skywagon, which is available for $249,900 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: Are Seaplanes the Fastest Way From New York to Boston?
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Voyager Propeller Approved for Cessna 180s
• FLYING Magazine: Hartzell Scimitar Prop Approved for Cessna 180 and 182
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 180 Skywagon
• The Aviation Consumer: Choosing a Floatplane: What’s a Good One?
• The Aviation Consumer: Seaplane Transitions: ’Tis the Season

The post This 1969 Cessna 180H Skywagon Is an Adventure-Seeking ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2007 Schweizer 300C.

The tiny Bell 47 helicopter might have been good enough to earn a place in the collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, but more people might recognize the Hughes 300, developed a decade later and used for a range of missions, including flight training, police patrol, traffic reporting, and agricultural work.

Its rounded fuselage and distinct oval-shaped side windows have become familiar over more than 60 years since the model’s commercial introduction in the early 1960s.

Schweizer, known for manufacturing a range of gliders, began building the helicopter under license from Hughes in the early 1980s and later acquired the rights and FAA type certificate for the aircraft, which became the Schweizer 300.

The later model 300C for sale here is well-suited for duty as a reliable, economical training helicopter or personal transport machine. Its familiar piston engine and traditional construction make it easy to maintain compared with larger, more complex turbine models.

This 2007 Schweizer 300C, also called a 269C, has 2,196 hours on the airframe and 144 hours on its Lycoming HIO-360-D1A engine. The aircraft’s empty weight is 1,233 pounds and its maximum takeoff weight totals 2,050 pounds. Useful load is 817 pounds.

The panel includes Garmin Aera 660, King KX 155 Nav/Comm, Garmin GTX 327 transponder, GDL 82 ADS-B Out, GDL 50 ADS-B In, and PS Engineering PM1000 intercom. The aircraft comes with two Lightspeed Zulu headsets with Bluetooth and active noise reduction.

Pilots looking for a basic, economical two-seat helicopter with modern equipment and vintage appeal should consider this 2007 Schweizer 269C, which is available for $250,000 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: Schweizer Finishes First Factory Refreshed S300CBi Helicopter
• FLYING Magazine: Schweizer S-300 Production to Resume After Sale by Sikorsky
• FLYING Magazine: Schweizer Receives FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certificate
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Robinson R22
• The Aviation Consumer: Can Workhorse Reinvent the Helicopter?
• AVweb: Schweizer Aircraft Acquired by Sikorsky

The post This 2007 Schweizer Is a Classic, Rotor-Wing ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.