30 Cheap Airplanes Most Private Pilots Can Buy

Before you start looking for a plane, it’s important to be clear about what you’re going to use it for. You might want a used Cirrus SR22, but if your most common trips are going to be 400 miles or less, then you’d probably do just as well with a used, lower-cost and lower-upkeep model like an older Mooney M20 that will get you to your 250-mile destination a little later and with less room, but for pennies on the dollar. With that being said, let us look at the cheapest airplanes on the used market today.
Before you decide to buy any of the planes listed here, first, remember that buying an airplane is only part of the cost of owning a plane. How much fuel it burns and how expensive it will be to maintain are equally important factors to consider. Also, consider how readily available the parts are. Finally, consider the condition of the plane you are buying. If you were to get a plane with unknown or unrevealed problems, you could spend some money on getting it into perfect condition. The engine and prop are a critical part of that calculation. The flip side is that if you’re willing to fly a plane with older paint and a less-than-chic interior, you could save a huge percentage of the purchase price because of factors not directly related to the flyability or mechanical soundness of the plane.

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[donadams]

Lesson #1: There is no such thing as a cheap airplane.

[ruten]

I bought a piper cherokee 235 in 1973 for $24, 000 and I would highly recommend it. This PA-28-235 was full IFR with King radios and xponder as well as other add on instruments. Autopilot was updated to three position and connected to the Nav Com system with the switch gear to fly to the next place and switch to the next VOR. The ADF was old but I enjoyed listening to radio stations while flying. This air rat has a great load ability and many time I would fly by myself and had plenty of power, fuels with tip tanks gave me seven hours of flying time. Usually my bladder breaks came long before I needed fuel. I added a high performance kit including new wheel pants and panels giving me about 15 knots more speed. Great airplane and very powerful even in the mountains. Safe and cheap to fly, with lycoming engine . Oil changes and filter every 25 hours flying time . Always hangared.

[larryarevaloproudfoot]

I owned a Piper PA-28R - 200 Hp Arrow II, for 30 years and 4.200 hrs. Love it all those years. Heavy lifter, nice speed, low maintenance, nice interior space and good in everything !! I miss it a lot. Buy it at 29 years old and sold it at 60 yo. Super family plane and a nice big cargo door. . . Sorry it is not in your video. Strongly recommend it !!

[johnpro]

I am in a syndicate with 14 ..sounds a lot but most don't fly very often and the costs divided by 14 makes aircraft ownership fairly affordable without the financial stress.

[evanwindom]

Almost 30 years ago I bought a Cessna 172 XPII, with 210hp and six cylinders. Great climber, easy to fly. Paid under $60k. Comparable A/C on the used market today are priced above $150K.

[JWells-mzjr]

You own a "cheap" a/c for the pure pleasure of going whenever you want. I have owned a 1957 Piper Tti-Pacer for almost 50 years. I'm never happier than when I am just cruising around the neighborhood. It cost me $7500.

[karrpilot]

What you didn't mention was an aircraft ownership study that the AOPA recently did. In said study, they claimed that if one wasn't flying at least 75? hours a year, one should look into the other options. Renter, partial ownership, club, etc. I am a FBO rental pilot myself. I was in a club years ago, and found it too clique for me. I thought about a partnership, but I have seen far too many go south. And since my work schedule is crazy at times, and my low hours a year, it's best for me to stay an FBO rental.

[richardiredale]

I got my IFR training from an old guy who retired from a career at the Rand Corporation (Santa Monica), a think tank. He told me he would never teach in a Tomahawk again after years earlier doing primary flight training in one and showing his student how to spin recover. Spin one way, recover, great. Spin the other way, recovery technique, hmmm... Plane won't come out of the spin. Do it again. Then again. This is not good.  

Finally he had the inspiration to move both seats full forward and to both lean forward as far as possible. Yes! Plane recovers.

But the instructor was shaken, and never taught in a Tomahawk again.

As an aside, he said to me, "Go rent one and practice stalls, then do stalls while looking behind. You'll see the T-tail shaking significantly back and forth. Not comforting."

My instructor has since passed on, but he was an excellent and cautious pilot, and I think he gave me lots of wonderful advice.

[JayP-rrot]

After flying the DA 20 for a couple years as an instructor I will say this. It is not the most comfortable plane to fly due to its fixed carbon bucket seat. It is very underpowered and little to no payload available. However it is “cheap” enough to have as a weekend toy.

[mobile-torz]

Early Ercoupe were fabric wings until Forney bought the company and went with aluminum wing covering. (F-1). Also there were rudders on all Ercoupe, just a lack of control pedals on the earlier versions. Per Wiki - " A two-control system linked the rudder and aileron systems, which controlled yaw and roll, with the steerable nose wheel. A completely new category of pilot's license was created by the CAA for Ercoupe pilots who had never used a rudder pedal."

[wagnergitirana]

$60, 000 to $80, 000 dollars are still very expensive for Cub type of planes .
I flew feel times the AA-5 Grumman Cheetah and I was very satisfied; it’s a fast plane . My always favorites are the low wing Piper family, from Warriors to Arrows !

[SoloRenegade]

Define affordable. Most people struggle to afford flight training and enough money to rent/fly often enough to stay proficient.

Taildraggers: consider cost of insurance and training

[bobgarney]

Have over 40 years flying experience and flying is not cheap by anybody's standards. When I retired had to sell my Comanche. Just couldn't keep up with the rising costs.

[benclark]

Ultralights are great if you live in a relatively low wind area and you like watching the scenery, and they really are about as cheap as you can get into powered flight. Got to fool around with one at my in-law's ranch in southern AZ, definitely what those critters are made for. Plus realistically if you can drive a car with a stick or ride a motorcycle, ie you are capable of operating a vehicle that requires you to do more than 1 thing at a time, you can probably fly an ultralight.

Should also mention in the video that LSA/Sport Pilot requirements make those types a little more economical from personal/logistical perspectives unless you want to carry more than 1 passenger or fly at night...

[enclave]

I’m based out of Austin, Texas where hangars are $600+ if you are lucky enough to get one. The cost of the airplane might be ok, but the hangar makes it prohibitively expensive, so a club was a great solution for me.

[josephkaminski]

This Video has a still photo of a Rockwell 112A, and you don't even talk about it !!!. Sick because it is without doubt Probably the best-looking plane ever made, with super seating room, two DOORS and respectable performance if you have the three-blade prop. very strong well made plane, built by the largest commercial plane builder to even make a small private plane, Rockwell international.

[Flywithjon]

As a pilot myself…. 80% of these prices are wrong. A Beechcraft bonanza… yea you can get one for 100k…. With no paint, wings detached and landing gear shot and no aviaonics. A bonanza nowadays cost well over $300, 000

[amandafisher]

No coverage of the Rockwell Commander on the thumbnail? I was disappointed, that's my clsic plane of choice, and there is so little out there on them! Really neat, unique planes.

[StardustADV]

The Cessna 175 is one of my dream planes, I want to get one after I get my lisence

[christopherpaull]

Nice video saw some negative comments, but the overall video was fun to watch been flying for 38+ years and flown 12 of the airplanes shown the prices may vary and upkeep on anything complex is expensive with over 5500 in private planes owning one is not always the best option when you can rent especially if you just going to be an occasional flyer, flew my C150 everywhere then got a 172 at a good price and just sold it last year due to vision issues will miss it greatly. All depends how far you want to make you hobby go I have friends who play hockey and spend more money in their hobby than I ever did on my planes, just saying .