How much does a single-engine airplane cost?

Used single-engine piston aircraft range from $18K for a basic Cessna 150 to $700K+ for a new Cirrus SR22T. The most popular models — Cessna 172 Skyhawk ($50K-$150K), Piper Cherokee ($40K-$100K), and Cessna 182 Skylane ($80K-$200K) — offer the best balance of price and capability. Glass cockpit aircraft command a $30K-$80K premium over steam gauge versions.

What is the best first airplane to buy?

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most popular first airplane — forgiving handling, low operating costs ($100-$140/hr), widely available parts and training. A good used Cessna 172 costs $50K-$120K. The Piper Cherokee PA-28 ($40K-$90K) and Diamond DA40 ($120K-$220K) are also excellent choices for new owners looking for reliable, easy-to-fly aircraft.

How much does it cost to own a small airplane?

Budget $12,000-$25,000 per year at 100 flight hours, including fuel ($4,500-$7,000 at $6/gal), hangar ($2,400-$6,000 depending on region), insurance ($1,500-$3,000), annual inspection ($1,500-$3,000), and maintenance reserves ($2,000-$5,000). Total hourly cost works out to $120-$250/hr depending on the aircraft type and how much you fly.

What is the cheapest airplane to buy and fly?

The cheapest airplanes to buy are Cessna 150/152 trainers ($18K-$45K) and older Piper Cherokee 140 models ($25K-$50K). Operating costs run $80-$120/hr. For a four-seater, the Cessna 172 offers the lowest total cost of ownership. Luscombe, Aeronca Champ, and Piper J-3 Cub are even cheaper to operate but carry only two people.

Single engine piston vs. multi engine — which should I buy?

For most private owners, a single-engine piston offers lower purchase price (50-70% less), lower operating costs (single engine overhaul vs. two), lower insurance, and simpler maintenance. Multi-engine aircraft provide engine redundancy but require a multi-engine rating and have higher total costs. A Cirrus SR22 with CAPS parachute offers comparable safety to a light twin at half the operating cost.

CESSNA Single Engine Piston for Sale

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Category

Airplanes

Single Engine Piston 5719 Multi Engine Piston 977 Single Engine Turboprop 531 Multi Engine Turboprop 503 Experimental / Homebuilt 436 Light Sport 679 Warbirds & Military 172

Jets

Very Light Jet 358 Light Jet 799 Midsize Jet 360 Super-Midsize Jet 236 Large Cabin Jet 421 Ultra-Long Range Jet 143 Airliners 49

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182 (499)

182T 100 182 80 182P 69 182Q 45 T182T 28 182S 20 182R 17 T182 12 182K 12 182RG 11 R182 11 TR182 10 TR182RG 10 182A 9 182C 7 182H 6 182L 6 182E 6 182D 6 182M 5 182J 5 182F 4 T182RG 3 182T Skylane 3 182B 3 182G 3 T182R 2 FR182 1 R182RG 1 182Q SKYLANE 1 182P SKYLANE 1 182N 1 182 Skylane T 1

172 (430)

172 126 172N 57 172M 45 172S 34 R172 Hawk XP 33 172RG Cutlass 25 172R 18 172G 15 172P 14 172L 11 172K 11 172H 10 172F 7 172B 6 172E 6 172D 3 172C 3 172I 2 172A 2 P172D 1 172-180 HP 1

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210 (177)

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T206H 69 206H 19 U206G 9 U206F 7 206 7 T206 6 205 6 TU206G 6 207 5 T207 5 TU206 5 U206 5 P206 3 TU206H 2 206G 2 TP206C 1 TU206A 1 TU206F 1 Turbine Cessna 206 1 U206H 1

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150 (142)

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421 (84)

421C 63 421B 14 421 7

340 (82)

340A 66 340 16

Caravan (74)

Caravan 208B Grand 44 Caravan 208 27 F406 Caravan II 1 Caravan II 406 - Vigilant 1 Caravan II 406 – Vigilant 1

177 (71)

177 32 177RG 26 177B 10 177A 3

185 (68)

A185F 26 185 14 185F 14 185E 5 185A 3 A185E 2 A185 1 A185FA 1 185D 1 185-550 1

400 (62)

400 32 TTx 19 350 10 Ttx 1

152 (60)

152 58 152 Aerobat 2

180 (50)

180 27 180H 9 180J 4 180K 4 180A 2 180G 1 180F 1 180E 1 180C 1

310 (48)

310R 9 310Q 7 T310R 5 310L 4 310I 3 T310Q 3 310P 3 310F 3 310D 2 310K 2 310H 2 T310P 2 310N 1 310J 1 300 1

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Citation Sovereign 35 Citation Latitude 9 Citation Longitude 2

414 (41)

414A 24 414 16 414AW 1

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Conquest I 13 Conquest II 10

337 (23)

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170 (18)

170B 10 170 6 170A 2

140 (14)

140 10 120 4

175 (12)

175 9 175A 2 175C 1

195 (10)

195 5 165 2 195B 1 195A 1 190 1 404 6 335 6 T303 5

320 (5)

320D 2 320E 2 320 1 V 4 162 4 182 T 4 Citation 510 Mustang 4

402 (4)

402B 3 402C 1

F-172 (3)

F-172 Skyhawk P 2 F-172 Skyhawk E 1

188 (3)

T188C 1 A188A 1 188B 1 235 2 Turbo Skylane T182T 2 408 SkyCourier 2 360 2

172-RG (2)

172-RG Cutlass G5 1 172-RG Cutlass 1 F-172 N Tdi 1 L19 305C BIRD DOG 1 Legacy 2xG3X 1 O-2A 1 Phenom 100 1 172N Skywhawk 1 T206H Turbo Stationair HD 1 172 P 1 172 N CD135 G3XI 1 172 K 1 172 G 1 TR182 Skylane 1 TU-206 Turbo Stationair 1 TU206E 1 TURBO 210F 1 U-206 Stationair G Skydive 1 P-337 Pressurized Skymaster 1 4-P 1 411 1 310, Fast, Safe, Smoke! 1 421-C Golden Eagle 1 421-C Golden Eagle G600 1 305/L-19 Bird Dog 1 560XL Citation XLS+ 1 A-37B 1 Airlony v.5 Skylane 1 Beautiful 1979 TU206G 1 C177B Cessna 177 Cardinal 1 Cessa 172C Skyhawk 1 150 G 1 Citation 550 1 208 Caravan SN 20800576 1 182k, New Paint, Nice!! 1 Corvalis 350 1 F-152 G5 1 F-172 K CD135 G3XI 1 F-172 N CD135 G3XI 1

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