Today’s Top Pick is a 1984 SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon.

Many pilots dream about flying the hottest fighters from World War II, such as North American P-51 Mustangs and Vought F4U Corsairs.

But those increasingly rare aircraft are extremely complex and expensive to maintain—and not all that easy to fly. Those are among the factors that have made military trainers so popular.

Aircraft such as the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor, North American AT-6 Texan, Boeing Stearman PT-17, and Epsilon for sale here allow pilots an opportunity to fly vintage military iron without breaking their budgets. Flying aircraft in this category is within the capabilities of many private pilots, though still demanding enough to be exciting.

They generally offer more impressive performance than standard aircraft and are strengthened to handle aerobatic flight and combat-style maneuvers. Among the military trainers available, the Epsilon is closer than most to familiar GA designs, making it more approachable while still somewhat exotic.   

This 1984 TB-30 Epsilon has 4,755 hours on the airframe, 1,203 hours since overhaul on its engine, and 737 hours on the propeller. The panel features a Garmin G5 EFIS with backup battery, Garmin GNX 375 GPS, GA 35 WAAS antenna, GAD 29 interface unit, and Garmin 660 in the rear cockpit. 

Pilots seeking a taste of military flight training in an airplane that is fit for long-distance travel should consider this 1984 SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon, which is available for $356,000 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: Tunisian Air Force Takes Delivery of T-6C Texan II Integrated Trainers
• FLYING Magazine: Genesys Aerosystems Pursues STC for Military Trainers
• FLYING Magazine: U.K. Military Expands Fleet With Beechcraft and Embraer Aircraft
• Plane & Pilot: TB-30 Epsilon Flight Keeps Pilot Hooked on Flying
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Pillán: A Saratoga With ‘Top Gun’ Dreams
• Plane & Pilot: Flying in the Alps

The post This 1984 SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon Is a Military-Spec ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

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 1983 Piper PA-32R-301T Turbo Saratoga.

A friend and former Piper Saratoga owner used to say it’s the best airplane for family trips. What he meant, I believe, is that it reminded him most of a large, comfortable car or SUV. “Turn on the autopilot, put your feet up and forget it,” he said.

Of course, he was exaggerating, and you would never take such a casual approach to flying. At the same time, most of us know what he is talking about. The Saratoga is a big, stable and user-friendly aircraft that loves to take the straight-and-level route to your favorite destinations.

The Saratoga evolved from the fixed-gear Cherokee Six and retractable Lance, both of which are versions of the PA-32 airframe. Several key features came together in the later Saratoga, including club seating for rear passengers, a 300 hp engine, and a partially tapered wing that performed better than the constant-chord “Hershey Bar” wing on the Lance and Six.

The aircraft for sale here adds the benefits of turbocharging, which allows the airplane to fly at higher altitudes while losing less power than a naturally aspirated engine. On long trips, the extra speed and favorable wind conditions available up high can cut travel time significantly.  

This 1983 Turbo Saratoga has 5,610 hours on the airframe and 910 hours on its 300 hp Lycoming TIO-540-SiAD engine since overhaul. Its Hartzell three-blade propeller has also logged 910 hours since overhaul.

The panel includes a Garmin GNS 430 WAAS, Garmin G5 HSI, Garmin GDL 88 ADS-B receiver, GTX 330ES transponder, PS Engineering 1000 II intercom, King KMA 24 audio panel, KNS 80 RNAV/DME, KY 197 Comm, King FCS function board, KFC 200 autopilot, 3M WX-10A Stormscope, JPI EDM-700 engine monitor, digital tachometer, and Aerospace Logic fuel gauges.

Additional equipment includes LoPresti gear door speed mod, Knots 2 U gap seals, LED landing light, Reiff engine preheater, factory air conditioning, built-in oxygen system, and Rosen visors.

Pilots seeking a piston single with six seats as they cross-shop Beechcraft Bonanzas and Cessna 210s should make a point of checking out this 1983 Piper PA-32R-301T Turbo Saratoga, which is available for $249,000 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: Piper Lance vs. Saratoga
• FLYING Magazine: Piper Saratoga Avionics Install: Part 1
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Saratoga II TC: It’s All About Comfort
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Pillán: A Saratoga With Top Gun Dreams
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Saratoga/Lance
• The Aviation Consumer: Six-Place Shootout
• AVweb: Intercoolers: Turbo Enhancement

The post This 1983 Piper PA-32R-301T Turbo Saratoga Is a Long-Haul ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe.

Fred Weick, an airmail pilot, aircraft designer, and engineer who also helped advance early airmail operations, left his fingerprints on a number of famously safe and reliable airplanes, including the Piper PA-28. Before that, though, he designed the Ercoupe, which used simplified controls and limited control-surface movement to help keep pilots from losing control of their aircraft.

The Ercoupe reflects many lessons learned from an experimental Weick design called the W-1. The W-1 and W-1A tested several safety features, ranging from reduced pitch control to tricycle landing gear. The Ercoupe followed and was marketed as a “safety airplane” with extremely forgiving flight characteristics.

The aircraft’s reluctance to depart controlled flight made it popular among flight students and casual aviators looking for a safe, easy-to-fly airplane. The endearing Ercoupe has a devoted following among owners who continue to fly and maintain them. Owning an aircraft like this opens a door into an interesting chapter of aviation history.  

This 1946 Ercoupe has 2,264 hours on the airframe and 785 hours on its Continental C-75 engine. The VFR panel includes the most basic instruments, such as a compass, altimeter, airspeed and engine rpm and oil pressure and temperature gauges. The aircraft also carries a trig comm radio and a non-ADS-B transponder. 

Pilots with solid pilotage navigation skills, or tablets in their laps, who seek a traditional 1940s-style general aviation experience should consider this 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe, which is available for $28,750 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: Approachable Aircraft: Ercoupe
• FLYING Magazine: Hawaii Lessons in an Ercoupe
• FLYING Magazine: The Process of Obtaining a Medical Certificate
• Plane & Pilot: Ercoupe, Aircoupe
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Ercoupe and Cadet
• The Aviation Consumer: Legacy LSAs: Champ Is a Top Value

The post This 1946 ERCO 415-C Ercoupe Is an Easy-to-Fly ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2008 Eclipse 500.

During the early 2000s a number of aircraft companies were busy developing small jets, often called very light lets (VLJs) that were aimed largely at pilot-owners who were expected to use them as personal aircraft.

Part of the industry segment’s strategy included giving customers the realistic expectation that they could save travel time by flying their own small jets. Eclipse was generating lots of excitement in the general aviation market, which  veteran journalist and author James Fallows covered in his 2002 book, Free Flight: Inventing the Future of Travel.

The economic downturn of 2008 and 2009 was poorly timed for Eclipse and slowed production of the aircraft. The small jet, however, developed a following including pilots who have acquired them on the used market. If you have dreamed of owning a personal jet and are particular about aircraft styling, the Eclipse 500 could be the right airplane for you.

This 2008 Eclipse 500 has 1,052 hours on the airframe and on its two Pratt & Whitney PW610F engines. Its panel features an Integrated Flight Management System v2.08 from IS&S Standard with dual PFDs, one 15-inch MFD, color weather radar, Sirius XM Downlink Weather, geo-referenced Jeppesen approach plates, and fully coupled autopilot.

Additional equipment includes a BEI Gold engine management program, FIKI, 110-volt power outlets, 40-cubic-foot oxygen tank, Skywatch traffic alert system, Class B TAWS, Iridium satellite telephone, and air conditioning.

Pilots who saw the Eclipse’s potential when, more than a decade ago, it helped form the wave of VLJs preparing to enter the market should consider this 2008 Eclipse 500, which is available for $1.4 million 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: We Fly: One Aviation Eclipse 550
• FLYING Magazine: FAA Approves Structural Life Limit Increase for Eclipse 500/550
• FLYING Magazine: Eclipse 500 Avionics Upgrade Sells Out
• FLYING Magazine: First New-Build Eclipse 550 to Appear at NBAA Show
• Plane & Pilot: Eclipse 550
• Plane & Pilot: New Eclipse Jet in the Works
• AVweb: AEROCOR Logs 150th Eclipse 500 Training Event

The post This 2008 Eclipse 500 Is a VLJ Pioneer and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1942 Noorduyn Norseman UC-64A.

If you think the Noorduyn Norseman looks a lot like a de Havilland DCH-2 Beaver, you are not alone. The similarities make sense because the two aircraft were designed to handle the demands of air transport in the Canadian backcountry as well as military duty.

Each has a big Pratt & Whitney radial engine in front, supplying the excess of power needed to lift heavy loads from short, rough fields and deliver vital supplies across the sparsely populated stretches of territory that characterize northern Canada. The Norseman, though, made its first flight during the mid-1930s, about a dozen years before the Beaver’s arrival.

While the Norseman was fortified to perform in arctic regions, it would be a fun, effective way to travel today, especially for a large, outdoorsy family that might otherwise choose a recreational vehicle for vacation transport. Imagine the sensation this aircraft would cause parked on the ramp of Massachusetts’ Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK) among the modern jets and turboprops.

This 1942 Noorduyn Norseman has 13,250 hours on the airframe and 625 hours on its Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1562 engine since overhaul. The panel features a Narco Comm-811 transceiver, King KT 76A transponder, Narco AR-850 encoder, NAT AA-80 intercom, and Garmin 296 GPS map.

Additional equipment includes Federal hydraulic metal skis, a throw-over yoke, Davtron digital outside temperature and leading edge landing lights, taxi lights, and strobes.

Pilots interested in antique aircraft that remain versatile, utilitarian, and practical by modern standards should take a look at this 1942 Noorduyn Norseman, which is available for $195,000 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: Building the Dream Beaver for Generations
• Plane & Pilot: Noorduyn Norseman (C.C.F.)
• AVweb: Summer’s Over; Go Home
• The Aviation Consumer: Off the Beaten Path: Vintage Aircraft
• The Aviation Consumer: Antiques and Classics: Owning and Operating

The post This 1942 Noorduyn Norseman Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick Tested in the Canadian Backcountry appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1981 Cessna T210N Centurion.

After recently featuring the six-seat Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, we decided to follow with that airplane’s close rival from Cessna.

In head-to-head competition the two are very close, with the buyer’s decision often determined by small details, such as a preference for high-wing aircraft over low-wing models, or club seating instead of all seats facing forward. For many pilots, though, the Cessna 210, especially the turbocharged models, offer an attractive combination of cruising speed, load-lifting capability, and short-field performance.

The 210 is an especially pleasant airplane for long cross-country trips with family and friends because of its roomy cabin and smooth, stable flight characteristics. For pilots who trained in Cessna 172 or 152s, the larger 210 will feel familiar enough to make checkout flights less intimidating. The aircraft has a strong community of owners, clubs, and maintenance shops supporting it in addition to the factory, so finding parts and service to keep these impressive birds in the air is not difficult. 

This 1981 Cessna T210N has 5,386 hours on the airframe and 286 hours on its 310 hp Continental TSIO-520-R engine and McCauley C290D4-J/T2 propeller. The aircraft carries 90 gallons of usable fuel and has had the same owner since new.

The panel features dual King KY 196 radios, King KR 87 ADF, KT 76A transponder, KMA 28 audio panel, S-Tec 50 autopilot, King KNS 80 HSI, King DME, Garmin GDL 82 ADS-B, Sadin fuel flow monitor, and vertical card compass. 

Additional equipment includes a six-place intercom and oxygen system, strobes on the wing tips and tail, cabin courtesy lights, Rosen sun visors, auxiliary avionics cooling fan, CHT and EGT probes on all six cylinders, standby alternator and vacuum pump, and Cleveland wheels and brakes.

Travelers who have outgrown typical four-place retractables and truly can make use of another pair of seats should consider this 1981 Cessna T210N Centurion, which is available for $249,000 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: FLYING’s Air Compare: Cessna 206 vs. Cessna 210
• FLYING Magazine: Panel Planner 101 Live: Cessna T210 Avionics Upgrade
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 210 Centurion
• Plane & Pilot: Cessna 210 Silver Eagle by O&N Aircraft Modifications
• The Aviation Consumer: Cessna 210
• The Aviation Consumer: Cessna Pressurized 210

The post This 1981 T210N Centurion Is One Fast Cessna and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1983 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza

Beechcraft Bonanzas have been desirable personal aircraft since the model’s introduction in 1947. Their reputation for performance, styling, and overall high quality kept the four-place retractables at the top of the general aviation market for decades.

By the mid-1960s, though, Piper’s PA-32 Cherokee Six and Cessna’s 206, both utilitarian six-seat piston singles, clearly were drawing potential customers away from Beechcraft.

To counter the competition, Beechcraft stretched the fuselage of its Model 33 Debonair, also called a “straight tail” Bonanza, to accommodate six seats. This version, the Model 36 Bonanza, went on sale for 1968, the same year Beechcraft officially renamed the Debonair the E33 Bonanza.

The 36, later the A36, had double doors on the right side designed to ease cargo loading. Remember, this was marketed as a utility aircraft. The doors also made it easy for passengers to access the rear seats, so buyers soon began requesting posh interiors and other equipment to fine-tune the aircraft for passenger comfort.

Optional club seating quickly became standard, and the A36 took its long-held position as what many consider the standard bearer of the piston single market.

This 1983 A36 Bonanza has 3,893 hours on the airframe, 1,357 hours on its 285 hp Continental IO-520-BB engine, and 684 hours on its McCauley propeller. The engine underwent a top overhaul with new Millennium cylinders 42 hours ago. 

The panel includes dual Aspen Evolution 1000 flight displays, Aspen EFD, RC Allen backup attitude indicator, Garmin 530W, Garmin 430W, PS Engineering audio panel with Bluetooth, JPI EDM 930 engine monitor, Trig TT31 transponder, ADS-B In and Out, KFC 200 autopilot, and Flightstream 210 iPad interface.

Additional equipment includes a standby alternator, Rosen visors, and an LED landing light.

Pilots looking for a high-performance retractable piston single with the flexibility of a family-friendly, six-seat cabin should consider this 1983 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, which is available for $299,000 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: Finding Your Ideal Aircraft: Focus on the Mission, Especially When It Changes
• FLYING Magazine: ABS Air Safety Foundation Announces the BEST in Beechcraft Pilot Training
• Plane & Pilot: Beechcraft A36/A36TC/B36TC Bonanza
• The Aviation Consumer: Aircraft Review: Beechcraft Bonanza 36
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Beech Bonanza 36
• AVweb: Xerion Gets STC For Bonanza Engine Monitors

The post This 1983 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza Is a Family-Hauling ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1941 Boeing​/​Stearman A75N1.

When people think of biplanes, World War I fighters and other small, fragile, lightweight, and underpowered machines often come to mind. The Boeing Stearman, however, is in a different category.

It is rugged, surprisingly large and has enough power to make flying an adventure and a joy. There is nothing quite like flying a Stearman low over a Northeastern forest during autumn, when the changing foliage is at its best, or touching down gracefully on a grass strip after a day of visiting distant airports.

While the Stearman is a charismatic antique that commands attention at just about any airport, it is not especially rare, so there are many opportunities to own one in today’s market. And while few airplanes are truly inexpensive, the Stearman is among the more affordable flying collectibles.

They still serve as great trainers as well, especially for those aspiring to fly high-performance warbirds. Just like the Army Air Corps trainees of the 1940s, civilian pilots who master a Stearman today can be ready to take the next training step toward fast piston fighters like the P-51 Mustang.  

This 1941 Stearman has 5,816 hours on the airframe and 629 on its Continental W670 radial engine since overhaul. The aircraft is covered with Ceconite and was last painted in 1987. The VFR panel includes a 720-channel comm radio, Isocom intercom and traditional analog instruments.

Pilots who wish to sample what military flight cadets experienced during World War II, or simply seek the pleasure of flying a handsome vintage biplane, should consider this 1941 Boeing/Stearman, which is available for $71,500 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: Restoration Nation: The Stearman Next Door
• FLYING Magazine: Taking Wing: Stearman Patrol
• FLYING Magazine: Stearman Takes Chicago-Area Vets on a Nostalgic Flight
• The Aviation Consumer: Buying the Old Ones: Homework Mandatory
• The Aviation Consumer: Antiques and Classics: Owning and Operating
• AVweb: Pilot Completes U.K.-Australia Stearman Flight

The post This 1941 Boeing/Stearman A75N1 Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ With Military History appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1968 Beechcraft E95 Travel Air.

It is safe to say that many, if not most, piston-single pilots at some point consider the prospect of flying a light twin. Many decide against it because of the added expense, complexity, training requirements, or because their typical missions would not benefit much from a second engine.

In some cases, though, such as when pilots regularly make long flights over water, mountainous terrain or at night, a light twin offers a significant measure of safety and flexibility. In a word, a twin gives the pilot options.

The Beechcraft Travel Air occupies a sweet spot between more powerful twins like the Cessna 310 and models like the Piper Apache, which can struggle to stay aloft on a single engine.

While burning just a bit more fuel than a high-performance piston single and offering easier single-engine handling than some other twins, the Travel Air makes a good case for people who use their aircraft for serious travel. It is fast enough and carries enough of a load to get a family of four or five to their destination sooner and safer than a single. 

This 1968 Travel Air has 4,099 hours on the airframe, 110 hours on each of its Lycoming IO-360 engines with 101 hours on the right propeller since overhaul and seven hours on the left. The aircraft is equipped with RayJay turbo-normalizing systems and hot props for de-icing. Its fuel capacity is 104 gallons and useful load totals 1,178 pounds. Other features include vortex generators and Brackett air filters. 

The panel includes an Aspen Evolution EFD 1000 PFD, Garmin G5 HSI, Apollo SL 15 audio panel and SL 30 digital Comm radio, Garmin GMX 200 MFD, Garmin GNS 430 WAAS GPS/Nav/Comm, Garmin Gi 208 glide slope/VOR/localizer indicator, King KR 87 ADF, Garmin GTX 330 transponder with traffic, Stormscope, angle of attack indicator, S-Tec 60-2 autopilot, EDM 700 engine monitor, and Collins microline digital DME.

Pilots looking for a light twin with performance, economy and practicality that make it an ideal personal transport, should consider this 1968 Beechcraft E95 Travel Air, which is available for $159,000 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: Things to Think About When Moving Up to a Light Twin
• FLYING Magazine: Wrong Worry in Twins Versus Singles
• Plane & Pilot: Beech Travel Air
• The Aviation Consumer: Beech 95 Travel Air

The post This 1968 Beechcraft E95 Travel Air Is a Comfortably Redundant ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.