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 2001 Piper PA-32RT-301T Turbo Saratoga.

Private pilots who spend a lot of time carrying their families on long-distance journeys know that stable flight characteristics and a spacious cabin can be far more valuable than sporty handling and category-leading cruising speed.

When it comes to carrying passengers, it is best to make the trip as much like traveling in the family car as possible. Your spouse, children, and friends are interested in reaching their destination in a brisk, uneventful fashion, not learning about or experiencing side slips or steep turns. Making sure your flights are straight, level, and smooth will keep your loved ones coming back.

Saratogas truly are set up to make long trips as comfortable as possible, with club seating and one of the widest cabins in the GA piston fleet. Turbocharging gives the airplane for sale here an advantage of more power at higher altitudes than non-turbo models. It can take advantage of higher speeds in the thin air of the flight levels. This aircraft also comes with factory air conditioning and a supplemental oxygen system. 

This Turbo Saratoga has 2,750 hours on the airframe and 941 hours since new on its 300 hp engine. The panel features a GMS 340 audio panel, Garmin GTN 750 and GTN 650 GPS Nav/Comms, S-Tec 55x autopilot, GDL 88 with ADS-B In and Out with weather and traffic, Flight Stream 210 Bluetooth and a graphic engine monitor. 

Pilots interested in an aircraft that is well-suited for transporting family, friends, and business associates in relaxing comfort over long distances should consider this 2001 Piper Turbo Saratoga, which is available for $379,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Piper Lance vs. Saratoga
• FLYING Magazine: The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six
• FLYING Magazine: Piper Saratoga Avionics Install: Part 1
• FLYING Magazine: Piper Mirage
• Plane & Pilot: New Piper’s Saratoga II TC
• Plane & Pilot: Piper Saratoga II TC: It’s All About Comfort
• AVweb: Garmin Adds GFC 500 Autopilot Applications for Pipers
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Saratoga/Lance

The post This 2001 Piper Turbo Saratoga Is a Spacious, Comfortable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.