Single piston

Thinking of Buying a Single Piston Airplane? What You Need to Know

When your passion for flying may have come over you as it is inevitable to most all of us, then the thought of buying single piston airplane becomes very interesting.

Soaring through the sky with wings all your own is the stuff dreams are made of for a lot of pilots.

That said, purchasing an airplane is a big step that requires consideration and strategy. In this complete guide, we will take you through all the details that you need to know before successfully stepping into single piston airplane ownership for yourself.

What Exactly is a Single Piston Airplane?

A single piston airplane, or single engine airplane, is one whose thrust comes from a singular piston type engine. A propeller driven by the piston engine generates the lift need to take-off. With several seats, single-piston aircraft can be used for personal travel, flight training or aerial photography.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Piper Cherokee and Cirrus SR22 are some of the most common examples of single piston airplane models.

This single engine planes are built to be stable, forgiving and pilot friendly. Single piston airplanes provide efficient regional travel for one to two people or small groups, burning 15 to 20CNM of fuel and cruising at speeds of 90-200mph.

Single piston planes vary from super light kit planes to larger six-seaters. Wingspans typically are between 30-50 feet with a lot of high-wing, good visibility from the cockpit designs.

Takeoff weights are limited to between 1,000 and 4,000 lbs Single piston airplanes are not the quickest way to get from one side of the country to another, but nothing can beat the personal freedom and adventure they offer in private aviation.

Piston Airplane Ownership Costs

Purchasing an aircraft is a huge cost, so you will want to really think about the expense before jumping into the purchase. You can spend from a mere $20,000 to $750,000 for your own new or used single piston airplane, depending on what you buy (basic kit plane all the way up to decked-out luxury model). A decent used trainer, say a Cessna 172, costs about $75,000 on average.

In addition to those first dollars, you'll also need to set aside some funds for the following:

• Fuel - Plan for about $4-6 per gallon of avgas. While gauging fuel burn can be an inexact science, most single piston planes will use between 6 and 12 gallons of aviation gas per hour of flight.
• Insurance - Annual insurance premiums for a private pilot with 200 hours of experience typically range from $1,500-$2,500 per year depending on the aircraft. Insurance costs more for high-performance planes.
• Maintenance and Repairs - $2,000-5,000 per year for routine maintenance, with major repairs and overhauls coming a few years down the road. Annual inspections are required for most planes.
• Hangar Storage - $200-$500 a month to park your plane inside of a hangar, depending on location. But outdoor tie-down parking is less expensive.
• Training / Licensing - Expect $10,000-$15,000 for your private pilot's license if you are starting from scratch. Expenses are incurred from repeated training and new feedback.
  Though expensive, single engine airplanes can be affordable to many if those budgets are divided with partners. You can also save money by joining a flying club and splitting the ownership.

Selecting the Perfect Single Piston Airplane

There are a lot of makes and models to choose from, so you should give some serious thought as to which single piston airplane best meets your needs:

Think about your mission - what will you need to use the plane for? With short hops or cross countries? Airplane enthusiast or efficiency vehicle? The type of mission you are on drives priorities like cruise speed, payload, and range.

High or low wing? - High-wing planes are good for looking up at traffic to check on during flight school, but also to see sights far above the wing. Generally speaking, low-wing designs fly faster and can also provide better stability. Consider access, visibility requirements, and ramp ease of use.

Used or new? Save a Lot People spend much $$ buying a used airplane but lose out on warranty support, the latest in avionics & options, and piece of mind. Same goes for the new planes which comes with built-in latest safety and technology features.

Burnt fuel - Choose an engine and propeller combinations that burn as little fuel per mile as possible, so you can go the distance. Lean-burn designs are best.

Training or transitioning? - For learning to fly, a forgiving high-wing trainer model from a major manufacturer that flies like a puppy with emphasis on ease of handling. Faster, more complex low-wing designs make an option for transitioning pilots.

Payload & occupant capacity - Verify that the useful load on the aircraft is adequate to carry passengers, baggage and full fuel comfortably. Two seats or six?

Avionics and equipment - Review the panel instrumentation, navigation and comm gear options, autopilot choices, and other extras to match your needs and pocketbook.

If you are crunching the numbers, partner with an experienced aircraft broker who listens to what you want. Just make sure that you're getting a pre-buy inspection from a mechanic prior to any purchases.

Shopping New vs Used Single Piston Airplanes

When on the market for a single engine airplane, is it better to buy new or used? So, here are the two options side-by-side:

New Single Piston Airplanes

Pros:

• New generation safety and technology
• Weather a factory warranty for most parts
• Condition of airframe and maintenance history
• Interior that still feels new, with no wear or obsolete materials
• Possibilities of modern avionics and equipment
• Personalized settings for your requirements
• Enjoy that feeling of owning a shiny new plane

Cons:

• High buy-in price, low resale value (this will change over time)
• Factory backlog can lead to delayed delivery
• Fewer options than used stock
• Used Single Piston Airplanes

Pros:

• Massive discounts off of the price of new airplanes
• A broader range of makes/models to choose from
• Usually has nice features already added
• Resale value probably going to hold less value
• Data foundational Maintenance history provides strong pointers

Cons:

• No factory warranty coverage
• The wear and aging of the existing components
• No accident or damage history found
• Vintage tech/equipment may require an upgrade
• Increased maintenance costs as the aircraft grows older

For many buyers, a late model used airplane represents the best of both worlds between old and new. You get fairly modern parts and a cleaner maintenance history while saving big off new prices.

If opting for used, a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is essential to uncover potential problems with the airframe or engine.

Another key aspect is also the integrity and service history of the seller.

In the end, whether new or used is right for you depends on your wallet size, your patience level, your desire for the latest tech features and what trades you find acceptable. With the right airplane, either route can work well.

How to Finance the Purchase of Your Single Piston Airplane

Since most airplane buyers cannot simply pay cash for their single piston plane purchase, financing is frequently needed. To get the best terms on your loan, consider these tips:

1. Compare rates & fees by shopping different aircraft lenders. Credit unions generally have lower rates.
2. Choose the shortest duration you can manage - longer loans equals more interest.
3. Put down a big deposit when you can, at least 20% of the purchase price. It lessens the amount of loans and payment.
4. For a used plane, an enhanced pre-buy will help get the loan approved.
5. Inquire about Borrower Assurance Programs that can help ensure the loan is paid in full if you are unable to sell or otherwise dispose of the aircraft down the line.
6. Avoid surprises by carefully reading all loan documents and seeking quotes on insurance prior to signing your name.
7. To qualify, however, be prepared to submit tons of paperwork detailing your finances, income, assets, and credit history.
8. Maintain a decent credit score now and after you buy (to get the most favorable continuing loan terms).

While purchasing your single piston package getting the best financing available to go with the lowest rates isn't a bad idea, to ensure you get this results from doing your homework.

What to Expect When Test Flying a Single Piston Plane

The only way to see how a plane really flies in my opinion is to go and do the test fly on different makes/models before even contemplating purchase. This is what a typical single piston plane test flight will look like.

Pre-flight - the seller or mechanic will give a thorough walkaround inspecting the engine, airframe, controls and cabin. Pay close attention.

Cockpit orientation - The instructor goes through the instrument panel, controls, avionics, electrical system, and other interior parts so you know what to expect.

Normal engine start, taxi and runway preparations - Get a feel for your engine start process, how responsive the brakes are on taxi, as well as any steering or ground handling concerns.

Departure - Normal Accelerate, rotate, and initial climb. What causes the plane to lift off from the runway and enter into climbing flight?

Climbout - Evaluate your climb performance and stability in the vertical dimension. In climb, what is the weighting of the controls? Is the engine smooth and lively?

Get Your New Aircraft Registered and Insured

You did it, you picked out and bought your new (to you) single piston airplane! But before you can get off into that wild blue yonder, there's a little paperwork you'll need to complete:

Aircraft Registration
All planes must be registered with the FAA Aircraft Registry and a tail number known as an N-number is issued to each. File the Aircraft Registration Application (AC Form 8050-1), ownership evidence and any registration fee.

If you take care of this, the FAA will mail registration certificate which you must show on aircraft with.

Airworthiness Certificate
This certificate verifies that your airplane complies with the FAA regulations as well as that it is in a condition for safe operations. They also explain the time of sale transfer of the certificate It should stay on the plane.

Aircraft Insurance
You need insurance that is specific to airplanes because you are operating an airplane. These policies can include hull loss or damage liability, medical payments, and other types of coverage. Comparison shop among various brokers for policy quotes When selecting a policy, think carefully about coverage particulars.

Pilot Insurance
Not only should you insure the airplane, but as pilot it is a good idea to have sufficient coverage on yourself. An excellent policy will cover medical, disability and even life insurance for pilots.

State Registration
Along with a federal registration, most states charge a yearly fee for registering your plane-commonly assessed as a percentage of the value of the aircraft. Especially if you paid sales tax on the purchase since some states will waive this.

Now that the paperwork is filed and insurance in place, head on down to your local hardware store and spray-paint your new N-number across the tail.

Take care of the all the details after your purchase so you can start enjoying life as an owner of an aircraft.