Explore the world of general aviation aircraft with our reviews. Written from a pilot’s perspective, these reviews provide fantastic insight into what these general aviation planes are really like.
I’m going to admit it right up front: I’ve always admired the Cessna CJ3 from afar but frankly, it’s a bit, (okay, a lot) out of my price range, so it’s a plane that I’ve only dreamed about. But dreams are good, and wow, what an airplane!
Citation CJ3+ SPECIFICATIONS Base price: $7.995 million Typically Equipped Priced: $8.2-$8.4 million Overall Length (ft.): 51.1 Height (ft.): 15.1 Wingspan (ft.): 53.3 Wing Area (ft.): 294.1 Max Wing Loading (lbs./sq. ft.): 47.2 Cabin Length (ft.): 20.6 Seating Capacity As Tested: 8+2 Cabin Width (in.): 58 Cabin Height (in.): 57 Baggage Capacity (lbs.): 1000 Baggage Volume more »
Manufacturers’ displays of new aircraft models are hardly novel at Sebring’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, but showcasing a new aircraft facility as Tecnam did this year, hosting an open house at its new U.S. headquarters at the airport, is a first.
Tecnam Astore SPECIFICATIONS Price: Standard, $147,000 with carbureted 912ULS, to $176,000 with optional avionics packages. Turbocharged Rotax 914UL2, as flown, $24,900. Engine: 115 hp Rotax 914UL2 Propeller: Three-blade Sensenich, 5.67-ft. diameter Length (ft.): 23.0 Height (ft.): 7.54 Wingspan (ft.): 28.4 Wing area (sq. ft.): 131 Standard empty weight (lbs.): 809 Max. takeoff weight (lbs.): 1320 more »
Wipaire Boss C 182 SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 315 hp Lycoming IO-580 Propeller: Hartzell three-blade carbon-composite Trailblazer Length: 29 ft. 6 in. Wingspan (ft.): 36 Height, wheels down (ft.): 13 Height to wingtip, wheels down: 10 ft. 9 in. Length, amphib float: 20 ft. 8 in. Hull height: 2 ft. 5 in. Hull width: 2 ft. 8 more »
With the use of seaplanes climbing worldwide and the supply of available stalwarts like the Cessna 206 and the de Havilland Twin Otter shrinking, the marketplace has begun to respond to consumer demand.
Since the introduction of the sport-pilot certificate in 2005, light-sport aircraft (LSA) have been eyed with a mixture of hopeful optimism and cautious indifference.
Bristell TDO SPECIFICATIONS Powerplant: 100 hp Rotax 912 ULS/iS Wingspan (ft.): 27 Wing Area: 113 sq. ft. Wing Loading: 10 lbs./sq. ft. Length: 21 ft. 2 in. Height: 7 ft. 6 in. Cabin Width: 51 in. Gross Weight (lbs.): 1320 Empty Weight (lbs.): 675 Useful Load (lbs.): 645 Fuel Quantity: 31.6 gals. usable Endurance (hrs.): more »
If you wonder why it took Mancuso so long to find the Bristell, the manufacturer, BRM Aero of the Czech Republic, wasn’t established until late in 2009.
Sixty years ago when Piper introduced the first everyman’s business twin, the PA-23 Apache, everyone automatically accepted the premise that twins were naturally safer than singles.
Official attendance figures aside, the 134 vendors occupying 158 booth spaces set a new record, Filip said, and included 40 first-time exhibitors.
Pilatus PC12/47E/NG SPECIFICATIONS Avg. Eqpd. Prc-201(US$): $4.556M Engine—make: P&W Engine—model: PT6A-67P Shaft HP—TO: 1200 Shaft HP—Max: 1200 Fuel Type: Jet Landing Gear Type: Tri/Retr Max TO Weight (lbs.): 10,450 Empty Weight (lbs.): 6582 Useful Load (lbs.): 3868 Usable Fuel (gals./lbs.): 402/2693 Payload—Full Fuel (lbs.): 1175 Wing Aspect Ratio: 10.3 Wingspan: 53 ft. 5 in. Overall more »
Gyroplanes are one of the last remaining secrets in the aviation community.
Sling SPECIFICATIONS Engine: Rotax 912 ULS or Rotax 912 iS Power: 100 hp Fuel: Min. 91 OCT auto fuel or 100LL avgas Propeller: Whirlwind 70-inch 3-blade composite PERFORMANCE Cruise Speed (kts.): 115 Fuel Burn: 912 ULS = 5 gph, 912 iS = 3.9 gph Rate Of Climb (fpm): 900 Max Range (nm): 800+ Fuel Capacity more »
What can you do with a Sling? In today’s world, an aircraft needs to be fun, stable, efficient and—most of all—useful.
PLANE COMPARISON FOR PIPER ARCHER TX AND CESSNA SKYHAWK S Piper Archer TX Cessna Skyhawk S Base Price: $338,200 $364,000 Avionics (Garmin): G1000 G1000 Engine: Lyc O-360 Lyc O-360 Power (hp): 180 180 Gross Weight (lbs.): 2550 2550 Empty Weight (lbs.): 1688 1641 Useful Load (lbs.): 862 909 Fuel (gals./lbs.): 48/288 53/318 Payload (lbs.): more »
If you believe what more and more folks in the travel business are saying these days, we’re headed for a pilot shortage—or perhaps we’re already in one.
Waco YMF-5D SPECIFICATIONS Engine Make/Model: Jacobs R755-B2M Horsepower On Takeoff: 300 TBO—Hours: 1400 Fuel Type: 100/100LL Propeller: Fixed Pitch Landing Gear Type: Conv/Fixed Max T/O Weight (lbs.): 2950 Std. Empty Weight (lbs.): 1985 Useful Load—Std. (lbs.): 965 Usable Fuel—Std. (gals./lbs.): 48/288 Opt Fuel (gals./lbs.): 72/432 Payload—Full Std. Fuel (lbs.): 677 Wingspan (upper): 30 ft. Wingspan more »