General Aviation Aircraft

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.

February 1, 2006

1968 Beech E33A Bonanza N611VS

1968 Beech E33A Bonanza N611VS Used price: $104,00 Engine make/model: Continental IO-520-B/-BA TBO (hrs.): 1700 [email protected] ([email protected]): [email protected] Horsepower on takeoff (hp): 285 Fuel type: 100/100LL Propeller type: Hartzell /CS Landing gear type: Tri./Retr. Max ramp weight (lbs): 3300 Gross weight (lbs.): 3300 Landing weight (lbs.) 3300 Empty weight, std. (lbs.): 1915 Useful load, std. more »
February 1, 2006

Aviat Pitts S2C

Aviat Pitts S2C Engine make/model: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A [email protected]@altitude: [email protected]@SL Horsepower for takeoff: 260 TBO hrs.: 1200 Fuel type: 100LL Propeller type/diameter: Hartzell Constant Speed Landing gear type: Fixed Bungee Max ramp weight (lbs.): 1700 Gross weight (lbs.): 1700 Landing weight (lbs.): 1700 Empty weight, std. (lbs.): 1155 Useful load, std. (lbs.): 545 Payload, full std. more »
January 1, 2006

Maules Are All That
This taildragger can just about do it all
maules are all thatIt’s true, Maule pilots do it on dirt, sand, gravel, grass or any straight stretch of open area at least 250 feet long. And they have more fun! Probably because of where they like to go or what they like to carry. Lonnie Messenger of Dallas bought his Maule M-7-260C to get away from it all. As he says, “My flying is totally recreational. I like to stay away from people, TFRs and stuff like that.”

January 1, 2006

Maule M-7-260C Orion N721H

Maule M-7-260C Orion N721H Base price: $173,180 Engine make/model: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 [email protected]@altitude ([email protected]%@ft.): [email protected]@7500 Horsepower for takeoff, SL: 260 TBO hrs.: 2000 Fuel type: 100LL Propeller type/diameter: McCauley 2-Blade CS/78 Landing gear type: Fixed/Conv. Max ramp weight (lbs.): 2500 Gross weight (lbs.): 2500 Landing weight (lbs.): 2500 Empty weight, std. (lbs.): 1671 Useful load, std. more »
December 1, 2005

New Piper Meridian
Entry-level turbine with an all-glass cockpit
piper meridianThe newer generation of pilots may not remember that Piper had a proud tradition of building turboprops long before the advent of the company’s current flagship, the Meridian. As far back as the mid-1970s, Piper was selling Cheyennes, and true Piper trivia buffs like to remind us that the company also built a turboprop version of the P-51 Mustang called the Enforcer. Piper attempted to market the fire-breathing Enforcer to U.S. and foreign governments as an economical, military ground-pounder. (The Enforcer mounted a whopping 2,455 shp Lycoming turbine out front and could carry a range of ordinance.)

December 1, 2005

How Old is Too Old?
A number of recent airworthiness directives for the general aviation fleet seem to be directly related to the aircraft’s age and flight time. So when is it safe to fly an aging plane?

In just the last few years, a series of T-34s, the military equivalent of a Bonanza, have suffered wing separations. An emergency airworthiness directive (AD) grounded the fleet. Just a couple of months ago, a well-maintained T-6, a World War II trainer, lost a wing doing maneuvers over Florida. With the general-aviation aircraft now averaging just less than 30 years of age, how can you tell if an airplane is safe to fly?
December 1, 2005

Straight Talk From Thielert Aircraft Engines
Its new diesel aircraft powerplants are bringing Jet A to GA

The diesels are coming…the diesels are coming—to general aviation, that is. And the company that’s leading the charge isn’t one of general-aviation engines’ “big two.” No, it’s a relatively small company that has its sights clearly set on relieving your dependence on avgas.
December 1, 2005

What Makes Airplane Tires So Special?
We went to Michelin for a short course

Airplane tires are a breed unto themselves. A tire on your car has it easy compared to one on an aircraft. Your car doesn’t drive along a sun-baked, 120-degree F taxiway, then climb into sub-zero temps several miles above the Earth, hanging in a 100-mph wind, then come down and smash onto the ground at 80 miles an hour, maybe even bouncing a few times. Not just any tire is up to the mission.
November 1, 2005

Crossing The Atlantic In A Single
Socata’s TBM 700C2 tops the glaciers on its way to sunny Florida
socataHigh and wide, we cruise above the forbidding white ice cap of Greenland at 28,000 feet and 300 knots groundspeed. I half expect a flight attendant to bring me a glass of pinot grigio and a plate of Camembert cheese. Except there’s no flight attendant. Drat! Next to me, über ferry pilot Margrit Waltz checks the instruments, nods to herself in satisfaction, pops one of her favorite German salty licorices into her mouth and regales me with another tale from her storied career delivering aircraft all over the world.

November 1, 2005

Double Trouble
A tale of two P-51 Mustangs attracts a gathering of warbirds
double troubleThe P-51 Mustang is almost universally regarded as the best fighter to emerge from World War II. Talk to Bob Hoover, Chuck Yeager, Bud Anderson or any of a hundred other military test pilots, and they’ll tell you the airplane was nothing less than a stroke of genius when it was introduced in 1942.

November 1, 2005

The LSA Boom!
Private and sport pilots alike have driven the market to new heights

The LSA BoomLooking back to Sun ‘n Fun 2005, it’s fair to say that was when the light sport aircraft bell was rung, and since then, they’ve been off to the races. In the short four months between early April and early August, 14 new aircraft received airworthiness certificates in the special light sport aircraft (S-LSA) category. Although several of these airplanes have been flying in Europe for years and the number of additional new aircraft receiving approval will certainly slow down over time, the figure is remarkable nonetheless.

November 1, 2005

American Champion High Country Explorer
The newly certified, go-anywhere two-seater

american championBy the time you read this, I will have completed a two-week vacation trip circumnavigating most of Alaska and some of Western Siberia with an Indiana dentist, Dr. Bill Grider. (Hey, it’s a tough job, but…) Alaska is my kind of place, and despite a dozen trips around the state, I’m always eager to return.

November 1, 2005

2005 American Champion High Country

Aerostar Super 700 Used price: $114,900 Engine make/model: Superior Vantage O-360-A3A2 Horsepower @altitude ([email protected]): [email protected] Horsepower on takeoff (hp): 180 TBO (hrs): 2000 Fuel type: 100 avgas/91-octane auto fuel Propeller type/diameter (in.): Sensenich FP/76 Landing Gear type: Fixed/Conv. Max ramp weight (lbs.): 1800 Max gross weight (lbs.): 1800 Landing weight (lbs.): 1800 Empty weight, std. more »
November 1, 2005

1983 Cessna Turbo 210N Centurion II

1983 Cessna Turbo 210N Centurion II Used Price: $207,000 Engine make/model: Continental TSIO-520-R [email protected], 35-in. manifold pressure ([email protected]): [email protected] Horsepower for [email protected], 36.5-in. manifold pressure([email protected]):: [email protected] TBO hrs.: 1600 Fuel Type: 100/100LL Propeller type/diameter (in.): McCauley CS/80 Landing Gear type: Tri./Retr. Max ramp weight (lbs.): 4016 Gross weight (lbs.): 4000 Landing weight (lbs.): 3800 Empty more »
October 1, 2005

1947 North American Aviation Navion L-17

1947 North American Aviation Navion L-17 Engine make/model: Continental IO-550B [email protected]@takeoff: [email protected]@SL Horsepower for takeoff: 300 TBO hrs.: 2000 Fuel type: 100LL Propeller type/diameter: D3A32C403C/82NDB-2, 82 in. Landing gear type: Tri./Retr. Max ramp weight (lbs.): 3150 Gross weight (lbs.): 3150 Landing weight (lbs.): 3150 Empty weight, std. (lbs.): 1950 Empty weight , as tested (lbs.): more »

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