Best First Airplane to Buy

Affordable, well-supported aircraft ideal for first-time buyers. Strong parts availability, large type club communities, and manageable insurance costs.

Aeronca 11AC

Single-Engine Piston

588 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

57 kts cruise363 nm range

Aeronca 7AC

Single-Engine Piston

1,847 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

69 kts cruise440 nm range

Beechcraft Bonanza (V35 / A36)

Single-Engine Piston

1947–present8,500 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

176 kts cruise770 nm range

Beechcraft F33A

Single-Engine Piston

977 registered

$30K–$200K$17K/yr

106 kts cruise519 nm range

Beechcraft Musketeer / Sundowner / Sierra

Single-Engine Piston

1963–19832,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

128 kts cruise490 nm range

Beechcraft V35B

Single-Engine Piston

904 registered

$30K–$200K$17K/yr

114 kts cruise558 nm range

Bellanca Viking 17-30/17-31

Single-Engine Piston

1967–1980850 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

175 kts cruise800 nm range

Boeing A75N1(PT17)

Single-Engine Piston

749 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

71 kts cruise396 nm range

Cessna 120

Single-Engine Piston

652 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

69 kts cruise343 nm range

Cessna 120/140

Single-Engine Piston

1946–19503,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

95 kts cruise400 nm range

Cessna 140

Single-Engine Piston

1,579 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

80 kts cruise398 nm range

Cessna 150/152

Single-Engine Piston

1959–198515,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

106 kts cruise350 nm range

Cessna 150F

Single-Engine Piston

1,045 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

69 kts cruise287 nm range

Cessna 150G

Single-Engine Piston

958 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

69 kts cruise287 nm range

Cessna 150H

Single-Engine Piston

739 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

69 kts cruise287 nm range

Cessna 150J

Single-Engine Piston

641 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

69 kts cruise287 nm range

Cessna 150L

Single-Engine Piston

1,418 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

69 kts cruise287 nm range

Cessna 150M

Single-Engine Piston

1,408 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

62 kts cruise258 nm range

Cessna 152

Single-Engine Piston

1,616 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

Cessna 170A

Single-Engine Piston

501 registered

$30K–$200K$11K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 170B

Single-Engine Piston

1,287 registered

$30K–$200K$11K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172

Single-Engine Piston

1,777 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Single-Engine Piston

1956–present28,500 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

122 kts cruise640 nm range

Cessna 172E

Single-Engine Piston

605 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172F

Single-Engine Piston

706 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172G

Single-Engine Piston

705 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172H

Single-Engine Piston

765 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

80 kts cruise383 nm range

Cessna 172K

Single-Engine Piston

1,014 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

80 kts cruise433 nm range

Cessna 172L

Single-Engine Piston

850 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

80 kts cruise433 nm range

Cessna 172M

Single-Engine Piston

3,540 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

83 kts cruise449 nm range

Cessna 172N

Single-Engine Piston

3,099 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

80 kts cruise433 nm range

Cessna 172P

Single-Engine Piston

1,103 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

Cessna 172R

Single-Engine Piston

680 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

Cessna 172S

Single-Engine Piston

1,906 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

Cessna 175

Single-Engine Piston

530 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

80 kts cruise448 nm range

Cessna 177 Cardinal

Single-Engine Piston

1968–19782,800 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

139 kts cruise540 nm range

Cessna 177B

Single-Engine Piston

832 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

83 kts cruise449 nm range

Cessna 177RG

Single-Engine Piston

783 registered

$30K–$200K$14K/yr

92 kts cruise447 nm range

Cessna 180

Single-Engine Piston

1,169 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

92 kts cruise559 nm range

Cessna 180 Skywagon

Single-Engine Piston

1953–19813,800 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

138 kts cruise550 nm range

Cessna 182 Skylane

Single-Engine Piston

1956–present14,100 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

145 kts cruise915 nm range

Cessna 182A

Single-Engine Piston

776 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

91 kts cruise553 nm range

Cessna 182P

Single-Engine Piston

2,075 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

92 kts cruise559 nm range

Cessna 182Q

Single-Engine Piston

1,558 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

85 kts cruise516 nm range

Cessna 182S

Single-Engine Piston

602 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

Cessna 182T

Single-Engine Piston

965 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

Cessna 185 Skywagon

Single-Engine Piston

1961–19852,900 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

145 kts cruise700 nm range

Cessna 206 Stationair

Single-Engine Piston

1964–present5,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

148 kts cruise780 nm range

Cessna 210 Centurion

Single-Engine Piston

1960–19864,800 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

175 kts cruise900 nm range

Cessna A185F

Single-Engine Piston

1,102 registered

$30K–$200K$17K/yr

97 kts cruise475 nm range

Cessna R172K

Single-Engine Piston

646 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

58 kts cruise270 nm range

Cessna R182

Single-Engine Piston

701 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

84 kts cruise468 nm range

Cessna T206H

Single-Engine Piston

686 registered

$30K–$200K$19K/yr

Cirrus SR20

Single-Engine Piston

1999–present1,464 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

150 kts cruise575 nm range

Cirrus SR22 / SR22T

Single-Engine Piston

2001–present3,907 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

183 kts cruise870 nm range

Cirrus SR22T

Single-Engine Piston

2,701 registered

$30K–$200K$20K/yr

Diamond DA 40

Single-Engine Piston

676 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

Diamond DA20

Single-Engine Piston

1998–present750 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

130 kts cruise450 nm range

Diamond DA40

Single-Engine Piston

2000–present1,500 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

144 kts cruise635 nm range

Grumman AA-5 Tiger / Cheetah

Single-Engine Piston

1971–19791,400 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

131 kts cruise540 nm range

Grumman American AA-5B

Single-Engine Piston

632 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

80 kts cruise433 nm range

Luscombe 8A

Single-Engine Piston

875 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

66 kts cruise421 nm range

Mooney M20C

Single-Engine Piston

1,232 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

97 kts cruise525 nm range

Mooney M20J 201

Single-Engine Piston

1977–19981,396 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

168 kts cruise900 nm range

Piper Cub / Super Cub

Single-Engine Piston

1938–19944,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

100 kts cruise400 nm range

Piper J3C-65

Single-Engine Piston

3,139 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

51 kts cruise325 nm range

Piper PA-12

Single-Engine Piston

1,226 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

62 kts cruise376 nm range

Piper PA-18 Super Cub

Single-Engine Piston

1949–19944,200 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

100 kts cruise400 nm range

Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer

Single-Engine Piston

1951–19643,500 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

118 kts cruise450 nm range

Piper PA-22-108

Single-Engine Piston

575 registered

$30K–$200K$10K/yr

72 kts cruise437 nm range

Piper PA-22-150

Single-Engine Piston

1,186 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

72 kts cruise389 nm range

Piper PA-24 Comanche

Single-Engine Piston

1958–19722,400 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

158 kts cruise750 nm range

Piper PA-24-250

Single-Engine Piston

1,201 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

103 kts cruise574 nm range

Piper PA-24-260

Single-Engine Piston

588 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

103 kts cruise696 nm range

Piper PA-28 Cherokee / Warrior / Archer

Single-Engine Piston

1961–present12,500 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

117 kts cruise520 nm range

Piper PA-28-140

Single-Engine Piston

4,193 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

82 kts cruise444 nm range

Piper PA-28-151

Single-Engine Piston

943 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

62 kts cruise335 nm range

Piper PA-28-180

Single-Engine Piston

3,452 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

82 kts cruise444 nm range

Piper PA-28-235

Single-Engine Piston

851 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

82 kts cruise457 nm range

Piper PA-28R-180

Single-Engine Piston

524 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

82 kts cruise444 nm range

Piper PA-28R-200

Single-Engine Piston

1,207 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr

82 kts cruise444 nm range

Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six / Saratoga

Single-Engine Piston

1965–present3,100 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

155 kts cruise840 nm range

Piper PA-32-260

Single-Engine Piston

637 registered

$30K–$200K$16K/yr

96 kts cruise535 nm range

Piper PA-32-300

Single-Engine Piston

989 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

96 kts cruise648 nm range

Piper PA-32R-300

Single-Engine Piston

505 registered

$30K–$200K$18K/yr

96 kts cruise648 nm range

Piper PA-38 Tomahawk

Single-Engine Piston

1978–19821,600 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

100 kts cruise400 nm range

Piper PA-46 Malibu / Matrix

Single-Engine Piston

1984–present980 registered

$30K–$200K$12K/yr

195 kts cruise1020 nm range

Taylorcraft BC12-D

Single-Engine Piston

997 registered

$30K–$200K$8K/yr

60 kts cruise383 nm range

Textron Aviation 172S

Single-Engine Piston

1,067 registered

$30K–$200K$13K/yr