Pre-Owned LSAs Offer Recreational Flying Fun on Any Budget

Bargain prices and advanced avionics can be found on the used light sport aircraft market.

Dan Pimentel

Friday, March 04, 2022 at 11:31 AM ET

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A 2018 Bristell for sale with 400 hours and a Rotax 912iS engine. [Courtesy: Trade-A-Plane]

Key Takeaways:

The market for pre-owned Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) is robust and growing, characterized by strong demand, decreasing "days-on-market" for listings, and rising prices, particularly for aircraft with low engine hours and superior avionics.
The used LSA market offers a diverse range of aircraft to suit various budgets, from highly affordable vintage models and well-equipped middle-market options to late-model, nearly-new aircraft at significant savings compared to showroom prices.
While offering considerable savings and reliable performance, buying a pre-owned LSA necessitates careful due diligence, including a thorough pre-purchase inspection and a detailed review of the aircraft's logbooks.

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Once you have determined that flying a light sport airplane fits your personal aviation mission, it is time to get out your debit card (or sign loan docs) and buy something shiny for your hangar. After a bit of online shopping for new LSA models, you are stoked by the level of advanced avionics they offer, but floored at the sticker price.

So you go to Plan B: Looking for a nice, previously flown, used LSA.