Have I Got a Deal for You!

FLYING Staff

Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Prices of pre-owned aircraft are dropping.

Key Takeaways:

The used piston single aircraft market is currently a buyer's market, with prices trending downwards and inventory increasing, especially for older aircraft (30-40 years old).
This market shift is driven by factors such as the high maintenance and upgrade costs of an aging fleet, increased fuel prices making ownership less appealing, and competition from both newer aircraft and Light-Sport Aircraft.
While the market is soft for older, less-than-excellent condition planes, late-model, high-performance, well-equipped, and low-time aircraft are holding their value better and still finding buyers.
Purchasing a "cheap" older aircraft often leads to significant additional expenses for overhauls, avionics, and mandatory maintenance, highlighting the need for professional evaluation and making them an economic liability over time.

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If you’re looking for a bargain on a 30-year-old piston single with a run out engine, well then, you could be in luck; the prices are down and the inventory’s up. It’s a classic example of supply and demand.

But assessing the market for used (or if you prefer “pre-owned”) piston singles is a lot like the blind men describing an elephant; it depends on what part of the beast you touch.