![1961 Piper PA-22 Colt [Credit: Seitz Aviation]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/aircraft-single-engine-piston-pi-20.jpg?width=800&height=533)
Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.
Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Piper PA-22 Colt.
In a market often dominated by high-speed cross-country cruisers and six-figure price tags, occasionally there’s a gem that reminds pilots why they started flying in the first place. This 1961 Piper PA-22 Colt stands out—not because it is the fastest or the flashiest but because it represents the purest entry point into the world of aircraft ownership. This tricycle-gear, short-wing aircraft is for the pilot who values practicality and the honest joy of a VFR afternoon over modern complexity.
With an airframe with 4,438 total hours,his aircraft isn’t pretending to be a pristine showpiece but a utilitarian workhorse. For the time builder or the first-time owner, this cosmetic honesty is a benefit, offering a fly-it-anywhere freedom that more expensive airplanes simply can’t match.
The Lycoming O-235-C1B engine is at the heart of this Piper. This particular powerplant has 584 hours since major overhaul. While the calendar time on the engine is high, the O-235 is legendary for its longevity and ease of maintenance. Complementing the engine is a Sensenich propeller with only 185 hours since its last overhaul, ensuring efficient thrust for those short-field takeoffs. Perhaps most importantly for any prospective PA-22 owner, this aircraft is equipped with sealed wing struts, which eliminates the recurring and often expensive lift-strut AD inspections that plague older Piper models.
The cockpit remains a study in functional simplicity, though it has been updated enough to remain relevant in today’s airspace. A King KX125 nav/com handles the primary radio duties, while a Garmin GTX 327 transponder is paired with a uAvionix tailBeacon to provide full ADS-B Out compliance.
![1961 Piper PA-22 Colt [Credit: Seitz Aviation]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/aircraft-single-engine-piston-pi-21.jpg?width=800&height=600)
To further enhance the flying experience, the aircraft features a Flightcom intercom for clear communication and has been modified with vortex generators. These VGs are a significant safety and performance addition, lowering the stall speed and providing much more authoritative control during the slow-flight regime of landings and takeoffs.
Listed at $34,900, it stands as one of the most affordable ways to put a certified airplane in your hangar. It is the perfect time-building machine mixed with a dose of nostalgia from GAs earlier generations.
If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: The Piper Colt: A Real Contender
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- Plane + Pilot: Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer
- Plane + Pilot: Piper Tri-Pacer
- The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Tri-Pacer
- AVweb: Short Final: Guilty Conscience?
