Register

The Perfect Time to Buy Used

Cessna 182RG John Miller
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The used-airplane market is currently a strong buyer's market, characterized by significantly depressed prices for various piston aircraft due to economic slowdowns.
  • Buyers can leverage current market conditions to acquire higher-performance or better-equipped airplanes than their budget might normally allow.
  • Critical steps for buyers include defining their mission needs, securing insurance early, and conducting a thorough pre-purchase inspection by an independent, knowledgeable mechanic, including a detailed review of all logbooks.
  • While current prices favor buyers, there's a slight recent uptick, possibly from foreign sales, indicating buyers shouldn't delay, but also to be cautious of potential deferred maintenance from sellers in financial distress.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The opening line of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” is an apropos description of today’s used-airplane market.

For buyers these are great times to be in the hunt for an airplane that’s gotten some gentle use and good care. But for sellers, faced with an economic need to relinquish the airplane they’ve enjoyed and nurtured, often for years, the times aren’t so good.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE