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Shopping For A Family Airplane? Prepare To Compromise

The robust Cherokee Six is very much like a Chevy Suburban with wings. [Photo: Jason McDowell]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • High aircraft prices currently necessitate compromises between desired features like speed, passenger capacity, and short-field performance.
  • A "sweet spot" for many shoppers, offering plenty of suitable "Plan-B" aircraft, falls within the $100,000 to $200,000 budget range.
  • The article suggests specific models such as the Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, Beechcraft V35B Bonanza, Cessna 182 Skylane, Mooney M20K 231, and Rockwell Commander 114 as attractive alternatives that balance various priorities.
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Shopping for airplanes is fun until it gets serious. As with many endeavors that eventually lead to major decisions, digging into the details can leave us disappointed, frustrated, and even frightened. Aircraft prices, after all, are scary these days.

I have been looking for an airplane that can haul my family of four at a decent pace over a long distance—a classic aerial traveling machine. We love landing at remote strips so our ideal fast airplane needs to slow down enough for short-field work. After checking off the things we want, we immediately have to step back and decide what we can do without.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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