Today’s Top Pick is a 1978 Cessna 172N Skyhawk.

Many pilots have at least considered training for a seaplane rating and possibly finding the ideal aircraft for our intended missions, from fishing trips to family excursions on remote rivers and lakes. While the fantasy version of this daydream probably involves a deHavilland Beaver or turbine Otter, a Cessna 172 like this one seems like a more practical approach.

The aircraft for sale here is equipped with Baumann 2550 floats, which are known for light weight. Its engine was upgraded to 180 hp from the original 150 and would still be familiar and relatively easy to handle for any pilot who has flown or trained in 172s.

I know of several out-of-the-way places I would like to visit in an airplane like this. I am adding the seaplane rating to my to-do list for 2025.

This 172N has 6,123 hours on the airframe and 1,276 since overhaul on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine. The engine upgrade was part of the Penn Yan conversion and includes a powerflow exhaust. The VFR panel features a standard six pack of gauges, a Garmin GNC 250XL GPS and a Bendix-King KX 155 nav/com radio.

Pilots who want a straightforward, utilitarian floatplane to expand their flying adventures to waterways should take a look at this 1978 Cessna 172N Skyhawk, which is available for $132,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 1978 Cessna 172N Skyhawk Is a Straight-Float ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2014 Aviat A-1C-180 Husky.

Over the years I occasionally have heard pilots call the Husky a “glorified Super Cub.” I think such skeptics fail to consider that the Husky was developed decades after Piper’s PA-18 and other classic taildraggers and has certain advantages that come with modern design and engineering.

The Husky emerged after its designer, Frank Christensen, tried to buy the rights to the Super Cub and other bushplane designs but was thwarted. Christensen, who previously had developed the Christen Eagle aerobatic biplane as a kit, eventually lost patience and decided to build his own plane that could excel in the bush while providing a bit more comfort for pilot and passenger, and functioning well in civilization.

By making the Husky more capable and easier to live with than many other taildraggers, Christensen scored a hit that remains popular decades later. The aforementioned glorification has held up well.   

This 2014 Husky has 830 hours on the airframe and on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360A1P engine, and 110 hours since new on its MT composite propeller. The aircraft is equipped with a PowerFlow tuned exhaust system, Gate 9 oil cooler airflow control, B&C oil filter, Challenger engine air filter, 70-amp alternator, lifting rings for float installation, and 26-inch Goodyear tundra tires.

The IFR panel includes a Garmin G3X Touch PFD and MFD, Garmin 750Xi GPS/nav/comm, GTR 20 comm, GTX 345R transponder, Garmin 35c audio panel with markers, intercom and Bluetooth, Garmin G5, GFC 500 autopilot, GI260 angle of attack instrument, USB power output, and engine monitor with fuel totalizer. The cockpit also features front and rear five-point seat belts.

This Husky has a basic empty weight of 1,356, carries 50 gallons of usable fuel, and has a useful load of 894 pounds. Maximum takeoff weight is 2,250 pounds.

Pilots who like the looks and value of an early straight-tail Bonanza but prefer to fly with modern instrumentation should consider this 1962 Beechcraft B33 Debonair, which is available for $139,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 2014 Aviat A-1C Husky Is a Rugged ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick that Cleans Up Well appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Bellanca 8GCBC.

The Bellanca Citabria has been a popular taildragger ever since its introduction in the early 1960s. Descendants of the beloved Aeronca 7AC Champ, the Citabria and its derivatives come in an alphabet-soup of model designations, including 7ECA through 8KCAB.

Specifications differ significantly but all of these aircraft have the same basic appearance of a modernized, squared-off Champ.

Other pilots have told me that Citabrias, while fairly versatile, are not truly cut out for the rigors of bush flying—too delicate, they say. The aircraft for sale here was Bellanca’s answer to that assertion.

The 8GCBC, known as the Scout, was designed as a utility model, with extra power for hauling loads out of remote mountain strips and options for long-range fuel. It can be used for crop spraying, patrol duty, and other missions that we typically associate with larger, beefier aircraft. Unlike most of its relatives, the 8GCBC is not certified for aerobatic maneuvers.

For backcountry flying enthusiasts, though, this taildragger seems like it was built to order.

This 1979 Bellanca has 1,120 hours on the airframe and on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine since overhaul. The aircraft is equipped with 8.5-inch main wheels and a Scott tailwheel. The basic VRF panel includes Icom radio and Stratus ADS-B In and Out.

Pilots looking for a classic tailwheel aircraft capable of short-field operations and off-airport exploration should consider this 1979 Bellanca 8GCBC, which is available for $90,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 1979 Bellanca 8GCBC Is a Backcountry-Bred ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2006 Maule M-4-180V.

Maule Air, the Moultrie, Georgia-based purveyor of modern taildraggers, has been charting its own unique course for decades.

While its aircraft seem old-fashioned because of their rag-and-tube construction, they remain in production and are ideally suited to their customers’ needs, which include carrying loads into the backcountry and operating from short, rough fields. In light of the growing popularity of STOL and off-airport flying, Maule’s lineup feels completely up to date.

The aircraft for sale here offers an attractive combination of capability and economy. While relatively new by general aviation standards, this M-4 feels like a bargain compared with numerous older taildraggers that are popular among short-field enthusiasts. Even though Maules have been around since the 1940s, they are not necessarily well-known among everyday aircraft shoppers. They tend to attract pilots with a strong sense of adventure and tradition.  

This 2006 Maule M-4 has 925 hours on the airframe and on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360-C1F engine since new. Airframe upgrades include observation doors, vortex generators, Cleveland brakes, 8.50-by-6 tires, an Alaskan Bushwheel 3200 tailwheel, and floatplane reinforcement kit. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,300 pounds and a useful load of 882 pounds.

The panel features a Garmin 250XL GPS/Comm, Aera 660 portable GPS with panel mount that displays ADS-B with weather and traffic, PM1000 intercom, Narco AR850 altitude reporter, Garmin GTX 345 transponder, Electronics International SP-8-A engine analyzer, OAT gauge, and fuel totalizer.

Pilots searching for a traditional 1940s-style taildragger with numerous upgrades that make it better-suited to modern times should consider this 2006 Maule M-4-180V, which is available for $125,900 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 2006 Maule M-4-180V Is a Backcountry-Ready ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2002 Zenith CH 801.

Zenith aircraft and their Zenair relatives sprang from the drawing board of Chris Heintz, an aeronautical engineer who worked in air transport design and manufacturing before moving into kits for GA pilots. His line of two- and four-seat airplanes stretches to the 1970s, while the Zenith CH series of high-wing models has been on the market for more than 30 years.

These airplanes are designed around short-field performance and are known for easy flight characteristics, reliability, and low-maintenance operation. Because they have been popular for a long time, and the manufacturer remains in business, owners can rely on strong factory and club support with repairs, service, and modifications.  

This 2002 Zenith has 86 hours on the airframe and its Lycoming O-360-B2A engine, which has a 2,000-hour TBO. The panel features an MGL Avionics Stratomaster Velocity flight instrument, Icom IC A200 radio, Electronics International CHT gauge, Garmin GTX 320 transponder, and ACK Technologies ELT. Additional equipment includes strobe lights, pitot heat, electric flaps, and electric trim.

Pilots looking for an economical, reliable kitbuilt aircraft with a reputation for good design and performance should consider this 2002 Zenith CH 801, which is available for $120,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 2002 Zenith CH 801 Is a Sturdy, Short-Field ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.