Today’s Top Pick is a 1963 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche.

Take your mind back to the mid-1950s when Piper executives were working on their answer to rival Beechcraft’s Bonanza, a slick, all-metal jewel in a sea of kite-like, high-wing, rag-and-tube aircraft that characterized general aviation at the time.

The resulting Piper PA-24 Comanche was similarly modern, even futuristic. Generally lower list prices for the Piper helped drive brisk sales. Pilots searching the used market today can expect similar value opportunities in the used-aircraft market.

Unlike the Bonanza, which has remained on the market even through difficult times for the aviation industry, the Comanche’s retail run was cut short by a flood that wrecked the company’s Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, factory in 1972. The resulting damage to tooling led to the abrupt end of Comanche production. The relatively high cost of assembling the PA-24 also made it easier for Piper to let the old bird go.

This 1963 Piper Comanche has 2,018 hours on the airframe, 102 hours since overhaul on its Lycoming 0-540 engine, and 5.79 hours since overhaul on its propeller. The aircraft is equipped with chrome cylinders.

The IFR panel includes King KX 170 and KX 175 nav/comm radios, Narco At150 transponder, Sky Beacon for ADS-B Out, Sky Sensor ADS-B In, S-TEC autopilot, King KMA 20 audio panel, Skycom 200E intercom, and Alcor EGT instrument.

Pilots who are looking for a fast, handsome, high-performance retractable single and agree that age is just a number should consider this 1963 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, which is available for $100,000 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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• AVweb: Adopting a Comanche

The post This 1963 Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Is a Stylish, Classic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV.

Over the decades general aviation has produced a number of design flourishes aimed at setting certain aircraft apart from their competitors. Critics often dismiss these features as gimmicks, but at least they look cool when new.

Even the Beechcraft Bonanza’s iconic V-tail empennage arguably has more to do with form than function. Still, it looks great today and is attracting a new audience including pilots too young to remember the model’s heyday.

I think the T-tail Pipers are enjoying a similar effect now, especially the Arrow, which has attractive proportions that harmonize well with the high-mounted horizontal stabilizer. Arrows with standard tails tend to blend a little too well with the less-powerful, fixed-gear Piper Cherokees that essentially share the same airframe.

Owners who want their Arrows to stand out on the ramp can count on the T-tail to make that happen. The turbocharged version, like the aircraft for sale here, gives pilots more options for achieving the best possible performance, including flying at higher altitudes, where normally aspirated models rarely venture, in search of more speed.    

This 1979 Arrow IV has 5,765 hours on the airframe, zero hours on its Continental TSIO-360 engine, and 855 hours since overhaul on its three-blade McCauley propeller. The aircraft is equipped with a Merlyn wastegate, carries 65 gallons of fuel and has a useful load of 1,148 pounds.

The IFR panel includes a Garmin GNS 530W GPS/comm, Garmin GNC 255A digital nav/comm, GMA 355 audio panel, Garmin glideslope/VOR/localizer indicator, G5 directional gyro, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B in and out, Collins ADF, EDM 700 engine monitor, and a Piper Autocontrol II autopilot.

Pilots looking for a reliable, well-supported and stylish complex single with turbocharging to handle higher altitudes should consider this 1979 Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV, which is available for $155,000 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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• AVweb: Piper Arrow Pilot Reported ‘30-foot tall’ Triangular Object at 6,500 Feet

The post This 1979 Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV is a Stylish, T-Tail ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I described my favorable experience with Rich, a CFII [Certified Flight Instructor Instrument] who had been teaching for decades, had a good sense of humor, and seemed to know all the ins and outs of flying. He runs a club which, at the time, had two airplanes—a Cessna 172M and a Citabria 7KCAB. I wound up with a tailwheel endorsement in addition to my private certificate—a nice bonus.

“That sounds perfect!” my friend exclaimed. He made an appointment for an introductory flight. 

• READ MORE: Five Ratings and Endorsements for Travelers

Some form of this scenario plays out almost every time a prospective pilot considers taking lessons. It is the same when experienced pilots who do not own aircraft want to stay current, build hours, or train for new ratings. Doing so through a flying club is usually more economical than renting or buying a bargain-priced time-builder.

But just like choosing an instructor or an airplane, you should look for a club that suits your needs. That might not be easy given the variety of clubs, from small, barebones, single-aircraft operations to large luxury-oriented groups with impressive fleets.

The following examples reflect the range of club experiences available. Organization, fees, equipment, and priorities vary widely, so try to decide exactly what you wish to get out of a club and how much you are willing to contribute. After all, clubs tend to be more rewarding for people who participate beyond the simple pay-to-play level. 

Pilot Partner Flyers

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS)

Austin, Texas

This club operates a 1974 Beechcraft Sundowner, a fixed-gear four-seater designed to compete with Cessna 172s and Piper PA-28s in the training and personal-aircraft markets. It has a mix of digital and analog instruments and would be ideal for a range of pilots, from new students to regular renters and those working on instrument, commercial, and other advanced ratings. The club also developed software to streamline scheduling, payments, and maintenance.

High Sierra Pilots

Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV)

Minden, Nevada

This is a big club. With an assortment of about a dozen aircraft, mostly Cessnas and Pipers, members can travel and train in models ranging from a Cessna 150 to a Piper Aztec twin. Tailwheel and aerobatic training are available in a Piper Cub and Bellanca Super Decathlon. Members also have access to an FAA-approved BATD flight simulator from Gleim Aviation, which can be used for training.

Artisan Flying Club

Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International Airport (KROC)

Rochester, New York

This club is a not-for-profit corporation that focuses on promoting general aviation in its upstate New York territory. However, members are encouraged to take its two aircraft, a 1979 Piper Warrior II and a 1979 Piper Arrow IV, on long trips. The club regularly updates a map showing some of the long flights its members take, including trips to the Florida Keys, the West Coast, and into Canada. Its two-airplane fleet is ideal for pilots looking to move up from basic to complex aircraft. 

Capital City Flyers

Dane County Regional Airport (KMSN)

Madison, Wisconsin

A fleet of three IFR-certified aircraft, including a Piper Archer, Diamond DA40, and Cessna 182RG, reflects this group’s focus on instrument flying and training. The Diamond offers pilots a glass-cockpit experience while the 182RG would be attractive to pilots seeking complex and high-performance endorsements. As is the case with many clubs, the number of members is limited, and prospective members, called shareholders, have to buy a share from a departing member. The club, which has operated for more than 60 years, says typical annual turnover is three to six members.

The post Looking Into Flying Clubs? Many Offer More Training and Travel Options appeared first on FLYING Magazine.