Many pilots, after receiving their private pilot license in a single engine airplane, consider the “next” step. For most, the next step may be an instrument rating. But what if you wanted to buy a Piper Seneca as your personal airplane? Well, then your next step may be to get your multi-engine rating. You can, of course, then get instrument rated in the Piper Seneca.

What do you need to know about purchasing a twin engine aircraft for sale? Well, for starters, you will want to decide if you want to do your multi-engine training in your airplane or in the flight school rental. There are pros and cons to each.

The pros to getting your multi-engine rating in a flight school airplane are the following:

1. Wear and tear is not on your aircraft. Multiple take-off and landings when you’re learning (so let’s just say they aren’t your best landings), multiple engine shut downs and restarts, and heavy changes in power settings are very hard on an airplanes airframe and engine.

2. You will have your multi-engine rating when you get your airplane, which will help with the insuring your airplane.

The cons to getting your multi-engine rating in a flight school airplane are the following:

1. You may get used to a different airplane other than what you are purchasing.

2. You are going to have to at least go up with an instructor to transition you to your aircraft unless the flight school has the exact same model.

3. If you are a low time pilot, insurance may require you to do a certain amount of hours in your aircraft with an instructor anyway, in which time you may be able to get your multi-engine rating.

Multi-engine ratings usually do not take a lot of time. Most pilots that are current can get it done in the 10 hour range.

Your next steps in searching the used aircraft market for twin engine airplanes would be deciding which kind of twin suits your needs. Are you looking for more useful load than what a single engine airplane can provide, or are you planning on doing many flights over water where the second engine comes in for safety?

There are several different options out there that you should be aware of, ranging from a light twin such as a Piper Seneca, to the larger Beechcraft Baron, up to a larger workhorse such as the Piper Navajo Chieftan. Once you have decided your needs and your budget, you may want to give the insurance company a call and make sure you can get insured in the airplane you are looking at. A new pilot with low multi time is going to have a hard time getting insured in a Piper Navajo. So talk to the insurer and see what kind of time they are looking for and what schooling options may be available to help.

After you have decided on what type of aircraft you want, you can search the aircraft for sale market for the best deal out there. Keep in mind that prices that look too good to be true usually are, and the assistance of an experienced broker can help you in more ways that you can imagine.

I have posted before about not buying a small single engine airplane when you plan on toting a family around. I have mentioned that a four place aircraft doesn’t hold four adults (usually) and enough fuel to get you far- or even off the runway. A four place aircraft could take two adults and one or two small children, however- or so I thought.

Well, here is my issue. I have been trying to plan a quick trip from Tampa to the Florida Keys in my family’s Piper Archer. The trip takes just under 2 hours, as compared to a seven hour drive. It’s a quick and easy flight, and since I am from the Keys, I like to go spend time down there, especially since my parents still have their house down there (i.e., free place to crash!). Well, now I have a son who is a year old. You would think that two adults and one very small child would be fine in a Piper Archer. Then you start to think about all the stuff you have to tug along for kids. He needs a portable crib, some entertaining toys, a suitcase for all of his stuff. Well, now the Archer is looking a little small! So what to do?

My first thought would be a used Cessna 210. I used to fly them for a freight company and have seen first-hand the amount of stuff those beasts can haul. They are still single-engine which I prefer for maintenance (cost) reasons. They definitely aren’t the prettiest airplanes around, which I feel like the Archer is a good looking airplane. The Archer has also been in my family for over 20 years, in fact, 24 years ago, I took my first flight in that airplane, to the keys, when I was only 4 weeks old.

Any other parents out there who are pilots that tote around kids? Do you just take less stuff and figure it out, or do you have an airplane that can actually carry all your stuff? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Are you searching the internet for a used aircraft? Do you find yourself looking at all sorts of aircraft for sale without a lot of direction? Are you wondering what other people are looking for? It’s interesting to know what other aircraft buyers are looking at purchasing for many reasons.

One reason is that it may bring up an aircraft that you may have overlooked. Maybe you have only been looking at Mooneys and Piper Arrows while overlooking a Cirrus SR22 that could fit your needs without the added maintenance of retractable gear.

Another reason you may want to look at the popular aircraft for sale is because even though a rare aircraft may suit your unique personality, finding parts and a mechanic that can work on that rare airplane may be difficult and expensive.

So what are the most popular aircraft for sale online? Well, it depends greatly on which category people are searching, but here is a general breakdown.

Single Engine Pistons: Cessna 172, Cirrus SR22, Piper Archer, Mooney, Beechcraft Bonanza, and Diamond.

Multi Engine Pistons: Beechcraft Baron, Piper Seneca, Cessna 310, and Piper Navajo.

Turbo Prop: Beechcraft King Air 90, Beechcraft King Air 200, Beechcraft King Air 300, Pilatus PC12, Piper Cheyenne, Cessna Conquest.

Jet: Learjet, Cessna Citation X, Beechcraft Beechjet, Falcon 50,  and Gulfstream IV.

Piston Helicopter: Robinson R44, Robinson R22, Schweizer 300.

Turbine Helicopter: Bell 407, Agusta, Eurocopter, MD 500