Today’s Top Pick is a 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico Club.

Sometimes the most basic airplanes also are the most practical and economical for first-time buyers who are—officially or not—acquiring an aircraft to continue their aviation education.

One possible downside is that there is not much variety in that market segment. Whatever you find is likely to come with a Lycoming O-320 on the nose, fixed-pitch propeller, fixed gear, and an overall design that is not too exciting.

One exception is the SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, which, despite sharing specs with basic Cessna 172s and Piper PA-28s, manages to look alluring on the ramp. The stylish, upward-opening gull-wing doors certainly help. So does its more modern shape, which, in my opinion, clearly did not emerge from a domestic drafting table.

The Tampico and its siblings, the more powerful TB-10 Tobago and retractable TB-20 Trinidad, simply look European, which they are. They are not orphan designs, though, as SOCATA’s parent company Daher, known today for TBM turboprops, continues to support these piston singles.

The Tampico is sure to be a superior icebreaker for any pilot flying into an unfamiliar airport. People will ask what kind of airplane you are flying and you will have the opportunity to share the model’s interesting details.      

This 1992 TB-9 Tampico has 3,611 hours on the airframe, 1,531 hours in its 160 hp Lycoming O-320-D2A engine since its major overhaul, and 71 hours since the engine underwent a top overhaul. Additional equipment includes strobe lights, heated pitot tube, and alternate static system

The IFR panel includes a KMA 24 audio panel with markers, Garmin GNS 430 GPS/nav/comm, NSD-360 HSI, KT 76 transponder with encoder, two-place intercom, and wing beacon with ADS-B Out.

Pilots searching for a more stylish four-seat personal aircraft that is versatile enough for training, building time, or traveling should consider this 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico, which is available for $69,500 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 1992 SOCATA TB-9 Tampico Is a Stylish-But-Economical ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1975 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six.

Many pilots I know regard the Piper Cherokee Six as one of those airplanes that was pretty much right from the beginning. Introduced in 1965, the big six-seater changed little over its decadeslong production run, which ended in 1990 but restarted in the early 2000s. The aircraft’s straightforward design, with fixed gear, big cabin, and lots of power, appealed to owners more interested in carrying big loads than in setting speed records. Still, with 300 hp (a 260 hp version was also available), the Six is no slouch.

If we had to pick one word to describe the PA-32-300’s appeal, we might choose “wide.” The cabin is famous for measuring 4 feet wide and 4 feet high, so passengers do not have to rub shoulders. There is also a lot of space for cargo, especially if you remove the rear seats, which does not require tools.

This 1975 PA-32-300 has 3,774 hours on the airframe and 1,799 hours on its 300 hp Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 engine since the last major overhaul. The engine has 542 hours since its last top overhaul. The aircraft’s Hartzell propeller has 367 hours since overhaul.

The panel includes a Narco Nav/Com, Garmin GN 250 Nav/Com, GMA 340 audio panel and 6-place intercom, Narco AT150 transponder, uAvionix ADS-B SkyBeacon, 6-point EGT and CHT, Davtron M655 digital display, and Piper AutoControl IIIB autopilot. Additional equipment includes aileron and flap gap fairings, Knots 2U wheel pants, SureFly electronic ignition, dual toe brakes, and dual push-to-talk switches.

Pilots looking for a straightforward, utilitarian, fixed-gear airplane with room for six and a useful load many retractables cannot match should consider this 1975 Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six, which is available for $149,900 on AircraftForSale.

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

• FLYING Magazine: The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six
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• Plane & Pilot: Piper Cherokee Six 260/300
• Plane & Pilot: Choosing A Six-Seat Single

The post This 1975 Piper Cherokee Six Is a Winged SUV and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.