General Aviation Aircraft
Explore Plane & Pilot Magazine’s Aircraft section for trusted reviews, detailed pilot reports, and expert comparisons. From legendary trainers to cutting-edge designs, we help pilots evaluate performance, specs, and ownership experiences to make confident decisions in the air and on the ground.
HAWKER 400XP
STANDARD DATA: Seats 7-9. Gross wt. 16,500. Empty wt. 10,550. Fuel capacity 733. Engines two 2,965-lb. Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 turbofans. PERFORMANCE: Max cruise 450 kts. Long range cruise 414 kts. Range 874-1,687 nm. Ceiling 45,000′. Takeoff distance 3,906′. Landing distance 3,514′. The design began as the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond in 1978. In 1985 Beechcraft […]
CASSUTT SPECIAL II
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 800. Empty wt. 500. Fuel capacity 15. Wingspan 15’0″. Length 16′. Engine 85-hp Continental. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 235. Cruise mph 180. Stall mph 62. Climb rate 2,000. Takeoff run 600. Landing roll 525. Range 600. The Cassutt Formula I racer and sport plane is a little mid-wing flash that commonly wrings […]
CAVALIER
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,500. Empty wt. 900. Fuel capacity 34. Wingspan 26’10”. Length 18’4″. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 2,200. Cruise mph 155. Stall mph 50. Climb rate 1,500. Range 850. Landing roll 800. The Cavalier is a sporty side-by-side two-seater of all wood-and-fabric construction. It can use any four cylinder Continental, Lycoming, or Franklin engine […]
CHRISTEN “EAGLE II”
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,578. Empty wt. 1,025. Fuel capacity 26. Wingspan 19’11”. Length 18’6″. Engine 200-hp Lycoming. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 184. Cruise mph 165. Stall mph 58. Climb rate 2,100. Ceiling 17,000. Takeoff distance (50) 1,250. Landing distance (50′) 1,575. Range 380. The Eagle II is a two-seat sporting biplane that can be used […]
CIRRUS DESIGN “VK30″
Alan and Dale Klapmeier, progenitors of the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 certified aircraft, offered a kit aircraft in 1987 called the VK30. The five-seater was powered by a 300-hp Continental pusher engine and had a cruise speed of over 200 mph. The Klapmeiers sold the rights to an Israeli company with intentions to certify the […]
CONDOR K-10 “SHOESTRING”
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 800. Empty wt. 525. Fuel capacity 10. Wingspan 19′. Length 17’8″. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 225. Cruise mph 180. Stall mph 65. Climb rate 3,000. Takeoff run 500. Range 360. One of the more successful Formula I racers is the Shoestring. Constructed from the conventional combination of steel tubing, wood, and fabric, […]
D‘APUZZO “JUNIOR AERO SPORT”
STANDARD DATA: Gross wt. 1,275. Empty wt. 840. Fuel capacity 20. Wingspan 21’8″, Length 18’3″. Engine 180-hp Lycoming. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 160. Cruise mph 140. Stall mph 55. Climb rate 2,500. Ceiling 20,000. Takeoff run 400. Landing roll 550 Range 300. This single-seat sporting biplane is a smaller version of the Senior Aero Sport and […]
