Plane & Pilot 2021 Buyer‘s Guide: Single-Engine Piston Planes

Newcomers, upgrades, and old favorites: 20 piston singles for 2017.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The piston single aircraft market offers a diverse range of options, from utilitarian fixed-gear models to high-performance pressurized screamers, with notable updates to existing designs and new Part 23-certificated aircraft.
  • Leading models like the Cirrus SR22 G6 continue to dominate sales, with many aircraft incorporating advanced avionics suites such as Garmin's G1000 NXi or G3000 for enhanced functionality and safety.
  • Premium piston singles emphasize advanced features like pressurization, anti-icing, high speeds, long ranges, and spacious cabins, catering to varied pilot needs and preferences.
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Beechcraft G36 Bonanza
Beechcraft G36 Bonanza

Beechcraft G36 Bonanza

When you think of the ideal personal transportation piston single, it’s hard not to think of the G36 Bonanza, a fast, six-place retractable cruiser with club seating in back and a big, comfy barn door for passengers to climb into and back out of the plane. The basic design of the plane hasn’t changed in decades, but the quality and design character, if anything, have only grown stronger over time. And the electronics are light-years ahead of any ’60s-era Model 36, with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite standard. Beechcraft, now a part of Textron Aviation, only sells a few dozen Bonanzas a year, and they go for a premium. But the pleasure and pride Beechcraft owners take in their planes, owners will tell you, is hard to beat.

Niche: Premium, retractable-gear single

Base Price: $799,000

Competitors: Cirrus SR22, Cessna TTx, Piper Matrix

Read our G36 Bonanza pilot report.

Beechcraft G36 Bonanza Specifications

Learn more at Beechcraft.

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