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Have you ever dreamed of having a small plane of your own? Well, if you're planning to buy one, you're probably wondering how much a 6-seater plane costs.
New private planes range in price from $100,000 for a modest 6-seater and go up to $500 million for a highly customized plane. You'll also have to pay around $275 in hangar fees and $100 for tie-down equipment, up to $2000 per year in insurance costs, and up to $1200 in inspection fees.
Having a plane of your own symbolizes independence, as it allows you to travel wherever you want, anytime you want. But let's be honest, it's not going to be cheap. After all, only the wealthiest and most powerful people have their own private planes, so if you're one of them, you're already ahead of the game.
Apart from providing you with the convenience and recreational pleasures you desire, owning a 6-seater plane entails a great deal of responsibility, which includes financial accountability. The prices can add up quickly, with charges ranging from the purchase price and down payment through repairs, storage fees, insurance, and fuel. So, to help you make the best decision, we have written this article that talks about the costs involved with buying and owning a 6-seater plane. We have also listed some planes and their prices... in case you were looking to get one for yourself.
How Much Does a 6-Seater Plane Cost?
One of the first decisions you'll have to make is which type of plane to purchase. The sort of plane you want to buy significantly impacts the price. You might be able to pay for your plane in cash if you're really lucky. However, not everyone enjoys this luxury. You might need to take out a loan to make your purchase. Don't forget that, in addition to the wholesale price of your plane, you'll have to factor in the interest you'll pay on top of that. But don't get too comfortable because you aren't quite there yet. There are other factors to consider.
Storage
Planes must be stored at an airport, either in hangars or outside, when they are not in use. Outside storage is often less expensive than hangars and other covered places, though this varies by region and airport location. In general, urban airports charge more than rural airports. Meanwhile, the average monthly hangar fee is $275, plus $100 for tiedown equipment. Incidentally, residential storage is rarely available to the average small plane owner.
Inspections and Maintenance
Each time you fly, make a contribution to this fund to pay for any unexpected charges that may arise. Small planes must have annual inspections, which can cost anything from $600 to $1,200, with specialist planes with retractable landing gear costing more.
Insurance
Aviation insurance protects your plane from harm and protects you from liability if something goes wrong with it. Coverage varies by policy, and aircraft damage is divided into two categories: in-flight and external. It's best to speak with a professional aviation insurance agent when choosing small aircraft insurance, which costs between $1,200 and $2,000 per year.
Oil and Gas
Oil changes for small aircraft should be done every four months or 50 hours, whichever comes first. This equates to three oil changes each year for the average user. The normal small plane burns five to ten gallons of fuel per hour. Aviation fuel is substantially more expensive than regular gasoline, costing an average of $5 per gallon.
List of 6-Seater Planes
A36 Bonanza Beechcraft
Over the years, Beech created various Bonanza versions, but the A36 remains the most popular. It had a 10-inch longer fuselage than the previous Model 33, as well as starboard rear twin doors for the aft cabin and a 285 horsepower Continental IO-520-B engine.
Price: $100,000 to $375,000
Stationair Cessna 206
The 206 Stationair can be compared to a flying SUV. It was essentially a fixed-gear version of the popular Cessna 210 (also a good choice for used plane buyers) with a revised wing and larger flaps when it was introduced in 1964. The original engine was a 285 hp Continental IO-520-A, but it was quickly replaced with a 300 hp Continental IO-520-F, which increased the maximum takeoff weight. Business operators favor the 206 due to its large rear clamshell door, which allows for the loading of large objects.
Price: $100,000 to $353,000
Cherokee Six Piper
The Piper Cherokee Six can be compared to a minivan if the Cessna Stationair is the aerial equivalent of an SUV. The PA-32 Cherokee is well-known for its massive size. It was originally powered by a 260-horsepower Lycoming O-540 engine, but a fuel-injected 300-horsepower variant quickly became the preferred power source.
Price: $50,000 to $175,000
Piper Malibu Mirage
The PA-46 Malibu is the only single with a pressurized piston that makes our list, and it's also the most refined. The Continental TSIO-520-BE engine, rated at 310 horsepower, was used to power the PA-46-310P Malibu, introduced in 1983. Piper released the PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage in 1988, which had a more powerful turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A engine and a redesigned wing as the popularity of the new model rose.
Price: $250,000 to $500,000
B55 Baron Beechcraft
Prices for secondhand piston twins have dropped due to a variety of factors, including increased complexity and higher ownership expenses, making them more affordable than many high-performance singles. If you're looking for a used light twin, the B55 Baron should be on your list. The B55 is a smaller version of the B58, dubbed the "baby Baron" by many. It has decent usable loads, allowing it to carry a family of six, baggage, and enough fuel for four-hour legs with reserves.
Price: 124,650 to $309,900
Piper Turbo Seneca II
In terms of build quality and performance, the Piper Seneca II falls short of the Beech Baron, but it makes up for it in terms of operating costs and total cost of ownership. The PA-34-200T, which debuted in 1975 and is powered by turbocharged Continental TSIO-360-E or -EB engines, delivers better handling and performance than the original Seneca I.
Price: $150,000 to $179,000
Cessna 310R
The Cessna 310 was Cessna's first twin after WWII, and it made an immediate impression with its elegant aesthetics and performance, easily outperforming the best-selling light twin of the time, the Piper Apache. The 310 was so popular that it was produced for another 26 years.
Price: $175,000
Piper Meridian
The Piper Meridian, which is based on the Malibu Mirage piston single, is a good entry-level turboprop. With the Pratt & Whitney PT6A's famous reliability, performance, and operating economics, it's an airplane that many pilots of high-performance piston singles will feel right at home in. Early variants have Meggitt Magic avionics, but more current models have the Avidyne Entegra system.
Price: $650,000 to $1.5 million
C90 King Air
The King Air family is among the most successful general aviation 6-seater aircraft of all time. The plane constitutes a category of large, reliable, and cost-effective twin turboprops, with over 6,000 constructed. The six-seat King Air 90, which first flew in 1964 and is now known as the King Air C90GTx, has been in continuous production for more than 50 years.
Price: $300,000 to $800,000
CJ1 Cessna
The CJ1 is the successor to the popular Citation Jet series, providing all of the benefits of the original while also improving economy and performance, making it a viable option for anyone looking for a six-seat jet. Cessna changed the Citation Jet from a straight wing to a natural-laminar-flow wing, which provides improved lift-to-drag characteristics for increased speed and efficiency. It stands out in the light-jet sector thanks to its fuel-efficient Williams engines.
Price: $1,710,000 - $2,090,000
Phenom 100 Embraer
At the height of the VLJ mania a decade ago, Embraer was known more for its regional aircraft than business jets, and the Phenom 100 broke new ground for the company. Though it's frequently compared to the Citation Mustang, the Phenom 100 is more comparable to the Cessna CJ1+. It's a single-pilot-friendly twinjet with its Prodigy flight deck, which is based on the G1000 avionics system.
Price: $1.75 million to $4.25 million