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Thinking about buying a plane? In this article, we’ll discuss what the cheapest plane on the market is and whether or not you should buy it.
Buying a plane is one of the most exciting things you can do. Trust me, I’ve been there myself. Whether you’re in the market for your first plane or you’ve bought several in the past, finding the right one is always a process you have to go through. If you’re just looking to get into a plane for as little money as possible, this is the article for you. What’s the cheapest plane?
The Cessna 150 is the most affordable plane on the market. It's perfect for beginner pilots who are looking for an easy-to-fly aircraft. The Cessna 150 has a single-engine and can fly up to speeds of 124 miles per hour. It also has a service ceiling of 15,300 feet and a range of 350 miles.
With the answer to this question being a fairly straightforward one, we’ll focus on the Cessna 150 as a whole in this article so that you can decide if you want to buy one. In this article, we’ll talk about how much a Cessna 150 costs, whether it’s a good plane, its features, if you should buy one or not, and how it compares to the very similar Cessna 152. At the end, you’ll also get a list of some of the other most affordable planes on the market to consider.
SkyTough is becoming one of the leading aviation sites on the web and for good reason. We focus on providing you with only the best, most helpful content that you can find. Instead of just regurgitating what information is already out there, we focus on providing unique, useful information that you really want to know. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll know exactly what the cheapest plane is.
Cessna 150: The Cheapest Plane
Since we’ve already answered this question plainly in the introduction, I won’t waste more of your time by going into a monologue about what the cheapest plane is. It’s the Cessna 150. Instead, let’s focus on the plane and go into a complete overview of the 150 so you can decide if it’s the right plane for you!
How Much Does A Cessna 150 Cost?
A used Cessna 150 can be found for as little as $15,000 or less if you happen to find a great deal. That said, depending on what the market is looking like at the time you’re searching for a plane, it might be more like $20,000 or more. But, as I was writing this article, I found one in under five minutes of searching on Trade-A-Plane for just $17,000, so it can be done!
Is A Cessna 150 A Good Plane?
The Cessna 150 is a great plane for just about anyone, including even beginner pilots. It's one of the easiest planes to fly, has just one engine to worry about, and is made by the most popular civilian plane manufacturer in the world. So, even if you’ve just gotten your wings, it can be a great option. Is the Cessna 150 the right choice for you? Let's take a closer look at its features!
How Does A Cessna 150 Perform?
The Cessna 150 uses a Continental O-200-A engine. This engine provides 100 horsepower and allows the plane to reach speeds of up to 124 miles per hour. While this is not very fast compared to other planes on the market, top speed typically isn’t the biggest concern that pilots have when considering buying a new plane, especially on a budget! It also has a service ceiling of 15,300 feet, which is shockingly high compared to how high other planes fly.
How Far Does A Cessna 150 Fly Between Fill-Ups?
The Cessna 150 can travel up to 350 miles between fill-ups. That means you won't have to worry about your plane running out of fuel in the middle of a flight! You'll be able to fly for hours without having any problems with your gas tank being empty or low on fuel as long as the fuel system is well-maintained. The 150 burns about 5.6 gallons of fuel per hour under normal flying conditions.
What Is The Cessna 150's Service Ceiling?
The Cessna 150 has a service ceiling of 15,300 feet. This means that the plane can fly up to that altitude while still flying efficiently. So, if you're ever in trouble and need to get away from bad weather or potential dangers then the Cessna 150 is a great option! It can fly higher than most other planes in its class (even the Cessna 152 and 172) so you'll be able to escape quickly and easily.
How Many Passengers Can A Cessna 150 Hold?
A Cessna 150 can hold up to two total passengers at a time. This includes the pilot, so it’s really only designed for people that want to fly by themselves or with just one other person. If you’re looking for an affordable option that can carry more people, check out the wildly popular Cessna 172 which has four seats. Or if you want something even bigger, look at our guide of the cheapest 6-seater airplanes on the market.
Should I Buy A Cessna 150?
Now that you know all about the Cessna 150, is it the right plane for you? Well, only you can answer that question. But, we think that the Cessna 150 is a great option for everyone (including beginner pilots) who are looking for a cheap, fun, and easy-to-fly aircraft. It's perfect for those who want to learn how to fly or for anyone just looking to add a personal airplane to their collection that they can fly any time they want.
How Does A Cessna 150 Compare To A Cessna 152?
The Cessna 152 is a newer model of the Cessna 150, replacing it in 1978. I’ll touch on some of the major comparison points here, but for a full breakdown of how these planes compare to one another, check out our in-depth analysis of Cessna 150 vs Cessna 152.
It has a more powerful engine (which provides 110 horsepower) and can travel up to speeds of 127 miles per hour. The service ceiling is actually slightly lower on the Cessna 152, coming in at 14,700 feet. That said, the 152 climbs a bit faster than the 150 with a climb rate of 715 feet per minute (fpm) compared to the 150’s 670 fpm. Similarly to the Cessna 150, the 152 also holds just two passengers.
And lastly, the big one — price. The Cessna 152 will typically cost upwards of $35,000 or more, quite a bit more than the 150! So, which plane should you buy? If you're looking for an affordable option that's easy-to-fly then go with the Cessna 150. But if you want a more powerful engine and don't mind paying a bit more, then go with the Cessna 152!
What Are Some Other Cheap Planes Worth Considering?
If you aren’t completely sold on the Cessna 150 just yet, don’t fret. While it might be the overall cheapest plane out there on average, that doesn’t mean you can’t find some other great planes at a good price! For an in-depth look at the cheapest planes to buy, check out our full article on the topic here.
But for the sake of this piece, here are some of the other most affordable planes for you to consider:
- Luscombe Silvaire — $16,000 to $24,000
- Ercoupe 415-C — $18,000 to $20,000
- Piper Cherokee 140 — $20,000 - $22,000
- Aeronca Champ — $22,000 - $24,000
- Beechcraft Skipper — $24,000 - $25,000
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk — $26,000 - $30,000
- Stinson 108 — $28,000 - $36,000
Keep in mind that prices change all the time and sometimes you might not find these planes listed for the prices seen here. But if you are patient with your purchase and willing to wait for the right deal, you might be surprised at how often these deals come up!
