Best Non-High Performance 6 Seater Aircraft?

Question

What airplane would you recommend that seats 6, but is not high performance? I only have my private pilot license yet, but the company I work for is looking to buy an airplane.

Answer 1

My first choice would be the Piper Cherokee 6,My second choice would be the Cessna 206.
The best bang for the buck would be the Piper and the older 260 is fine.
I personally had these aircraft and they both are fine but the Pipers have the Lycoming engine and most Cessnas have the Contintal,I prefer Lycoming.
Right now the twin market is down and the Piper Senecas are a good choice and not much more training for you multi and High Performance endorsement.10 to 15 hours.
I like the Seneca one for they had the Lycoming IO-360 200 H.P. four hundred total H.P, and is the same empanage as the Cherokee 6,cruise at 170 K burning 16 GPH.These planes are all very easy to fly and very forgiving for a low time pilot.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

There are no six seater non-high performance (under 200HP) aircraft.

The Cherokee Six is definitely a good aircraft. It is a real six seater (not like the 206 where the back passengers are jammed in tight) and some have club seating in the back. There is extra cargo space between the engine and the firewall too that the 206 doesn't have.

I flew the Six for an air-cargo outfit and it was great. With 260HP, old paint, and no wheel fairings it trues out at 150MPH. The aircraft is quite easy to fly and goes for about $80,000 to $200,000 used. The Lycoming O-540 is bulletproof and the IO-540 can give you more continuous power than the IO-520 on the 206 (300HP vs 285HP).

I wouldn't recommend any twin other than the Piper Navajo, which is quite a jump in price and performance. The Seneca's are maintenance pigs and have terrible single-engine performance.

Answer 3

That is true. the FAA defines a high performance airplane as any aircraft that has an engine horsepower greater then 200HP (201HP). I'm sure Canada is the same Now this is not combined, for example if you are flying a twin that has 200HP on each side, it is not a high performance airplane. It has to be 201HP per side. For insurance reasons IF you are going complex (retractable gear, flaps and controllable pitch prop) then high performance is not going to be that big if an issue. It will depend greatly on the number of hours you have as a pilot and training done. The more ratings you ad, the cheaper the insurance becomes but they also may require a certain amount of "time in type". The SR20 is neither complex or high performance but does have a controllable pitch prop. I'm certain the insurance company will require a proper checkout from an instructor for this aircraft.

Answer 4

Sounds like you better get a Commercial license first. Not many if any, non high performance 6 seaters. a high performance endorsement is easy it is just a competency thing. Show your competent and you got it. You will be glad you did. Then go get a Cherokee six. But be careful landing it at gross weight they can be tricky. Don't cut the power to early.

Answer 5

all you need is a private certificate, however, you must get a high performance "endorsement"
easy enough, a cfi will endorse your log book after he/she is satisfied you are competent.
No oral exam, no written exam, no practical (flight test) exam just some instruction from a qualified CFI. If you are compensated (not always meaning money!!) in any way you must posses a commercial pilot certificate. Might as well get you instrument as well if you need it for business as VERY often wx is a no go. Good luck!

edit: to answere your question, the cherokee 6 would be my vote.

Answer 6

Not sure if it is a high performance aircraft, but the Piper Saratoga is a great aircraft that seats 6.

Answer 7

Honestly, if you are intimidated by flying high performance aircraft you have no business asking passengers to come along. And if you plan on carrying passengers who are forced to fly for work and not by choice you at least owe it to thier safety to get an IFR ticket.

BTW, there is NO six seat piston single that will carry six adult passengers.

Spend the time, study, enjoy every lesson. Really really learn all you can and never stop learning about aircraft and systems and you'll find the rewards exponential in aviation. --Otherwise you're dangerous.

Answer 8

Dude, go get your hi-perf checkout. Its no biggie (most flight instructors will do it in one or two lessons). You need 200+ hp to do anything with five, let alone 6 people. Then i would look hard at 206s, 210s and bonanzas.

Answer 9

I don't really know about performances of aircraft, but I would say a Cessna Caravan.

Answer 10

i would think the cessanas. that company has some great planes

wish you the best