Top 10 High-Performance General Aviation Aircraft of All Time
Posted by BAS | Aircraft Salvage Experts on Sep 26th 2023
General aviation is growing at an exponential rate. According to market analysis by Mordor Intelligence, general aviation market capitalization is expected to hit $40.20 billion by 2028. This growth is massively credited to the production of high-performance piston-engine aircraft that have enhanced pilot training and allowed aviation enthusiasts to own and fly these aircraft.
The FAA defines a high-performance aircraft as an aircraft with engines producing more than 200 horsepower. This article breaks down the top ten high-performance general aircraft of all time.
1. Beechcraft Bonanza/Debonair
Beechcraft Bonanza is a general aviation aircraft that was first manufactured in 1947. Beech Aircraft Corporation is still producing the plane, making it among the most produced aircraft in aviation history. More than 17,000 units have been manufactured and sold.
The aircraft has constantly improved, with more than 17,000 variants manufactured since its inauguration. The aircraft is powered by a piston engine that produces 225 horsepower and has a capacity of 6 occupants, including the pilot seat. The aircraft has a tricycle retractable undercarriage configuration and low wings mounted at the bottom of the fuselage.
The Model 35 Bonanza was among the first Beechcraft Bonanza variants. At a time when most general aviation aircraft were made of fabric and wood, the Model 35 Bonanza was made of all aluminum and executed its first flight on December 22, 1945, after World War II ended.
2. Cessna 400 Corvalis TTX
The Cessna 400 is a high-performance piston-engine aircraft. The aircraft is also known as the Cessna TTX. The aircraft's single power plant is a turbocharged Continental TSIO-550-C intercooled engine with six cylinders that produce around 310 horsepower. Like the Beechcraft Bonanza, the Cessna TTX has a low wing configuration, which entails the wings mounted onto the bottom of the fuselage. This low-wing configuration gives the pilot easier access to the cockpit and a better upward view. The aircraft has a sitting capacity of four occupants, including the pilot.
The Cessna TTX was not a huge winner for Cessna. The TTX version was given some major updates to Garmin2000 suite avionics with a host of high-tech add-ons. Nonetheless, it was produced until 2018 when Cessna pulled the plug on the 400 TTX due to low sales volume.
3. Piper PA-32R
The Piper PA-32R is a single-engine fixed low-wing high-performance aircraft. Piper Aircraft, a general aviation airplane manufacturing company based in Vero Beach, Florida, designed and developed the airplane. The Piper PA-32R’s only engine produces 300 horsepower and has a retractable tricycle landing undercarriage with single wheels on each unit. The aircraft has a seating configuration of six occupants, including the pilot. The Piper PA-32R aircraft undertook its first flight in August 1974 and was introduced to the market in 1975. The production of Piper PA-32R ended in 2009.
This airplane has a low wing with wing-mounted fuel tanks holding up to 102 gallons. This fuel capacity is responsible for the aircraft’s improved range and versatility, making it ideal for general aviation activities.
4. Cessna 210 Centurion
Cessna 210 Centurion is an aircraft with retractable landing gear and a piston engine. The aircraft is a high-performance airplane because its engine produces 285 horsepower. Unlike the Piper PA-32R and the Cessna 400, The Cessna 210 has a fixed high-wing configuration, which means the wings are mounted at the top of the fuselage.
The aircraft undertook its first flight in 1957, and Cessna ended mass production in 1986. The earlier version of the Cessna 210 (Cessna 210 and 210A) could carry up to four occupants, including the pilot. However, Cessna redesigned the aircraft’s fuselage to accommodate two more seats and a third side window. Therefore, the Cessna 210 Centurion could have six occupants in a single flight with the new modifications.
5. Cirrus SR22/SR22T
The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine high-performance aircraft. The aircraft was developed as an upgrade of the Cirrus SR20. Some of the upgrades from its predecessor include a larger wing, increased fuel capacity, and a powerful engine that could produce up to 310 horsepower.
This aircraft broke the world record as the best-selling general aviation aircraft from 2001 to 2022. This model accounts for almost 30% of the entire general aviation piston engine market share. The plane has advanced safety measures, including an emergency parachute system that deploys when the aircraft becomes uncontrollable.
The SR22T version was released in 2010. The Continental TSIO-550 K turbocharged engine that powers the Cirrus SR22T produces 315 horsepower. It performs better in shorter flights and is less helpful for moving heavier goods over longer distances.
6. Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a general aviation aircraft with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine. The single engine is powerful enough to produce 1300 shaft horsepower at 1700 propeller revolutions per minute. The aircraft was developed in 1991 by Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft and is still in production today.
This aircraft is pressurized with a tricycle landing gear configuration. Each landing gear unit has one wheel.
Although the aircraft falls under the general aviation category, it suits corporate transport well. The aircraft is relatively large, with up to nine occupants, including the pilot. The plane also has a high wing configuration and a spacious cargo compartment with a large aft cargo door for loading and unloading cargo. This aircraft has a glass cockpit with advanced avionics display and autopilot.
7. Mooney M20 Series
The Mooney M20 is a series of piston-engine aircraft serving general aviation activities and pilot training. The aircraft family has a similar design, which includes four seats, a propeller-driven engine, and low-mounted wings. The different variants of the series are powered by various engines produced by engine manufacturers like Continental and Lycoming.
The aircraft series members have tricycle retractable landing gear, with each unit having one wheel. The first flight was undertaken by The Mooney M20A in 1953 and was later manufactured in masses in 1955 by Mooney International Corporation. The most recent production of the Mooney M20 series is the M20V, which was dispatched in 2019.
Not all variants in the series are ‘high performance’ aircraft as per the FAA’s definition. Some high-performance M20 series variants include the M20K Encore, M20K 231, M20M Bravo, M20S Eagle, M20U Ovation Ultra and M20TN Acclaim.
8. Extra EA-300
The Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 is an acrobatic monoplane aircraft with a single engine and a passenger configuration of two occupants, including the pilot. The airplane was designed and developed by a German aerobatic pilot, Walter Extra, in 1987. The fuselage of the Extra 300 is made of aluminum and fabric to withstand high levels of G forces and structural stress during intense maneuvers. The aircraft is powered by a single engine that can produce 300 horsepower.
The aircraft can withstand ±10 G forces with one occupant and ±8 G with two. The acrobatic airplane has a fixed landing gear undercarriage with a taildragger configuration, meaning the main landing gear is found in the fore part of the airplane, and the tail wheel is located in the aft position.
The aircraft has an exceptional climb rate and executes high-energy maneuvers and rapid rolls. Its characteristics make it a suitable plane for airshows and acrobatic competitions. The aircraft is also used for advanced flight training, such as upset recovery, and is a good airplane for recreation.
9. Piper PA-46 Malibu
The Piper PA-46 Malibu is now a member of the M-Class. The aircraft has a single propeller-driven engine and up to six occupants, including the pilot. The aircraft’s engine produces 310 horsepower, making it a high-performance aircraft.
The earlier versions of the PA-46 Malibu were all powered by Piston engines. However, the company introduced a turboprop model called the Malibu Meridian, now called M500. The first version of the Piper PA-46 Malibu was developed in 1982 and was FAA-certified in 1983. The aircraft is still being produced at the time of this publication.
BAS Part Sales is one of the leading suppliers of used parts for the Piper PA-46 family of aircraft, including the Meridian M500, and the ultra-lux M600/SLS.
10. Cessna 206 Stationair
The Cessna 206 stationair is a general aviation single-engine fixed landing gear aircraft. The aircraft was introduced in 1964 and has a cabin configuration that can house six occupants in one flight, including the pilot. The aircraft model is still in production at the time of this publication, with many sub-variants hitting the skies today. The aircraft is powered by a turbocharged engine from the Lycoming TIO-540 family capable of producing 310 to 325 horsepower.
In Conclusion...
The FAA labels an airplane as a high-performance aircraft when its power plant produces more than 200 horsepower. High-performance aircraft are a crucial element of general aviation around the world. These airplanes play a significant role in training pilots and allowing the general public to own and fly thrilling aircraft. Operators also use some of these aircraft for commercial purposes of carrying payloads from one airport to another. Others, like the Extra EA-300, are suitable for airshows and acrobatic maneuvers. These aircraft have transformed the aviation industry into what we see roaming the skies today.
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