Compare real missions, ownership costs and practical range before you spend money on the wrong aircraft.
Each category page compares real models by year, runway performance, payload and ownership cost.
Modern two-seat ultralights offer remarkable speed and efficiency at the lowest ownership cost in aviation. They suit pilots flying alone or in pairs from short strips, and they are the least expensive way to fly often.
Explore ultralight and microlight aircraftFour and five-seat piston singles are the core of European private flying: capable touring machines with the widest choice of models, maintenance shops and resale buyers.
Explore single-engine piston aircraftPiston twins add engine redundancy for night, water and mountain crossings. The price is roughly double the maintenance exposure, a multi-engine rating and higher insurance.
Explore twin-engine piston aircraftPressurised turbine singles fly near-jet speeds from small airfields with turbine reliability. They are serious travelling machines whose annual budgets start in six figures.
Explore single-engine turbopropsTwin turboprops combine large cabins, real payload and twin-turbine redundancy. Most owners operate them with professional crew and management support.
Explore twin-engine turbopropsEntry-level jets deliver 400-knot travel and airline altitudes. Ownership economics resemble running a small business: type ratings, programs, hangarage and professional maintenance.
Explore light business jetsHelicopters trade range and speed for point-to-point access no aeroplane can match. Component-life-driven maintenance dominates the economics and needs careful budgeting.
Explore private helicoptersPractical, self-contained guidance for European aircraft buyers.
Clear, self-contained answers to the questions buyers underestimate.
Do not use the purchase price as your maximum budget. A resilient ceiling normally leaves room for pre-buy findings, tax, insurance, hangar, initial maintenance, training and a cash reserve. PlaneFit therefore compares acquisition price with annual ownership cost.
Year affects market value, but condition often matters more. A newer aircraft may reduce immediate upgrades, while an older aircraft can still be the better buy when logs, corrosion status, engine life, avionics and parts support are strong.
Practical range is lower than advertised range because real trips require fuel reserves, alternate planning, passenger and baggage weight, wind margins and non-direct routing. PlaneFit uses a conservative planning radius rather than the brochure figure.
A twin can add redundancy and performance, but also increases training, fuel, maintenance and insurance exposure. The better choice depends on route, weather, terrain, payload and the pilot's ability to remain proficient.