General Aviation (GA) aircraft come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Many used airplanes for sale and purchase in the United States today cost no more than an SUV, and some cost as little as a used car. From ultralights to helicopters to private planes to corporate jets, there’s a different kind of aircraft for every type of flying, as well every size budget.

Single-Engine Piston :
As their name implies, “singles” have only one piston engine, usually mounted at the nose of the airplane using a propeller to drive the airplane. When the engine is mounted at the back, it’s called a pusher. These aircraft comprise nearly 68 percent of the GA fleet. Pilots who are certificated (licensed) to fly these airplanes will have a single-engine land rating (SEL).

Business Jets :
These range in size from small seven-person jets like the Learjet 35A to the Boeing business jet that is based upon the 737 airliner. Most, however, seat about nine people and operate over distances of a few hundred to 1,500 miles.

Turboprops :
These airplanes use a gas turbine (jet) engine, coupled through a transmission, to drive the blades of a conventional propeller. They combine the reliability of a jet engine with the short takeoff and landing performance of a propeller-driven airplane. Many have two engines. Yet, because of the incredible reliability of today’s turbine engines, a growing number use only one turboprop engine mounted on the nose. Turboprop aircraft comprise about 3 percent of the GA fleet.

Floatplanes or Seaplanes:
The new or used seaplanes for sale either have floats instead of wheeled-landing gear or their hull is shaped like that of a boat, allowing them to take off from water or land on water. These are a common sight in Alaska and in wilderness areas where fishermen or sportsmen want to reach remote lakes. Pilots who are certificated to fly these airplanes will have a single- or multiengine seaplane rating (SES or MES).

Helicopters :
Helicopters were first conceived by Leonardo da Vinci. Today, they perform a wide range of lifesaving roles, as well as roles in filmmaking, police work, and agriculture. New or used helicopters for sale couple their engines to an overhead rotor that serves as the helicopter’s rotating wing. This allows them to take off, hover, and land vertically. Rotorcraft, including gyroplanes, make up roughly 3 percent of the GA fleet.

Ultralights :
As the name implies, these simple and fun aircraft are lightweight, carry no more than 5 gallons of fuel, travel no faster than 63 mph, and land at slow speeds. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also classifies hang gliders and powered parachutes as ultralights. Most ultralights are built or assembled from factory-made kits using FAA-approved designs. They’re a fun and affordable way to taste the joy of flight.

Powered Parachutes :
This is as simple and affordable as it gets. You strap a motor with a propeller on your back, then hang from a parachute while you get a true bird’s-eye view of the world around you. If the motor quits, you float gently to earth in your parachute. Some large versions seat two people.