Two-seat CS-23 certified trainer and tourer · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2020–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Bristell B23 costs approximately $248k (€230k) to $297k (€275k) to buy at 2025 market values, and about $23k (€21k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $284 (€263) per flight hour all-in. It seats 2, cruises at 135 kt (155 mph) and has a published range of 700 nm (1,296 km), needing about 1,476 ft (450 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The B23 is the Czech-built two-seater that has taken the training market seriously: certified to EASA CS-23, later type certificated by the FAA, and the first CS-23 approved aircraft offered with the turbocharged Rotax 916iS, on an airframe that claims materially lower operating costs than the legacy trainers it targets. Schools facing the pilot-supply squeeze are buying it for exactly that arithmetic. It is early in its fleet life. The installed base is young, so long-run maintenance costs are projections rather than history, support outside Europe is still being built out, and a two-seat trainer's resale market is other schools. Buy it against a costed comparison with the trainer you already run, not on the brochure saving.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 750 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 300 kg |
| Usable fuel | 120 L |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 702 ft/min |
| Stall speed | 50 KCAS |
| Baggage weight | 55 kg |
| Engine | Rotax 912 iS Sport, 100 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 2 |
| Reported payload proxy | 560 lb (254 kg) |
| Reported range | 700 nm (1,296 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 135 kt (155 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,476 ft (450 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Mogas / UL91 |
| Fixed annual base | $14k (€13k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $108 (€100) |
Fast, comfortable and efficient for two, but the small fleet and multiple engine options complicate comparisons.
Indicative cash costs at 2025 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $18k (€17k) | $459 (€425) | $362k (€335k) |
| 80 h / year | $23k (€21k) | $284 (€263) | $383k (€355k) |
| 120 h / year | $27k (€25k) | $225 (€208) | $405k (€375k) |
| 180 h / year | $33k (€31k) | $186 (€172) | $437k (€405k) |
Every figure above is built from a $14k (€13k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $108 (€100) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $29k (€27k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Bristell B23 cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2025 market price for a Bristell B23 is $248k (€230k) to $297k (€275k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Bristell B23 works out at roughly $23k (€21k) annually, which is about $284 (€263) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $108 (€100).
Reported range is 700 nm (1,296 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Plan on approximately 1,476 ft (450 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.