A classic low-cost PA-28 Cherokee against the modern fuel-injected Skyhawk, the two default routes into ownership.
The table below uses the same versioned PlaneFit dataset as the Finder. Prices and operating costs are planning estimates, not quotations.
| Decision factor | Piper PA-28-140 CherokeeView aircraft profile | Cessna 172S Skyhawk SPView aircraft profile | Mooney M20C RangerView aircraft profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical market year | 1967 | 2019 | 1967 |
| Estimated purchase | €55k | €497k | €105k |
| Annual cash cost at 80 h | €72k | €32k | €80k |
| Five-year cash outlay | €417k | €655k | €506k |
| Cruise speed | 105 kt | 124 kt | 140 kt |
| Advertised range | 500 nm | 640 nm | 900 nm |
| Seats | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Realistic payload | 343 kg | 301 kg | 338 kg |
| Runway need | 520 m | 497 m | 500 m |
| Data confidence | Normalized for direct comparison | Normalized for direct comparison | Preliminary, verify source data before deciding |
| Main trade-off | Affordable and forgiving, but performance is modest and many aircraft now need substantial refurbishment. | Exceptionally easy to support and resell, but four adults with bags and meaningful fuel are usually unrealistic. | Excellent efficiency at a low purchase price, but fuel tanks, gear and decades of modifications require specialist inspection. |
A factual first pass. Mission, condition and configuration can outweigh a brochure advantage.
Four-seat light trainer and local tourer. Its central ownership trade-off is: Affordable and forgiving, but performance is modest and many aircraft now need substantial refurbishment.
Planning snapshot: €55k indicative price and €72k annual cash cost at 80 hours.
Read the full aircraft profile →Four-seat training and personal touring aircraft. Its central ownership trade-off is: Exceptionally easy to support and resell, but four adults with bags and meaningful fuel are usually unrealistic.
Planning snapshot: €497k indicative price and €32k annual cash cost at 80 hours.
Read the full aircraft profile →