Aerostar/Piper · 1968–1979
Piper Aerostar 600
Specifications
Performance
Cruise
210KTAS
Range
nullnm
Climb
—fpm
Ceiling
—ft
Fuel Burn
34gph
Fuel Cap.
166gal
MPG
7.1mpg
Stall (Vs0)
—KIAS
T/O roll
—ft
Ldg roll
—ft
Size & weight
Seats
6
Useful Load
nulllbs
Full-fuel payload
—lbs
Max gross
5,500lbs
Wingspan
36.7ft
Length
34.8ft
Engine
Engine
Lycoming IO-540 (G1B5/K1F5/K1J5/S1A5/P1A5), naturally aspirated
Power
580hp
TBO
2,000hrs
Overhaul
$52keach
Engines
2
Owning it
Hull insurance
$6k/yr
Parts
fair
Mechanics
specialist
Gear
Retractable
IFR
Yes
Category
certified
Specs — factory or modified
This airplane has common major modifications that changeits published numbers. The catalogue's figures describe the airplane as Piper, Cessna or Beech certificated it; switch below to see it as modified. A specific airframe only has these figures if it carries the paperwork.
- Power
- 580 hp
- Max gross weight
- 5,500 lbs
- Usable fuel
- 166 gal
- Cruise speed
- 210 KTAS
- Fuel burn
- 34 gph
Showing this airplane as modified by Machen "700CR" conversion (the unpressurized "Super 700") (FAA STC SA1658NM, Machen Inc. / Aerostar Aircraft Corporation). Rows the STC does not change still show the factory figure. The specific airplane must carry this STC's paperwork for these numbers to apply.
- PowerSTC
- 700 hp
- Max gross weightSTC
- 6,315 lbs
- Usable fuel
- 166 gal
- Cruise speed
- 210 KTAS
- Fuel burn
- 34 gph
Showing this airplane as modified by 300 hp power increase (stock engine, no weight change) (FAA STC SA4307NM, Machen Inc.). Rows the STC does not change still show the factory figure. The specific airplane must carry this STC's paperwork for these numbers to apply.
- PowerSTC
- 600 hp
- Max gross weight
- 5,500 lbs
- Usable fuel
- 166 gal
- Cruise speed
- 210 KTAS
- Fuel burn
- 34 gph
Showing this airplane as modified by Gross weight increase to 5,700 lb (FAA STC SA00266DE, Aerostar Aircraft Corporation). Rows the STC does not change still show the factory figure. The specific airplane must carry this STC's paperwork for these numbers to apply.
- Power
- 580 hp
- Max gross weightSTC
- 5,700 lbs
- Usable fuel
- 166 gal
- Cruise speed
- 210 KTAS
- Fuel burn
- 34 gph
- Machen "700CR" conversion (the unpressurized "Super 700") (STC SA1658NM, Machen Inc. / Aerostar Aircraft Corporation) — The same counter-rotating 350 hp engine conversion described on [[piper-aerostar]], certificated on the unpressurized 600/601 airframe too. Produces a much faster, heavier UNPRESSURIZED twin -- the STC does not add pressurization, only power and structural weight capacity.
- 300 hp power increase (stock engine, no weight change) (STC SA4307NM, Machen Inc.) — Raises the existing IO-540-K1F5/-K1J5's continuous power rating from 290 to 300 hp per side with a specific Hartzell propeller -- no new engine, no weight increase.
- Gross weight increase to 5,700 lb (STC SA00266DE, Aerostar Aircraft Corporation) — A standalone, engine-unchanged gross weight increase specific to the 600 -- from the factory 5,500 lb to 5,700 lb, the same number the 601's factory wing-extension option (AAC Option 93) reaches, but reached here without a wingspan change.
Full specification
V-speeds
Airframe
- Height
- 12.1 ft
- Wing position
- mid
Paperwork
- Type certificate
- A17WE
- Certification basis
- Part 23
These figures are typical for the model, not a specification for any individual aircraft. Real-world numbers vary with year, installed equipment, weight, modifications and engine condition — often by more than you would expect. Use them to compare types, and confirm anything you would act on against the Pilot's Operating Handbook for that specific airframe and a prebuy inspection.
Pricing
Typical
$130k
Range
$80k – $180k
Annual all-in
~$57k/yr
All-in at ~100 flying hours a year, using the midpoint of each range — the same figures broken out under “Cost to own” below. Your number will differ, and mostly for two reasons. Experience sets your insurance: a 2,000-hour pilot with recent training pays 30–40% less than a 200-hour owner, and student owners pay 20–40% more — on the same aircraft that is often a doubling. Location sets your hangar: a T-hangar runs $200–400 a month in the Midwest against $400–1,500 in a coastal metro, and an outside tie-down is less again. Engine reserves move too — a local shop reusing your serviceable cylinders can come in 30–50% under the national specialty-shop pricing we quote, though you trade the warranty and turnaround that comes with it. Reserves are money set aside toward a future overhaul, not a bill this year, and the annual inspection figure is the shop’s labor to look — whatever they find is separate.
Cost to own — estimate
Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel, maintenance and the engine reserve do.
- Fuel (34 gph)
- $22,100
- Engine reserve
- $5,200
- Propeller reserve
- $600
- Maintenance, parts & wear items ($45/hr)
- $4,500
- Insurance
- $4,000–$8,000
- Hangar
- $7,663–$19,157
- Annual inspection (labor only)
- $4,500
- Databases & subscriptions
- $900
- Total per year
- $57,210
- Per flight hour
- $572
- Miles flown / year (at cruise)
- 24,166 mi
- Cost per mile
- $2.37/mi
- Time in the air
- 1 hr 26 min
- Fuel burned
- 49 gal
- Out of pocket
- $463
Fuel, engine reserve and wear only. Insurance, hangar and the annual are already paid whether you make the trip or not, so they are not charged here.
Estimate, not a quote. Where a line shows a range, the total, per-hour and per-mile figures use its midpoint— insurance moves most with your experience and time in type, hangar with where you base the aircraft, so your own number could sit at either end. Annual inspection is the shop's labor to open and inspect — what they find is the maintenance line, which covers oil changes, plugs, tires, brakes, hoses, lights, a battery and vacuum pump amortised over their life, and the unscheduled squawks that are the largest and least predictable part of it. Reserves are sinking funds toward an overhaul, not a bill you pay this year — and note that a propeller is due on hours or calendar time, typically six years, so flying less does not put it off forever.
Strengths
Weaknesses
For sale (0)
No listings for this model right now.
Also worth looking at
What buyers usually weigh against the Piper Aerostar 600 — aircraft flown for the same kind of mission.