This 1979 Piper Aerostar Is a Top-Tier Piston Twin and an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1979 Piper PA-60-700 Superstar.

Aircraft designer Ted Smith is well-known in general aviation circles for designing the Aerostar, a sleek, midwing light twin built for high-speed travel. The best performing versions of the Aerostar and upgraded Superstar aircraft still hold the title of fastest production light piston twins ever built. The aircraft was already a legend when it co-starred with Tom Cruise in the 2017 film American Made, but the movie certainly rekindled interest in the model, which had been out of production for decades.

A close look at certain details of the Aerostar might lead some observant people to other famous Smith-designed aircraft, including the Douglas A-20 Havoc and the Aero Commander general aviation twins that gained popularity soon after reaching the market during the 1950s. These earlier twins were more practical than the later Aerostars but nowhere near as fast or attractive. The rare Aerostar, whose production was repeatedly slowed by issues related to funding, design, and market conditions, will always be the subject of “what-if” discussions among aviation enthusiasts. Owners, however, love this fast, fine-looking, and innovative machine that clearly was ahead of its time.  

This 1979 Aerostar has 2,606 hours on the airframe, 972 hours on the left engine, 796 hours on the right, and 488 hours on each of its counter-rotating propellers since overhaul. The aircraft received new exterior paint last year. 

The panel features a Garmin G600TXi, Garmin GI 275, GNS 530W and 430W GPS/Nav/Coms, Flight Stream 210, GCU 485 mode selector, S-Tec 55X autopilot, dual Gramin transponders with ADS-B In and Out, Avidyne EX500 MFD, engine monitor, Shadin fuel flow monitor, color radar, Stormscope, and Sirius XM weather.

Pilots interested in flying one of the fastest GA piston twins ever developed should consider this 1979 Piper PA-60-700 Superstar, which is available for $600,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.