# What companies currently manufacture FAA certified single-engine piston aircraft? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337 "2005-08-16T22:25:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/1 "2005-08-16T22:25:10Z")
Just curious. I’m not planning on buying on. I’m hoping to find a comprehensive list of companies, located anywhere in the world, that make FAA certified general aviation piston single-engine aircraft. A lot of the lists of manufacturers I’ve found online include makers of non-certified experimental airplane kits, and a lot of lists include defunct companies. So far I’ve come up with these: American Champion Aviat Aircraft Beech / Beechcraft (part of Raytheon) Cessna (part of Textron, Inc.) Cirrus Design Columbia Aircraft (part of Lancair?) Diamond Aircraft Industries Gippsland Aeronautics (based in Australia?) Maule Air Mooney Aircraft New Piper Aircraft Socata (based in France) Symphony Aircraft (based in Canada) Taylorcraft Did I miss any? Do any of the above not belong on the list? For extra credit, what is the least expenisve new FAA certified single-engine aircraft on the market today? Not all the websites advertise prices, and others make you hunt around. The least expensive I’ve seen is Taylorcraft’s “Taylor Sport” model with a list price of $59,995. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/2 "2005-08-16T22:54:07Z")
The new FAA [Sport Pilot License](http://www.k8tq.net/sportpilotlicense.html) recently created a need for new planes with a max gross takeoff weight of 1232 lbs. Several new companies have been created to fill this gap. Among these are [Flight Design](http://www.flightdesignusa.com/) in CT and [Czech Aircraft Works](http://www.airplane.cz/pages/ch601_xl.htm) that already have planes produced and certified. There are several other companies also getting ready for production and certification. Now is probably one of the most confusing times in the last 50 years to compile a comprehesive list because the status of various sport aircraft is constantly changing. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/3 "2005-08-16T23:03:58Z")
You also left off [Extra](http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Extra/FRAME.htm), the maker of aerobatic single-engine planes. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/4 "2005-08-16T23:07:03Z")
[Liberty Aircraft](http://www.libertyaircraft.com/) [AMD](http://www.newplane.com/amd/amd/index.html) are two I can think of. Try searching List of Aircraft Manufacturers in Wikipedia. It’s international but may have a few you’ve missed. One worth investigating is Eagle Aircraft Australia - not sure if they’re still in business or if they’ve moved their operation to Indonesia, but the Eagle 150 is a unique design that is US certified. They used to distribute them out of Augusta, KS but I haven’t seen one in the states since the last time I flew one. Rans aircraft in Hays, KS has certified a design that they sell kits of, but haven’t heard if they’re selling certified versions of to the public. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/5 "2005-08-16T23:08:19Z")
There is also the [Commander Aircraft Company.](http://www.commanderair.com/) ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/6 "2005-08-17T01:23:20Z")
[Tiger Aircraft](http://www.tigeraircraft.com/1.html) ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/7 "2005-08-17T17:02:50Z")
[Lancair](http://www.lancair.com) [Found](http://www.foundair.com/) Aircraft [Air Tractor](http://www.airtractor.com/) [Zlin](http://www.zlin.ch) ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/8 "2005-08-17T23:57:31Z")
I’ll be damned - Air Tractor _does_ make a piston single. And a radial at that! ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/9 "2005-08-18T00:13:11Z")
Okay, here’s another one for you: [Waco Classic Aircraft Corporation](http://www.wacoclassic.com/). They’re manufacturing new, FAA certified biplanes in a classic design. ---
**Author:** ![Jspeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Jspeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jspeer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/10 "2005-08-18T01:18:12Z")
Seems like you have a pretty good list going… 🙂 Don’t forget the older out of production aircraft either… 🙂 Personal favorites include Bellenca Citabrias and all Taylorcraft… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/11 "2005-08-18T13:55:31Z")
> [@caligynephobia](#): > > Okay, here’s another one for you: [Waco Classic Aircraft Corporation](http://www.wacoclassic.com/). They’re manufacturing new, FAA certified biplanes in a classic design. Pointless trivia: Waco-the aircraft is pronounced ‘WAH-co’ as opposed to the town, which is ‘WAY-co’. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/12 "2005-09-30T22:25:41Z")
[Cubcrafters](http://www.cubcrafters.com/cci/newaircraft.asp). Came across an ad for their two certified planes, similar in appearance to the classic Cub and Super Cub. ---
**Author:** ![caligynephobia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@caligynephobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligynephobia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-companies-currently-manufacture-faa-certified-single-engine-piston-aircraft/317337/13 "2005-09-30T22:31:56Z")
[Luscombe](http://www.luscombeaircraft.com/) here in Oklahoma too. They recertified the 11A as 11E. Man, I’m on a roll.