Are you in the market for a high-performing aircraft? Have you considered the Aerostar 600? This unique aircraft has a rich history, having been passed around between several companies during its 17-year production run. However, what really sets the Aerostar apart is its various versions, each with its own modifications and aftermarket mods.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the naturally aspirated unpressurized 600 model, which boasts impressive speed and carrying capacity. We’ll also dive into the aircraft’s market value, maintenance and support, and size comparison to other popular planes. But before we get into all that, it’s important to note that the Aerostar 600 is not for everyone. Flying one can be tricky and it has a high accident rate to match. If you have what it takes, though, the Aerostar 600 is a heck of a performer.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

The Aerostar 600 has a rich history and various versions with unique modifications.
The aircraft boasts impressive speed and carrying capacity, and has a reasonable market value.
While the Aerostar 600 is not for everyone, it is a high-performing aircraft for experienced pilots.

Aerostar’s History

The Aerostar 600 has a rich history, having been passed around between several companies during its 17-year production run. The company that built a particular Aerostar tells you a lot less about it than its version. Likely obvious but there are quite a few versions. The Aerostar design was steadily modified throughout its production run, and now and then a new version would be cut to signify a more significant change.

For the 600 Aerostar, the most significant changes came with turbocharging in 601 and pressurization in 601p. However, for our performance and cost discussion, we’re talking about the naturally aspirated, unpressurized 600. A & B came with various changes, and there’s no shortage of aftermarket mods as well. So performance and costs will vary even amongst the 600 models.

The Aerostar 600 is fast, even without turbocharging or pressurization. This non-turbo, non-pressurized version cruises at around 8,000 feet and has a good carrying capacity too. The pressurized version sucks about 400 pounds of useful load from the equation. If you search the classified ads, you’ll discover that Aerostar goes for about what you’d expect a large older piston twin to go for.

One of the primary reasons for so many Aerostars having lasted this long is the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation. Once everybody gave up on actually building Aerostars, Aerostar Aircraft Corporation formed and took over the rights to the design. They’ve been supplying modifications through STCs and spare parts since 1991 and they’re still around today. The end result of all that is that Aerostars are a little more maintainable than you might expect for a plane of this vintage and complexity.

The Aerostar is often compared to larger planes because it has similar performance. They’re actually a fair bit smaller than the Cessna 414 or the Beech Duke. The cabin interior of the Aerostar is actually shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

While the Aerostar 600 is a heck of a performer, it’s not for everybody. Flying one is tricky and has the accident rate to match. This plane is complicated. Even by old piston twin standards, it’s more complex than most. Add to that everything is happening faster than whatever the heck you’re already used to, making for a spicy experience. It’s definitely not for rookies, but if you got what it takes, it’s a heck of a performer.

Different Versions of Aerostar

Aerostar was designed by multiple companies during its 17-year production run, but the version of the Aerostar tells you more about it than the company that built it. There are quite a few versions of Aerostar, and it was steadily modified throughout its production run.

For the purpose of this article, we are discussing the naturally aspirated unpressurized 600 version of Aerostar. The A and B models came with various changes, and there is no shortage of aftermarket modifications available as well. Performance and costs vary even amongst the 600 models.

The performance of Aerostar is quite impressive, even in the non-turbo non-pressurized version. It can cruise at around 8,000 feet and has a good carrying capacity. However, the pressurized version reduces the useful load by about 400 pounds.

If you search the classified ads, you will find that Aerostar goes for about what you would expect a large older piston twin to go for. However, the surprise comes in discovering how many are actually in flying condition. The Aerostar Aircraft Corporation has been supplying modifications through STCs and spare parts since 1991, and they are still around today. As a result, Aerostars are more maintainable than you might expect for a plane of this vintage and complexity.

The cabin interior of Aerostar is shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310, and it is often compared to larger planes because of its similar performance. However, flying an Aerostar is tricky and has a high accident rate to match. It is a complex plane, and everything happens faster than what you are used to, making for a spicy experience. It is definitely not for rookies, but if you have what it takes, it is a heck of a performer.

Performance and Cost of Aerostar 600

If you’re considering purchasing an Aerostar 600, you should know that there are many versions of this aircraft due to the steady modifications made throughout its 17-year production run. For our discussion, we’ll be focusing on the naturally aspirated unpressurized 600 model.

In terms of performance, the Aerostar 600 is fast and has a good carrying capacity. Even though this is the non-turbo non-pressurized version, it cruises at around 8,000 feet. However, if you’re interested in the pressurized version, it’s important to note that it will reduce the useful load by about 400 pounds.

When it comes to cost, you can expect to pay a price similar to that of a large older piston twin. However, what may surprise you is how many Aerostars are still in flying condition. This is due in part to the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, which has been supplying modifications and spare parts since 1991.

While the Aerostar 600 may seem like the perfect airplane, it’s not for everyone. Flying one can be tricky and has a high accident rate. This is a complex aircraft, even by old piston twin standards, and it requires experience to handle.

Overall, the Aerostar 600 is a great performer, but it’s important to consider your own experience and needs before making a purchase.

Aerostar’s Speed and Load Capacity

When it comes to the Aerostar 600, one thing is for sure – it’s fast. Even the non-turbo, non-pressurized version can cruise at around 8,000 feet and has a good carrying capacity. However, it’s important to note that the pressurized version sacrifices about 400 pounds of useful load.

In terms of performance and cost, it’s worth noting that the Aerostar 600 came in various versions, with the most significant changes being the turbo charging in the 601 and pressurization in the 601P. However, for this discussion, we’re focusing on the naturally aspirated, unpressurized 600.

It’s also important to note that the Aerostar 600 is smaller than other comparable planes like the Cessna 414 or Beech Duke, with a cabin interior that is shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

While the Aerostar 600 is a great performer, it’s not for everyone. Flying one can be tricky, and it has a higher accident rate than other planes. This is due to its complexity – even by old piston twin standards, it’s more complex than most. It’s definitely not recommended for rookies, but if you have what it takes, it’s a heck of a performer.

Overall, the Aerostar 600 is a fast and capable plane, with a decent carrying capacity. However, it’s important to consider its complexity and accident rate before deciding if it’s the right plane for you.

Aerostar’s Market Value

If you’re in the market for an Aerostar 600, you might be surprised to find out that there are quite a few versions of this aircraft. The Aerostar design was passed around between several companies during its 17-year production run, and the company that built a particular Aerostar tells you a lot less about it than its version. For our performance and cost discussion today, we’re talking about the naturally aspirated and unpressurized 600 model.

If you search the classified ads, you’ll discover that Aerostars go for about what you’d expect a large older piston twin to go for. The surprise comes in discovering how many are actually in flying condition. Aerostars are often compared to larger planes because they have similar performance, but they’re actually a fair bit smaller than the Cessna 414 or the Beech Duke. The cabin interior of the Aerostar is actually shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

While Aerostars are a heck of a performer, they’re not for everybody. Flying one is tricky and it has the accident rate to match. This plane is complicated, and even by old piston twin standards, it’s more complex than most. Add to that everything is happening faster than whatever the heck you’re already used to, it makes for a spicy experience. Definitely not for rookies, but if you got what it takes, it’s a great investment.

Maintenance and Support

Maintaining and supporting an Aerostar 600 may not be as difficult as you might think. The Aerostar Aircraft Corporation has been supplying modifications and spare parts for the design since 1991, making it more maintainable than you might expect for a plane of this vintage and complexity.

Additionally, the Aerostar 600 is often compared to larger planes due to its similar performance, but it is actually smaller than the Cessna 414 or the Beech Duke. The cabin interior is shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

However, it’s important to note that flying an Aerostar 600 can be tricky and it has the accident rate to match. This is a complex plane, even by old piston twin standards, and everything happens faster than what you may be used to, making it a spicy experience. It’s definitely not for rookies, but if you have what it takes, it can be a heck of a performer.

Aerostar’s Size Comparison

The Aerostar 600 is often compared to larger planes due to its impressive performance. However, it is actually smaller than the Cessna 414 or the Beech Duke. In fact, the cabin interior of the Aerostar is shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

Despite its smaller size, the Aerostar 600 still has a good carrying capacity, making it a great choice for those who need to transport passengers or cargo. It is important to note that the pressurized version, the 601P, does sacrifice about 400 pounds of useful load due to its added features.

Overall, the Aerostar 600 is a little more maintainable than you might expect for a plane of this vintage and complexity, thanks to the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation. However, flying one can be tricky and comes with a higher accident rate than some other planes. It is definitely not recommended for rookies, but for experienced pilots who are up for the challenge, the Aerostar 600 can be a heck of a performer.

Challenges of Flying an Aerostar

Flying an Aerostar can be a challenging experience, even for experienced pilots. The plane is complex and everything happens faster than what you might be used to. Here are some of the challenges you may face when flying an Aerostar 600:

Complicated controls: The Aerostar 600 has more complex controls than most old piston twins. You need to be familiar with all the controls and how they work together to fly this plane effectively.
Quick decision-making: The Aerostar 600 is a fast plane, and everything happens quickly. You need to make quick decisions and react fast to any changes in the environment.
Limited cabin space: The cabin interior of an Aerostar 600 is shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310. This means that there is limited space for passengers and cargo.
Accident rate: The Aerostar 600 has a higher accident rate than other planes. This is due to its complexity and the challenges that come with flying it.

Despite the challenges, the Aerostar 600 is a great performer with fast cruising speeds and good carrying capacity. However, it’s not a plane for rookies. If you have what it takes and are willing to put in the effort to learn how to fly it effectively, the Aerostar 600 can be a rewarding experience.

Conclusion

So, you’re interested in purchasing an Aerostar 600. It’s important to note that there were several companies involved in the production of the Aerostar design during its 17-year run, and the company that built a particular Aerostar doesn’t necessarily tell you much about its version. The 600 model is the naturally aspirated and unpressurized version, which is the focus of our performance and cost discussion today.

Despite being non-turbo and non-pressurized, the Aerostar 600 is a fast aircraft with good carrying capacity. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are various versions of the 600, each with their own performance and cost variations. Additionally, the pressurized version of the Aerostar 601p sacrifices about 400 pounds of useful load.

While the Aerostar 600 may be comparable to larger planes in terms of performance, it’s actually smaller than planes such as the Cessna 414 or Beech Duke. The cabin interior of the Aerostar is also shorter and more narrow than a Cessna 310.

One of the reasons for the longevity of the Aerostar is the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, which has been supplying modifications and spare parts since 1991. This makes the Aerostar more maintainable than other planes of similar vintage and complexity.

However, it’s important to note that the Aerostar is a complex aircraft and flying one can be tricky, with a higher accident rate than other old piston twin planes. It’s not recommended for rookies, but if you have what it takes, the Aerostar 600 can be a great performer.

Overall, the Aerostar 600 is a fast and capable aircraft with good carrying capacity, but it’s important to carefully consider its complexity and suitability for your needs before making a purchase.