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Photo of Cessna Skyhawk from Cessna In the month of November, while some people were prepping their turkeys and writing holiday shopping lists, others were looking for their next aircraft. On GlobalAir.com, Cessna reigned supreme over the single engine pistons and Gulfstream dominated the private jets. The most-viewed aircraft on GlobalAir.com vary from month to month, showing which aircraft are consistently the top of the class and which could be an emerging player.
Take a look at the most-viewed aircraft in each classification for the month of November to see who is heading into the final month of the year on top.
Single engine pistonThe Piston category is consistently dominated by the ever-popular Cessna 172. As the most popular aircraft in the world, it is no wonder the 172 finished at the top of the list for November. The 172 was the top of the list in October as well, climbing up from the third spot in September. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is considered the most successful aircraft in history. Since its first production model in 1956, over 44,000 units have been produced, making it the most produced aircraft in the world. The popular training aircraft is powered by Garmin G100 NXi avionics and equipped with the new Garmin GI 275 electronic standby to keep the classic look of standby instruments while upgrading to the modern touchscreen display.
Cessna appeared to dominate the list, coming in first with the Cessna 172, second with the Cessna 182 T and in fifth with the Cessna 182. The Cessna 182 Skylane came in on the list with two variants, the initial 182 and the 182 T. The Skylane is the most popular Cessna after the Skyhawk. The Cessna 182 T was settled in the 12th spot in September, dropping to 16 in October, then jumping to the second spot by November. Both the Cessna 182 and 182 T were out of the top five in October but made it to the list by the end of November.
Third on the list was the Cirrus SR22T G6 GTS, the only Cirrus representation in November after the Cirrus SR22T GTS from October dropped off. This variant jumped from the fifth spot last month to the third slot, showing a rise for the best-selling Cirrus. The number four slot was another classic general aviation aircraft, the Beechcraft Bonanza A36. The Bonanza crept up from the seventh spot in September and the sixth spot in October, jumping up two to seal in fourth in November. The final spot for November goes to the Cessna 182, the initial production variant of the second name on the list, the Cessna 182 T.Photo of PC-12 NG from Pilatus
Turboprop aircraftPilatus aircraft dominated single engine turboprops for the month. The Pilatus PC-12 NG remained in the top spot while the Pilatus PC-12 NGX jumped from ninth on the list in October to second in November. Additionally, the Pilatus PC-12 dropped from third in October to fourth in November, swapping out with the Kodiak 100 and the Pilatus PC-12-45 rose from 10th in October to fifth in November. Pilatus took over the list bumping out the Kodiak 100 from October, but the Caravan 208 held strong, moving from second in October to third in November but remaining in the running for the month.
The Swiss-made Pilatus is often used for corporate transportation or as an air-ambulance. The PC-12 has been in production since 1991 and the NG variant launched in 2007. The NG features a more powerful Pratt andamp; Whitney PT6A-67P engine with improved climb performance and an increase in the maximum cruise speed to 280 knots true airspeed. With high residual values and low operating costs, the PC-12 family has garnered a reputation for safe operation and comfortable cabins and accumulated over seven million flight hours with over 1,700 aircraft. The original PC-12 came in fourth on the list and the PC-12-25 took fifth.
The only non-PC-12 variant on the list was the Cessna 208. The 208 delivers high performance at low operating costs, easily adapting to a wide variety of missions. The Cessna 280 Caravan, certified by the FAA in 1984, is used for flight training, commuting, VIP transport, air cargo and humanitarian missions. With over 24 million flight hours, the 208 has become a popular choice for those looking for a versatile aircraft with a spacious interior. The interior can be used as a cargo compartment or outfitted with seats. With large, rugged landing gear the 208 can handle backcountry adventures and adapt to any runway. This aircraft can also be an adventure on land or in the water with floats equipped.The most-viewed twin turboprop classification went to King Air aircraft. In first, was the King Air C90B, followed by the B200, 350i, 360 and 350. King Air dominated in October as well, with the ATR 72 being the only exception for the month in the third spot.Photo of Gulfstream G550
Private Jets
Gulfstream took the top four spots for November, with one competitor edging its way into fifth. In the first spot was the Gulfstream G550. The G550, which ceased production in July 2021, has been on top since September when it beat out the August top spot, the Bombardier Global Express. The Global Express has not made a top five since it was beat out of the top spot by the G550. The popular jet was FAA-certified in 2003 and the 500th was delivered in May 2015. On GlobalAir.com, the average price of a G550 is $18,865,000. In the past 30 days, the price has ranged from as low as $13,990,000 and as high as $24,950,000. The popular G550 was replaced by the G600 in 2019 and kept in a limited production for long-term special missions applications and the last was delivered in 2021 after over 600 were produced.
The Gulfstream IV/SP, the second iteration in the Gulfstream IV series, came in the second spot for the month of November. This upgraded variant is primarily used by the government and military and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operates a modified Gulfstream IV/SP to fly scientists and crew members at 45,000 feet around tropical cyclones. Number three on the list, the Gulfstream V, was derived from the IV series. The jet first flew in 1995, entering into service in 1997. The Gulfstream V moved up to the third spot in November after dropping to fourth in October. The Gulfstream V has a different engine than its predecessor, the IV, and a new semi supercritical wing for a larger fuel capacity.
Number four on the list, the G650ER, is an extended-range version of the G650, adding about 500 nautical miles of range. The G650ER dropped, previously holding the second slot for the months of September and October. Between the G650 and G650ER, there are more than 500 aircraft in service around the world and over 125 world speed records. Evidently, after holding the 13th spot in October, the Bombardier Challenger 604 needed a change in scenery, jumping to the fifth spot for November, the spot it held in September. Compared to the Challenger 600, the 604 has an increased fuel capacity, a new undercarriage for higher takeoff and landing weight, structural improvements to wing and tail and a new avionics system. The Challenger crept back in after Gulfstream took October, claiming the fifth slot again, like it previously held in August and September.The Euroopter EC120B
Helicopters
This classification saw the most change between October and November with the top two slots returning after a month-long hiatus from the list. In the top spot, the Eurocopter EC120B Colibri is a single engine multimission copter incorporating many of Eurocopter's trademarked technologies, like the three-bladed Speriflex main rotor head and the eight-bladed fenestron anti-torque tail rotor. Also known as the Airbus H120, has quieter noise levels thanks to these technologies, operating below ICAO limits. The production of this first-place helicopter ended in 2017, with about 700 built. Second on the list, the Eurocopter EC-130-B4, is a member of the EC130 family, now referred to as the Airbus H130. This copter is the quietest in its category with a noise signature 6 decibels below ICAO limits. These two Eurocopter models were in the top two spots in September, dropped to ninth and 10th in October, then reclaimed first and second for November.
The AgustaWestland AW139 remained in the third spot for November. The AW130 is a medium twin-engine helicopter offering exceptional speed, comfort and performance. The AgustaWestland AW109SP Grand New is a lightweight, twin-engine variant with new avionics and a front section of the fuselage made from carbon fiber to reduce weight. Grand New snagged the fourth spot in November after being out of the top 20 since June. The Bell 407GX took the fifth spot, dropping from the first-place slot in October after rising from third in September.
From October to November, some trends changed and some remained the same. The Pilatus, Cessna and Gulfstream aircraft continued to dominate in their respective categories. The helicopter classification saw the most change month to month, with the top two slots coming from lower on the October list. The 2023 year is ending and only five days into December, there are already changes. There is no telling how the top five list will shape-up for December, or what the trends for the year will reveal.