Many strata characterize the used aircraft market. At the upper end there are the heavy and regional jets used by the airline industry like Boeing 727s and the Embraer RJ 145. Airlines also operate lighter turboprops such as the Beech 1900D and the very rare large propjet (i.e., Lockheed Electra II).

Next comes the heavy metal operated by the on-demand charter market and Fortune 500 corporate or business jet owners. Typical aircraft in those fleets include Gulfstream V pure jets, Cessna Citation X and LearJet types. Of course, turboprops and piston engine twins are also well represented in charter and business aircraft operations. The Beech King Air B200, older types like the Cessna 310, and out of production beauties like the Beechcraft Starship all serve or served this niche.

Helicopters are very popular in corporate aircraft operations and you'll find dominant types like the Bell JetRanger and American Eurocopter AS355 (derived from the TwinStar line) alongside innovative and less expensive offerings from Robinson such as the R22 and R44.

Some flight enthusiasts maintain and restore antique aircraft from the earliest decades of aviation or so-called Warbirds from WWI and World War II. Purpose-built Aerobatic aircraft, both mono-planes and bi-planes, are used for pleasure, competition and demonstrations at air shows around the world.

Though these examples are not exhaustive, the final major group of flying vehicles would be the edgy types embodied in the ultralight and homebuilt or experimental aircraft communities.

A classic example of a homebuilt plane would be one of the Burt Rutan-designed types like the Long-Ez or VariEze.

But buying any aircraft, from a used Cessna for sale to a Sikorsky S-76, is much different than buying a car in several ways addressed by AirplaneForSale.tv

While a car buyer is likely to have dozens, if not hundreds of cars in their local area to chose from, with airplanes the options are far fewer. Thus the site offers live previews of ongoing auctions broken into sections allocated by number of engines, helicopters apart from fixed wing, and the category of ultralight for sale apart from experimental airplanes.

Cost is always a factor and savvy buyers know that they can often find real bargains by carefully evaluating the reputation of a seller and the item's description along with asking pointed questions to determine what, if anything, they will bid.

Readers are strongly cautioned to use due diligence when considering buying an airplane or any aircraft at auction. It is entirely the buyer's responsibility to have pre-purchase inspections performed to be certain the plane or rotorcraft is legal, has clear title, is airworthy, safe and to determine its actual worth. As always, buyer beware!

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