Plane Stats & Miles Cost: Every Model’s Price

This article answers the question directly: the cost to buy and operate a plane varies wildly by model, from a $15,000 used ultralight to a $90 million Gulfstream G650ER, with per-mile operating costs ranging from roughly $1.50 for a Cessna 172 to over $30 per mile for a large business jet. Below, we break down the stats (speed, range, capacity) and the true cost per mile for the most common aircraft categories, including purchase price, fuel burn, and maintenance.

Why Cost Per Mile Matters More Than Purchase Price

When someone asks “what does a plane cost?” they usually mean the sticker price, but the real financial question is cost per mile. A $30,000 used Piper Cub may seem cheap, but if you fly 200 hours a year, the operating cost per mile can be $2.50, while a $5 million turboprop might cost $3.50 per mile. The purchase price is a one-time hit; the per-mile cost is what you feel every time you fly. This article gives both numbers so you can compare apples to apples.

How to Read the Stats and Costs

Every aircraft has a set of published specifications: cruise speed (knots or mph), range (nautical miles), useful load (pounds), and fuel burn (gallons per hour). The cost per mile is calculated by dividing the total hourly operating cost by the cruise speed. For example, a Cessna 172 burns 8.5 gallons per hour at 122 knots. With avgas at $5.50 per gallon, fuel alone is $46.75/hour. Add $30/hour for oil, maintenance, and reserves, and you get $76.75/hour. Divide by 122 nautical miles per hour and you get $0.63 per nautical mile in fuel and direct costs. But the full cost per mile, including insurance, hangar, annual inspection, and depreciation, is closer to $1.50 to $2.00 per mile for a typical single-engine piston.

Single-Engine Piston Aircraft (Cessna 172, Piper Cherokee, etc.)

These are the most common training and personal aircraft. They seat 2–4 people, cruise at 100–140 knots, and have ranges of 400–800 nautical miles.

• Purchase price: $30,000 (used 1960s model) to $400,000 (new)
• Cruise speed: 110–140 knots (126–161 mph)
• Fuel burn: 8–12 gallons per hour (avgas)
• Cost per mile: $1.50–$2.50 (all-in)
• Example: Cessna 172 – $250,000 new, 122 knots cruise, 8.5 gph fuel burn, $1.80/mile total

The cost per mile is low because the speed is low. If you fly 100 hours a year, you only cover 12,200 miles, so the annual operating cost is around $22,000. That’s the trade-off: cheap per mile, but slow and limited to good weather.

Turboprops (King Air, Pilatus PC-12, TBM)

Turboprops are the next step up: they fly faster (250–300 knots), higher (up to 30,000 feet), and carry 6–10 passengers. They use jet fuel, which is cheaper than avgas, but they burn a lot more of it.

• Purchase price: $2 million (used King Air) to $8 million (new PC-12)
• Cruise speed: 250–300 knots (288–345 mph)
• Fuel burn: 40–80 gallons per hour (jet-A)
• Cost per mile: $3.00–$6.00 (all-in)
• Example: Pilatus PC-12 – $4.5 million new, 280 knots cruise, 60 gph fuel burn, $4.20/mile total

The higher speed means you cover more miles per hour, so the cost per mile is actually not that much higher than a piston single. A PC-12 flying 300 hours a year covers 84,000 miles at $4.20/mile, totaling $352,800 annually. That’s why turboprops are popular for business travel: they save time, and the per-mile cost is competitive.

Light Jets (Citation CJ, Phenom 100, etc.)

Light jets are the entry point to jet ownership. They seat 4–8 passengers, cruise at 400–450 knots, and have ranges of 1,200–2,000 nautical miles.

• Purchase price: $3 million (used) to $10 million (new)
• Cruise speed: 400–450 knots (460–518 mph)
• Fuel burn: 100–150 gallons per hour (jet-A)
• Cost per mile: $5.00–$10.00 (all-in)
• Example: Cessna Citation CJ4 – $9 million new, 450 knots cruise, 140 gph fuel burn, $8.50/mile total

The jump in cost per mile from turboprop to jet is significant because jet engines burn more fuel and maintenance is more expensive. But the speed gain is real: a CJ4 can cross the US in 5 hours, while a turboprop takes 7. For a busy executive, that time saving is worth the extra $2,000 per hour.

Midsize and Large Jets (Gulfstream, Falcon, Global)

These are the top of the market: they fly 450–500 knots, have ranges of 4,000–7,000 nautical miles, and cost tens of millions. They are typically bought by corporations and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

• Purchase price: $20 million (used) to $90 million (new)
• Cruise speed: 450–500 knots (518–575 mph)
• Fuel burn: 200–300 gallons per hour (jet-A)
• Cost per mile: $15.00–$30.00 (all-in)
• Example: Gulfstream G650ER – $70 million new, 500 knots cruise, 250 gph fuel burn, $25.00/mile total

These aircraft are not bought to save money; they are bought for comfort, range, and prestige. The cost per mile is astronomical, but so is the capability: a G650ER can fly nonstop from London to Perth, Australia. The operating cost per hour is around $12,000, which includes crew salaries, catering, and landing fees.

How to Choose the Right Plane for Your Budget

If you are considering buying a plane, follow these steps to estimate your real cost per mile:

1. Determine your annual flight hours (e.g., 100, 200, 400).
2. Pick a specific model and note its cruise speed (knots) and fuel burn (gph).
3. Calculate fuel cost per hour: fuel burn × fuel price (avgas $5.50/gal, jet-A $4.50/gal).
4. Add fixed costs: insurance ($1,000–$5,000/year), hangar ($3,000–$10,000/year), annual inspection ($1,000–$5,000 for piston, $10,000–$50,000 for jets).
5. Add maintenance reserve: $10–$20 per hour for pistons, $50–$100 per hour for turboprops, $200–$500 per hour for jets.
6. Divide total annual cost by annual miles (speed × hours) to get cost per mile.

Remember that depreciation is a real cost: a new Cessna 172 loses about 10% of its value per year. Add that to your annual cost. A used plane may depreciate less, but will have higher maintenance costs.

Common Misconceptions About Plane Costs

One common myth is that fuel is the biggest cost. In a piston single, fuel is about 40% of the hourly cost; in a jet, it’s closer to 60%. But the biggest surprise for new owners is maintenance: a single-engine piston can cost $2,000–$5,000 per year in scheduled maintenance, but an unexpected engine overhaul can cost $30,000–$50,000. For jets, a hot section inspection can cost $100,000. Another myth is that a slower plane is always cheaper. A Cessna 172 costs $1.80/mile, but a turboprop costs $4.20/mile – that’s 2.3 times more per mile, but you get there 2.5 times faster. The cost per mile is not the whole story; the cost per hour is what you actually pay at the pump.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the cheapest plane to own and fly per mile?
A: The cheapest per-mile aircraft are ultralights and light sport aircraft. A used ultralight can cost $15,000 and burn 3 gallons per hour of mogas, giving a cost per mile of about $0.50. However, they are limited to daytime VFR, no passengers, and low speeds (60 knots). For a practical 2-seat trainer, a Cessna 150 is the cheapest at around $1.20/mile.

Q: How much does it cost to fly a private jet per mile?
A: It depends on the size. A light jet like a Phenom 100 costs about $5–$8 per mile, while a large jet like a Gulfstream G650ER costs $20–$30 per mile. The price includes fuel, maintenance, crew, and other fixed costs, but not depreciation.

Q: Is it cheaper to fly a turboprop or a jet?
A: Turboprops are cheaper per mile (about $3–$6 vs $5–$30 for jets) and much cheaper to buy. However, jets are faster and can fly higher, which makes them better for long trips. If you fly less than 200 hours a year, a turboprop is usually the better financial choice.

Q: How do I calculate the cost per mile for a specific plane?
A: Use the formula: (hourly operating cost) ÷ (cruise speed in miles per hour). Hourly operating cost includes fuel, oil, maintenance reserve, and fixed costs divided by annual hours. For example, a Cessna 172 with $76.75/hour operating cost and 122 knots (140 mph) gives $0.55 per mile in direct costs, but $1.80 per mile when you include fixed costs.

Q: What is the most fuel-efficient airplane?
A: The most fuel-efficient aircraft are gliders (zero fuel), but among powered planes, ultralights and light sport aircraft are the most efficient, burning 2–4 gallons per hour. Among certified aircraft, the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee are among the most fuel-efficient at 8–10 gph, but they are slow. Modern turboprops like the PC-12 are efficient for their speed, burning about 60 gph at 280 knots.

Q: Do planes cost more to maintain than cars?
A: Yes, by a huge margin. A car might cost $500–$1,000 per year in maintenance. A piston airplane costs $2,000–$5,000 per year for scheduled maintenance, but you also need an annual inspection ($1,000–$2,000) and you must follow strict maintenance schedules. Jet maintenance is exponentially more expensive, with a single engine overhaul costing $500,000 or more.

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