Skip to main content

Compare aircraft models

Up to three models side by side. Everything here is true of every aircraft of the type, not of any one aircraft.

Choose models

The picker searches 839 models.

  • PIPER PA-18

Comparison

AttributePIPER PA-18
What it is
Seats2
Landing geartaildragger
Engines1
EngineContinental C-90-8F
Horsepower90 hp
Fuel100LL
Certification basisCAR3
Production start1949
Production end1961
Endorsements requiredtailwheel
Performance
Cruise speed85 KTAS
Range300 nm
Service ceiling14,750 ft
Climb rate660 ft/min
Stall speed (Vso)37 KCAS
Takeoff over 50 ft—
Landing over 50 ft—
Load and fuel
Seats2
Useful load700 lb
Full-fuel payload592 lb
Max takeoff weight1,500 lb
Empty weight800 lb
Usable fuel18 gal
Fuel burn at cruise5 gal/h
Cost of ownership
Price, low$65,000
Price, high$200,000
Prices as of2026
Engine TBO1,800 h
Overhaul cost, low$23,000
Overhaul cost, high$33,000
The fleet and its record
Registered, all time1,205
Active fleet478
Median year built1953.0
NTSB events, last 10 years26
Fatal events, last 10 years1
Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years154.39
Personal-flying events per 1,000 active243.93
Ownership transfers, last 24 months83
Transfers per 100 active317.36
Airworthiness directives9
Directives, last 5 years0
Rate confidenceok
Peer scores
Peer classFixed wing single-engine, piston, 1 engine, 1-2 seats
Accident record42.5 of 10
Severity56.3 of 10
Access64.2 of 10
Support79 of 10
Liquidity83.6 of 10
Overall (sum of the categories shown)925.6 out of 50
  1. Events per 1,000 active, last 10 years: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 478 active.
  2. Personal-flying events per 1,000 active: per 1,000 active aircraft · base 478 active.
  3. Transfers per 100 active: per 100 active aircraft · base 478 active.
  4. Accident record: class median 29.1 · 174 models in class.
  5. Severity: class median 9.09.
  6. Access: class median 974.
  7. Support: class median 81.
  8. Liquidity: class median 20.47.
  9. Each of the five categories places the model within its peer class, from 0 (the worst of the class) to 10 (the best): a position among comparable models, not a grade. The overall score is the sum of the categories shown that are scored, out of 10 for each (50 when all five are); it is given only when at least 4 of the five are scored, and it can be set against another model's only when both are in the same peer class and scored on the same categories.
© 2026 TailFax. All rights reserved.TailFax · public FAA and NTSB records; not an inspection