Aerostar 600 series
2 models built 1973–1984 · 137 on the US register today
The Aerostar, Ted Smith's mid-wing piston twin and the fastest ever produced: 220 knots on 290 hp a side from a very small, very clean airframe. The 601 is the turbocharged unpressurised model and the 601P the pressurised one, built by Ted Smith Aerostar in Santa Maria (1973-78) and then by Piper (1978-84) after it bought the company, which is why the registry carries both the SMITH and PIPER names for the same aircraft.
The variants
| MODEL | YEARS | ACTIVE | TAILFAX SCORE | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerostar 601 | 1973–1978 | 29 | Partial 20.1/30 | Turbocharged, unpressurised |
| Aerostar 601P | 1974–1984 | 108 | 19.4/50 | Same aircraft built by Piper (1978-84) |
Family fleet, active
137
FAA registry
NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs
58.4
8 events over 137 active aircraft, pooled across the family
Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30