PIPER PA-23-250 E

The Aztec, a six-seat piston twin built from 1959 to 1981 and known for being tough, roomy and unfussy rather than fast or refined. It has a wide cabin, a big nose baggage compartment, a strong airframe and a large flap, and it lands relatively slowly for a twin. Air taxi operators, freight haulers, survey companies and families who wanted two engines all bought them, and many are still working. The letters matter. The original 1960-61 Aztec is a five-seater with carburetted engines, a short nose and a 4,800 lb gross weight. The Aztec B of 1962 brought the long nose with the baggage compartment, six seats and a new panel. The Aztec C of 1964 is the turning point: fuel-injected IO-540s, a gross weight of 5,200 lb, and the first turbocharged option, which is why most buyers start their search at the C. The D of 1969 has a revised panel and controls, the E of 1971 a longer pointed nose and a one-piece windscreen, and the F of 1976 improved systems and extended wingtips. Turbocharged versions were offered alongside the normally aspirated ones from the C onward, so the year tells you the body and the letter 'Turbo' tells you the engine.

What distinguishes the Aztec from most light twins is that it actually flies well on one engine — around 240 fpm single-engine climb at gross, which is good for the class and is the whole point of having two engines. Against that, it is slow for the fuel it burns: 180 knots for around 28 gallons an hour total, and two 250 hp six-cylinder engines to overhaul, two propellers to overhaul, and turbocharged variants adding more still. Annual inspections on a light twin run several times what a single costs. Insurance requires a multi-engine rating and, for a low-time pilot, meaningful dual and often a formal training course. Unless you genuinely need the second engine or the load, a big single is far cheaper for the same mission.