Aircraft overview

The Aerostar 600 / 601 is a high performance, unpressurized, piston twin developed by Ted Smith and later produced under the Piper Aerostar name. The Aerostar design first flew in the late 1960s, with Model 600 and turbocharged Model 601 production spanning the early 1970s before later Aerostar derivatives became better known. Its role is owner flown or professionally flown business and personal transport, with a distinctive mid wing layout, retractable landing gear and a compact, aerodynamically clean airframe. For buyers, the Aerostar 600 / 601 matters because it offers turbine like piston twin speed without the pressurization, systems complexity and acquisition cost of later pressurized Aerostar models.

Performance & specifications

The Aerostar 600 is normally aspirated, typically powered by two Lycoming IO-540 engines rated at 290 hp each. The Aerostar 601 uses turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540 engines, also commonly rated at 290 hp each, giving stronger high altitude performance. Typical cruise speeds are around 210 to 220 knots for the 600 and about 230 to 240 knots for the 601 when operated at suitable altitudes and power settings. Practical range is commonly around 1,000 nautical miles, depending on fuel, payload, reserves and engine management. Useful load is often in the roughly 1,700 to 2,000 lb class, varying significantly by equipment and modifications. The 601 is certificated for higher altitude operation than the 600, but both are unpressurized, so oxygen equipment and pilot comfort are relevant to real world use.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin is narrow but efficient, usually arranged for five or six seats with club style or forward facing layouts depending on interior configuration. Access is through a rear cabin door, and baggage capacity is split between available cabin and external compartments depending on the individual aircraft. Factory avionics were conventional analog systems, not Garmin Perspective or G1000. Used examples commonly show upgrades such as Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, Garmin GTX transponders, ADS-B equipment, engine monitors, Aspen displays, or Garmin G500 and G600 style retrofit flight displays. Autopilot condition is especially important because parts support and integration quality vary by installation.

Buying & value

Condition, maintenance history and modification status drive Aerostar 600 / 601 values more than model year alone. Buyers should examine engine times, turbocharger condition on the 601, fuel system maintenance, landing gear rigging, corrosion history, pressurization status only to confirm it is not a 601P, and compliance with applicable service bulletins and airworthiness directives. Common value adding upgrades include modern GPS navigation, ADS-B, digital engine monitoring, improved autopilots and well documented intercooler or engine related modifications where applicable. In the used market, the Aerostar 600 / 601 generally sits below later pressurized Aerostars but above many slower cabin class piston twins on a speed basis. Current PlaneFox listing data shows an average asking price around EUR 279,000, with observed asking prices from about EUR 103,000 to EUR 505,000.