What a GY-20 Minicab costs, how far it flies, and what it costs to keep
PlaneFox tracks 2 GY-20 Minicab aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
How far can a Gardan GY-20 Minicab fly?
A Gardan GY-20 Minicab flies about 270 nm, roughly 500 km, which is about 2 h 56 min in still air at typical cruise.
What does a Gardan GY-20 Minicab cost to own?
A Gardan GY-20 Minicab costs about EUR 1,190 a month to run, or about EUR 121 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
More questions about the GY-20 Minicab
How much does a GY-20 Minicab cost?
What is the price range for a used GY-20 Minicab?
How many GY-20 Minicab aircraft are for sale right now?
Where can I find a GY-20 Minicab for sale?
What should I check when buying a used GY-20 Minicab?
About the Gardan GY-20 Minicab
Aircraft overview
The Gardan GY-20 Minicab is a French two seat light aircraft designed by Yves Gardan. The prototype first flew in 1949, and the type became known both as a small factory built aircraft and as a plans built amateur construction design. It is a low wing, fixed landing gear monoplane with a wooden structure and fabric covered surfaces, intended for private touring, training, and economical recreational flying. Its importance lies in its postwar simplicity: a compact airframe, modest power requirement, and conventional handling that made it accessible to clubs and private owners.
Performance & specifications
Typical Gardan GY-20 Minicab performance depends on engine fit, propeller, build standard, and aircraft weight. Original examples are commonly associated with the Continental A65 series, a four cylinder air cooled engine rated at 65 hp. Published figures for the basic GY-20 include a cruise speed of about 90 knots, maximum speed just over 100 knots, range in the region of 375 nautical miles, and a service ceiling of roughly 14,000 feet. Maximum takeoff weight is about 1,100 lb, with useful load typically around 470 lb. Buyers should treat individual aircraft data as airframe specific, since many surviving Minicabs have non standard equipment or engine histories.
Cabin & avionics
The Gardan GY-20 Minicab seats two occupants side by side under a simple enclosed canopy or cabin glazing arrangement. The cockpit is compact, with limited baggage capacity and loading margins that require attention when carrying two adults and fuel. Avionics are normally basic VFR rather than integrated glass systems. A typical used example may have analog flight and engine instruments, a VHF comm radio, transponder, intercom, and possibly a portable or panel mounted GPS. Garmin Perspective, Garmin G1000, and similar integrated suites are not typical installations for this aircraft.
Buying & value
Condition and documentation matter more than model year. Pre purchase evaluation should focus on the wooden structure, glue joints, moisture history, fabric condition, control cables, landing gear attachments, tailwheel assembly, fuel system, and engine log continuity. Common differences include factory built versus plans built provenance, Continental A65 or later small Continental engine installations, electrical system additions, updated radios, transponders, and modern lightweight instruments. In the used market, the Gardan GY-20 Minicab is a niche vintage light aircraft: appealing to buyers comfortable with classic construction, modest payload, simple VFR operations, and maintenance support that may depend on owner knowledge and specialist craftsmen.