PlaneFox tracks 2 SIAI-Marchetti S.205 / S.208 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.
A SIAI-Marchetti S.205 / S.208 flies about 715 nm, roughly 1,324 km, which is about 4 h 30 min in still air at typical cruise.
A SIAI-Marchetti S.205 / S.208 costs about EUR 2,312 a month to run, or about EUR 250 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The SIAI-Marchetti S.205 / S.208 family is an Italian all-metal, low-wing, single-engine touring aircraft series developed by SIAI-Marchetti in the 1960s. The S.205 first flew in 1965 and entered production later that decade as a practical four-seat private and training aircraft, offered with fixed or retractable landing gear depending on variant. The S.208 followed as a more powerful five-seat development, most notably used by the Italian Air Force in the S.208M liaison and training role. For buyers, the type matters because it combines European build quality, conventional handling, and relatively uncommon market availability compared with Cessna, Piper, or Beechcraft contemporaries.
Performance depends strongly on variant. The S.205-18 models use a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-series engine, while the S.205-20 versions use a 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-series engine; retractable-gear S.205 models typically cruise in the 140-150 knot range. The S.208 uses a 260 hp Continental IO-470-series engine and is generally quoted in a similar mid-140 to low-150 knot cruise class, with better load-carrying capability. Published ranges for the family are commonly around 600-700 nautical miles in normal touring configuration, subject to fuel fit, power setting, and reserves. Service ceilings are typically in the mid-to-high teens, with the S.208 published higher than the lower-powered S.205 variants. Useful load varies by equipment and airframe, so individual weight-and-balance data is essential.
The S.205 is normally a four-seat aircraft with a conventional side-by-side front cockpit and rear bench seating. The S.208 adds a fifth seat and a more powerful engine, giving it a different mission profile despite the close family relationship. Cabin access, baggage capacity, and rear-seat comfort should be evaluated aircraft by aircraft, as age, interior refurbishment, and equipment changes can make a large difference. Original panels were analog, with legacy VHF navigation and communication radios. Used examples may have been updated with Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, Garmin G5 or similar electronic flight instruments, modern transponders, ADS-B equipment, and engine monitors; factory glass suites such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical for this type.
Prospective buyers should focus on maintenance history, corrosion inspection, landing-gear condition on retractable models, engine time, parts availability, and documentation quality. Variant identification is important: an S.205-18, S.205-20, retractable S.205, and S.208 are not interchangeable in performance, operating cost, or resale appeal. Military-history S.208M aircraft may require closer review of configuration, records, and civil certification status. In the used market, the SIAI-Marchetti S.205 / S.208 is usually positioned as a niche alternative to mainstream four-seat and five-seat singles, valued by buyers comfortable with lower fleet numbers and more specialized support requirements.