This 1980 Piper PA-3R-301 Saratoga SP Is a Commodious, Comfortable ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Jul 31, 2026 | Aviation News

FLYING Magazine

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1980 Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP.

In general aviation, comfortable passengers, with elbow room and extra space to stretch their legs, tend to be happy passengers. They are less nervous about flying and more likely to look out the windows and perhaps read a bit before drifting off to sleep during long cross-country flights.

The Saratoga’s panel upgrades include the popular Garmin GTN 750 GPS. [Credit: Mark Poole]

Just ask my wife, two sons, and two dogs. Our Rockwell Commander 114B does a decent job of keeping them cozy, but we often wish for a third row of seats, like the Piper Saratoga has.

The Saratoga’s cabin is famous for its cavernous volume and club-style seating that, when not fully occupied, gives passengers a variety of potential  arrangements aimed at maximizing comfort. With a powerful engine and stable, smooth-flying airframe, the Saratoga proved ideal for many pilots seeking more space and carrying capacity than typical four-seat, high-performance retractables.

The aircraft for sale today has a mid-time engine, updated panel, and inviting cabin that will improve your passengers’ quality of life appreciably. Its stability, forgiving flight characteristics, and long-distance prowess helps pilots finish long trips refreshed instead of exhausted. 

The Saratoga’s club seating and wide cabin encourage passengers to stretch out and relax. [Credit: Mark Poole]

This 1980 Piper Saratoga has 3,981 hours on the airframe and 1,100 hours since overhaul on its 300 hp Lycoming IO-540 engine and three-blade Hartzell propeller. The aircraft has a useful load of 1,365 pounds. Additional equipment includes aerodynamic modifications to the wing tip fairings and a Reiff engine preheating system.

The IFR-certified panel features a Garmin GTN 750 GPS/Nav/Com, Narco Nav/Com, Century IIC coupled autopilot, Garmin GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, King KI 525A HSI, EDM 700 engine monitor, PS Engineering PM3000 six-place intercom, Strike Finder, and Precise Flight vacuum source standby system.

Pilots looking for a stable, smooth-flying, six-place aircraft for family vacations and business trips should consider this 1980 Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP, which is available for $240,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use our airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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