Used Aircraft For Sale

Aircraft for sale at auction

From single-engine piston trainers to turboprop workhorses and retired commercial jets, our aircraft auctions cover the full spectrum of fixed-wing and rotary equipment. You'll find listings from fleet operators, charter companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and private sellers offloading aircraft for retirement, repositioning, or salvage. Whether you're sourcing a flyable Cessna 172 for a flight school, a King Air for a corporate operator, or an airframe destined for parts recovery, our inventory turns over regularly with both online and live sale events.

Browse current listings on rbauction.com and IronPlanet to see what's available. Each lot includes documented hours, logbook status notes where provided, and condition details so you can bid with a clear picture of what you're buying.

Types of aircraft you'll find at auction

Our aircraft category spans several distinct equipment types, and the right machine depends entirely on the mission:

• Single-engine piston aircraft: Cessna 150/152/172/182, Piper Cherokee and Warrior, Beechcraft Bonanza. Common in flight training fleets, personal ownership, and bush operations.
• Twin-engine piston: Piper Seneca, Beechcraft Baron, Cessna 310/340/421. Used for charter, light cargo, and multi-engine training.
• Turboprops: Beechcraft King Air 90/200/350, Cessna Caravan, Pilatus PC-12. Built for regional charter, medevac, freight, and utility work.
• Business jets: Citation series, Learjet, Hawker, Falcon. Off-lease and end-of-life corporate aircraft come through regularly.
• Helicopters: Bell 206/407, Robinson R44/R66, Airbus AS350. Listed alongside fixed-wing inventory for utility, EMS, and tour operators.
• Salvage aircraft and airframes: Damaged, time-expired, or part-out candidates sold for component recovery — engines, avionics, landing gear, and aviation parts still hold significant value.

Salvage planes and part-out opportunities

Salvage aircraft auctions are a major part of this category. When an aircraft is written off after an incident, runs out of service life, or becomes uneconomical to maintain, the value often sits in the components rather than the complete airframe. Engines with remaining time before overhaul, recently overhauled props, glass panel avionics, serviceable landing gear assemblies, and even sheet metal sections can be recovered and recertified through approved repair stations.

If you're an MRO, parts dealer, or operator looking to reduce maintenance spend by sourcing serviceable take-off components, salvage listings on IronPlanet are worth tracking. We list damaged airframes, gear-up landings, hangar-damaged aircraft, and government surplus aircraft alongside flyable inventory.

Why buy an aircraft at auction?

Auction pricing reflects real market conditions, not list price. For operators expanding a fleet, replacing an aging airframe, or building out a part-out inventory, this is one of the few channels where you can compete directly for aircraft that institutional sellers — banks, leasing companies, fleet operators, government agencies — are motivated to move. With more than 60 years of experience in industrial auctions and global buyer reach across 40+ countries, Ritchie Bros. handles transactions transparently, with documented inspections and clear title transfer.

What to look for when buying used aircraft

• Logbook continuity: Complete, unbroken airframe and engine logs are non-negotiable. Gaps in maintenance records destroy resale value and can ground an aircraft until reconstructed records are accepted by your authority.
• Time since major overhaul (SMOH) and time before overhaul (TBO): Engines approaching TBO on a Lycoming, Continental, or PT6A can mean a six-figure expense within your first year of ownership. Factor remaining hours into your bid.
• Airworthiness Directive (AD) and Service Bulletin (SB) compliance: Confirm all applicable ADs are current. Outstanding ADs on spar caps, fuel bladders, or magnetos can hold an aircraft on the ground.
• Corrosion inspection: Especially critical for aircraft based in coastal or humid environments. Check wing spars, control surface hinges, belly skins, and fuselage longerons.
• Avionics and certification status: ADS-B Out compliance, IFR certification currency, and the age of the panel directly affect usable value. A glass upgrade can cost $30K–$100K+ depending on the platform.
• Damage history: Prior damage isn't automatically disqualifying, but repair quality matters. Request the 337 forms documenting major repairs and have a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified A&P or IA.

Buy used aircraft at Ritchie Bros.

Our aircraft inventory regularly includes Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Bell, Robinson, and Airbus models alongside salvage airframes and aviation parts lots. Each listing includes available documentation — total time, engine times, equipment lists, and condition notes — and many aircraft can be inspected in person at the sale site before bidding. Browse current aircraft listings at rbauction.com or IronPlanet.com to find the next addition to your fleet or your next part-out project.