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Top 10 Most-Produced Small Planes of All Time

The private and training planes built in the biggest numbers, ranked by total units produced, from the Cessna 172 to the Piper Super Cub.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk44,000+2

Piper PA-28 Cherokee family32,778+3

Cessna 150 / 15231,471

Quick answer

The Cessna 172 is the most-produced small plane in history, with more than 44,000 built since 1956, and more 172s have been built than any other aircraft. The Piper PA-28 family is second with more than 32,778 and the Cessna 150/152 third at 31,471.

How it's ranked: Total units produced, from Wikipedia's List of most-produced aircraft. Only civil small planes (personal, training, utility and ultralight) are ranked; airliners, transports and military aircraft are left out. Counts marked "+" are minimum figures from the source.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Cessna · Four-seat trainer and personal plane · released 1956

44,000+

The most-produced aircraft in history.

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing plane, and more 172s have been built than any other aircraft: more than 44,000 since production began in 1956. It grew out of the Cessna 170, swapping that plane's tailwheel for tricycle landing gear, and it was also built under license in France by Reims Aviation. It is still in production.

Best forLearning to fly and everyday personal flying

Skip it ifYou want speed - it is built for ease, not pace

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Cessna_172

Piper PA-28 Cherokee family

Piper · Two- or four-seat trainer and personal plane · released 1960

32,778+

The low-wing answer to the Cessna 172.

The Piper PA-28 is a family of all-metal, low-wing, single-engine planes built for flight training, air taxi work and personal flying. More than 32,778 have been built since the first one was certified in 1960, sold under names including Cherokee, Warrior, Archer, Dakota, Cadet and Pilot. You board it by stepping onto the wing to reach its single door on the right side. The series is still in production.

Best forFlight schools and low-wing fans

Skip it ifYou want a high wing for sightseeing views

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Piper_PA-28_Cherokee

Cessna 150 / 152

Cessna · Two-seat trainer · released 1958

31,471

The plane a generation of pilots learned on.

The Cessna 150 and its successor, the Cessna 152, are two-seat trainers built from 1958 to 1986, with 31,471 produced in total. That makes them the most-produced two-seat civil aircraft ever. The 150 was sold in versions from the basic Standard to the aerobatic Aerobat, and it was also built in France and Argentina.

Best forLow-cost flight training

Skip it ifYou need more than two seats

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Cessna_150

Cessna 182 Skylane

Cessna · Four-seat personal plane · released 1956

23,237+

The bigger, stronger Cessna.

The Cessna 182 Skylane is a four-seat, single-engine light plane built in Wichita, Kansas, since 1956, with more than 23,237 produced. Two child seats can be added in the baggage area, and it has been built in several versions, including one with retractable landing gear. It is the second-most popular Cessna still in production after the 172.

Best forPilots who want more power and payload than a 172

Skip it ifYou want the cheapest plane to run

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Cessna_182_Skylane

Piper J-3 Cub

Piper · Two-seat light plane · released 1938

20,191

The Model T of airplanes.

The Piper J-3 Cub is a simple, lightweight, high-wing plane built from 1938 to 1947, with 20,191 produced. Its good low-speed handling and short-field performance made it a classic, and its simplicity and affordability draw comparisons to the Ford Model T. It is the most-produced fabric-covered monoplane, and the count includes military versions such as the L-4.

Best forVintage plane fans and slow, low flying

Skip it ifYou want a modern cabin

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Piper_J-3_Cub

Beechcraft Bonanza

Beechcraft · Four- to six-seat personal plane · released 1947

18,542

The longest-running plane ever built.

The Beechcraft Bonanza is a four-to-six-seat, single-engine plane introduced in 1947, and it has been in continuous production longer than any other aircraft in history. A total of 18,542 had been built by the end of 2023, in both the famous V-tail and conventional-tail versions. In November 2025, Textron Aviation announced that the Bonanza would cease production.

Best forFast, comfortable personal travel

Skip it ifYou want a low-cost trainer

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Beechcraft_Bonanza

Chotia Weedhopper

Weedhopper · Ultralight kit plane · released 1977

13,000+

The most-produced ultralight.

The Weedhopper is a high-wing ultralight designed by John Chotia during the 1970s ultralight boom and introduced in 1977. It was sold as a kit that could be assembled in 25 to 30 hours, and more than 13,000 were made through 2012, making it the most-produced ultralight. The company appears to have closed by early 2013.

Best forUltralight history buffs

Skip it ifYou want a factory-built plane

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Chotia_Weedhopper

Mooney M20

Mooney · Four-seat personal plane · released 1955

11,000+

The speed-focused four-seater.

The Mooney M20 is a family of four-seat, low-wing, single-engine planes, the 20th design from Al Mooney and his most successful. More than 11,000 were built across three production runs from 1955 to 2019, from the wooden-wing M20 of 1955 to the M20V Acclaim Ultra that debuted in 2016.

Best forPilots who want speed from a four-seater

Skip it ifYou need a roomy cabin

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Mooney_M20

Piper Pacer and Tri-Pacer

Piper · Four-seat personal plane · released 1950

10,610

Piper's rugged four-seat classic.

The Piper Pacer, Tri-Pacer and Colt are a family of strut-braced, high-wing planes, with 10,610 built through 1964. The Pacer is a four-seat version of Piper's two-seat Vagabond, the Tri-Pacer added tricycle landing gear, and the Colt was a two-seat trainer. They were prized for their ruggedness, roomy cabins and, for their time, impressive speed.

Best forClassic-plane owners on a budget

Skip it ifYou want a modern all-metal plane

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Piper_PA-20_Pacer

Piper PA-18 Super Cub

Piper · Two-seat utility plane · released 1949

10,222

The bush pilot's favorite.

The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is a two-seat, single-engine plane introduced in 1949, developed from the Cub line that began with the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. 10,222 were built through 1983, including military versions. Super Cubs are still common in bush flying, banner towing and glider towing.

Best forBush flying and towing banners or gliders

Skip it ifYou want comfort for long trips

Source: en.wikipedia.org › Piper_PA-18_Super_Cub

Questions people ask

What is the most-produced airplane ever?

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk, with more than 44,000 built since 1956.

What is the most-produced two-seat plane?

The Cessna 150/152, with 31,471 built from 1958 to 1986.

Which plane has been in production the longest?

The Beechcraft Bonanza, introduced in 1947, has been in continuous production longer than any other aircraft. Textron Aviation announced in November 2025 that it would cease production.

Are Cessna 172s still being built?

Yes. The Cessna 172 has been in production since 1956 and is still built today.

What is the most-produced ultralight?

The Chotia Weedhopper, with more than 13,000 made from 1977 to 2012.

How we ranked

Total units produced, from Wikipedia's List of most-produced aircraft. Only civil small planes (personal, training, utility and ultralight) are ranked; airliners, transports and military aircraft are left out. Counts marked "+" are minimum figures from the source. Every number on this page comes from the source linked under each pick, and every photo shows the actual product. Brands can't pay to be on this list.

List source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-produced_aircraft · Updated 2026-11-11