The Most Popular Aircraft Manufacturers in the U.S. Registry

Who Builds the Most Planes Americans Fly?

The FAA Civil Aviation Registry contains aircraft from hundreds of manufacturers, from global aerospace giants to individual homebuilders registering their amateur-built aircraft. But the registry is far from evenly distributed — a small number of manufacturers account for the vast majority of registered aircraft in the United States.

Cessna: The Undisputed Leader

Cessna Aircraft Company, now part of Textron Aviation, is by far the most represented manufacturer in the U.S. registry. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk alone is the most produced aircraft in history, with more than 44,000 built since 1956. Add in the Cessna 150, 152, 182, 210, and dozens of other models, and Cessna aircraft appear in the registry more than any other brand. For decades, Cessna has been synonymous with flight training in America.

Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft is the second major force in general aviation registrations. The Piper Cherokee family, the Piper Seneca, the Piper Archer, and the Piper Warrior have produced hundreds of thousands of aircraft, a large proportion of which remain in service. Piper has long competed directly with Cessna in the trainer and private aircraft markets.

Beechcraft

Beechcraft (also now under Textron Aviation) contributes significantly through models like the Bonanza — the longest-continuously-produced aircraft model in history — and the Baron, King Air turboprop series, and various training aircraft.

Boeing and Commercial Aviation

In the commercial sector, Boeing dominates the large aircraft segment. The 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 families represent the backbone of U.S. commercial aviation. Airbus, while headquartered in Europe, also has a large presence through the A320, A321, and A330 families operated by U.S. carriers.

Homebuilders: A Unique Category

The registry also contains tens of thousands of amateur-built experimental aircraft, where the manufacturer is the individual builder. Van RV series, Zenith, and other kit aircraft companies supply the designs and parts, but the registered manufacturer is often the builder own name.

Browse aircraft by manufacturer to explore the full distribution, or see the most common models currently in the registry.