Aircraft Finance & Airplane Loan Payment Calculator.
Estimate the monthly payment on any aircraft or airplane loan: set price, down payment, rate, term and balloon. Free, no sign-up. Need a rate? See aircraft loan rates today, or start with how airplane financing works.
Estimates only, before tax, insurance and maintenance. Real terms depend on the aircraft, operator and lender.
Start a deal fileAn aircraft loan payment comes from three numbers: the amount financed (price minus down payment), the monthly interest rate (annual rate divided by 12) and the number of monthly payments. The standard amortization formula turns those into a level payment. A balloon lowers the payment by leaving part of the balance due at the end. In a hypothetical example, a $2,500,000 aircraft with 15% down at 7.5% over 15 years works out to about $19,699 a month.
How this calculator works
The calculator subtracts your down payment from the price to get the amount financed, then uses the standard amortization formula to find the monthly payment that pays the loan down to the balloon amount by the end of the term. Total interest is everything you pay, including the balloon, minus the amount financed.
What is the aircraft loan payment formula?
The monthly payment is M = (L - B / (1 + r)n) x r / (1 - (1 + r)-n), where L is the amount financed, B is the balloon, r is the annual rate divided by 12 and n is the number of monthly payments. With no balloon, B is zero and this becomes the familiar loan payment formula used for mortgages and equipment loans. Each payment covers that month's interest first, and the rest reduces the balance, which is why the balance chart falls slowly at first and faster near the end.
Worked example: a $2.5 million aircraft
These numbers are hypothetical and only show the math. They are not a quote or a market rate.
How do term, rate, down payment and balloon change the payment?
Each input moves the payment differently. Using the same hypothetical $2,125,000 loan:
| Change | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | about $19,699 | about $1,420,800 |
| Term 20 years instead of 15 | about $17,119 | about $1,983,500 |
| Rate 8.5% instead of 7.5% | about $20,926 | about $1,641,600 |
| $500,000 balloon at maturity | about $18,189 | about $1,649,000 |
A longer term or a balloon lowers the monthly payment but raises total interest, because the balance stays higher for longer. A higher rate raises both. A larger down payment lowers both, and on larger aircraft it can also lower the rate itself. Read more in airplane loan terms explained, balloon payments on aircraft loans and aircraft loan rates today.
What terms do aircraft lenders typically offer?
Terms depend on the aircraft, its age and the borrower, so use the calculator with quotes you have. As one published reference point, AOPA Aviation Finance lists single-engine piston loans with terms from 5 to 20 years (20 years only on loans of $75,000 and above) and a minimum down payment of 15% on aircraft newer than 1960, and multi-engine piston loans with maximum terms of 10 to 15 years and down payments of 15% to 30%, depending on age (AOPA Aviation Finance, piston aircraft). For turbine aircraft, its FAQ describes standard terms as a 15-year amortization with a 5-year term, with down payments that could be as low as 10% depending on the aircraft (AOPA Aviation Finance, turbine and turboprop). That shorter term with a longer amortization is what creates a balloon. Commercial use such as Part 135 charter usually brings shorter terms and lower advance rates.
What does the calculator leave out?
- Insurance, hangar, maintenance, engine reserves and fuel
- Sales or use tax, registration, escrow and closing fees
- Variable or floating rates that reset during the term
- Prepayment charges and any fees to refinance a balloon
For the full cost of flying the aircraft, add those to the payment. To compare leasing, use the lease vs finance calculator; to test a new rate on an existing loan, use the aircraft refinance calculator.
What interest rate should you enter? Aircraft loan rates today
Start with a rate you have been quoted. If you do not have one yet, these are published rates checked on October 25, 2026; most borrowers pay more than a starting rate. The full table, with loan sizes, down payments and Treasury, SOFR and prime benchmarks, is on aircraft loan rates today.
| Aircraft | Published rate | Term | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified piston | From 6.39% | Up to 20-year amortization | FLYING Finance, October 2026 |
| Turboprop and jet | From 6.53% | Up to 20-year amortization | FLYING Finance, October 2026 |
| Light sport (MOSAIC) and experimental | From 7.16% (light sport), 7.23% (experimental) | Up to 20-year amortization | FLYING Finance, October 2026 |
| Single-engine piston | 6.99% to 9.99% | 5 to 20 years | AOPA Aviation Finance, Undated page, checked Oct 25, 2026 |
| Model year 2021 and newer | 7.99% (84 mo), 8.49% (120 mo), 8.99% (180 mo), APR as low as | 7 to 15 years | Wings Credit Union, Effective Oct 23, 2026 |
| Small aircraft, 549 hp or less, personal use | APR as low as 5.59% | Up to 120 months | Aircraft Associates Credit Union, Effective Sept 18, 2026 |
What is the monthly payment at today's rates?
A second worked example, using today's published rates on the same hypothetical loan: a $250,000 airplane with 15% down, $212,500 financed over 20 years.
| Published rate | Aircraft and source | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.39% | Certified piston, FLYING Finance | $1,571 | $164,447 |
| 6.53% | Turboprop and jet, FLYING Finance | $1,588 | $168,644 |
| 6.99% | Single-engine piston, AOPA Aviation Finance | $1,646 | $182,596 |
| 7.16% | Light sport (MOSAIC) and experimental, FLYING Finance | $1,668 | $187,815 |
| 7.23% | Light sport (MOSAIC) and experimental, FLYING Finance | $1,677 | $189,974 |
| 9.99% | Single-engine piston, AOPA Aviation Finance | $2,049 | $279,323 |
Last reviewed . Estimates only; not an offer to lend.
Frequently asked questions
How is an aircraft loan payment calculated?
Subtract the down payment from the price to get the amount financed, divide the annual rate by 12, and count the monthly payments. The amortization formula M = L x r / (1 - (1 + r)^-n) gives the level monthly payment; a balloon is subtracted at its present value first.
What interest rate should I use in an airplane loan calculator?
Use a rate you have been quoted, then test a point higher and lower. Rates move with the market and with the aircraft, the borrower and the term. AOPA reported in January 2026 that rates for qualified buyers had declined into the low 6 percent range; treat any published figure as dated. See aircraft loan rates today.
How long can you finance an airplane?
AOPA Aviation Finance lists terms of 5 to 20 years for single-engine piston loans, 10 to 15 year maximums for piston twins, and for turbine aircraft a 15-year amortization with a 5-year term as standard. Your term depends on the aircraft age, loan size and lender.
How much down payment do I need for an aircraft loan?
Commonly 15% or more for piston aircraft, and 15% to 30% for older or multi-engine aircraft, per AOPA Aviation Finance, with turbine down payments that can be as low as 10% for some aircraft. See the down payment guide.
What does a balloon do to my payment?
A balloon leaves part of the balance due at the end, which lowers the monthly payment but means a lump sum later, usually paid by selling or refinancing. It raises total interest because the balance stays higher.
Is this an aircraft finance calculator for leases too?
It models loans. A finance lease with a nominal buyout behaves much like a loan, so the payment will be close, but leases are priced by the lessor. Use the lease vs finance calculator to compare.
Does this include taxes and insurance?
No. It covers principal and interest only. Insurance, maintenance, hangar and taxes are separate.