Texas Aircraft Colt for Sale — Buy or Sell American-Built Light Sport Aircraft
The Texas Aircraft Colt is a modern American-built Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) designed and manufactured by Texas Aircraft Manufacturing, based in Laredo, Texas. Bringing a fresh perspective to the sport aviation market, the Texas Aircraft Colt combines thoughtful engineering, practical design, and a characteristically American approach to utility and accessibility. With a focus on straightforward construction, reliable powerplant choices, and a comfortable side-by-side cabin, the Texas Aircraft Colt has established itself as a capable and attractive option for sport pilots, recreational flyers, and flight training operations throughout the United States and internationally.
Whether you are looking to buy a Texas Aircraft Colt as your entry into sport aviation or you're ready to sell your Colt and connect with qualified buyers worldwide, Airplane Trade's dedicated listings page brings together the most current market offerings for this distinctive American LSA.
About Texas Aircraft Manufacturing
Texas Aircraft Manufacturing was founded with a vision to produce a high-quality, domestically designed and built light sport aircraft that would meet the practical needs of American pilots — and be manufactured with pride on American soil. Based in the Rio Grande border city of Laredo, Texas, the company brings together engineering expertise and a commitment to LSA standards compliance to deliver an aircraft that stands out in a marketplace dominated by European and Brazilian manufacturers.
The Colt represents the company's flagship design: a straightforward, purpose-built sport aircraft optimized for the missions that matter most to light sport pilots — local flying, cross-country touring, flight training, and recreational enjoyment. Texas Aircraft Manufacturing has focused its development on producing an aircraft that is both easy to fly and easy to maintain, with owner-serviceable systems and strong factory support.
Design and Airframe
The Texas Aircraft Colt is a high-wing, side-by-side two-seat monoplane built to ASTM F2245 Light Sport Aircraft standards. The high-wing configuration provides several key advantages for its intended mission profile: outstanding downward visibility for sightseeing and aerial observation, stable slow-speed handling characteristics ideal for training environments, and easy cabin access for pilots and passengers of varying physical abilities.
The airframe construction uses proven aerospace materials selected for durability, repairability, and long service life. The aircraft features a fixed tricycle undercarriage with a sturdy nosewheel configuration, ensuring predictable ground handling across a variety of runway surfaces and conditions. The wide-track main gear provides confidence-inspiring stability during crosswind landings — an important characteristic for the training environment in which many Colt aircraft operate.
The cabin is designed with pilot comfort in mind, offering side-by-side seating with good shoulder room, clear sightlines over the instrument panel, and straightforward ingress and egress via large, easy-to-open doors. The cockpit layout is intuitive and well-organized, accommodating both traditional analog instrumentation and modern glass cockpit displays depending on buyer specification and budget.
Powerplant and Performance
The Texas Aircraft Colt is powered by the industry-standard Rotax 912 series engine, which has become the definitive powerplant choice for the global light sport aircraft market. The Rotax 912 ULS delivers 100 horsepower at 5,800 RPM through a reduction gearbox, providing smooth, efficient power delivery perfectly matched to the Colt's performance envelope. The engine features dual ignition, liquid-cooled cylinder heads, and air-cooled cylinders — combining the reliability of dual-ignition systems with efficient thermal management that enables consistent performance in varying ambient temperatures.
Notably, the Rotax 912 series is approved for operation on automotive gasoline (MOGAS) as well as 100LL AVGAS, providing significant fuel cost savings over aircraft restricted to aviation fuel. This flexibility is a meaningful operating cost advantage, particularly for pilots based at airports where AVGAS is expensive or unavailable.
Key performance parameters for the Texas Aircraft Colt include:
- Cruise speed — approximately 100–110 KTAS at efficient power settings
- Stall speed — well within ASTM LSA maximum limits for safe slow-speed handling
- Rate of climb — approximately 700–800 feet per minute at sea level
- Maximum range — approximately 500–600 nautical miles depending on fuel capacity and power setting
- Maximum takeoff weight — 600 kg (1,320 lbs) per ASTM LSA standards
- Fuel type — MOGAS or 100LL AVGAS compatible
Avionics and Equipment
The Texas Aircraft Colt cockpit is designed to accept a range of avionics packages, from budget-friendly analog configurations to full glass cockpit installations. Many Colt aircraft are specified with Garmin aera GPS units, Dynon Avionics displays, or Garmin G3X Touch glass panels, providing moving map navigation, engine monitoring, and ADS-B capability in an intuitive touchscreen interface.
Standard equipment typically includes dual controls, adjustable seats, full engine instrumentation, a transponder, and communications radio. Buyers who intend to fly cross-country regularly often specify ADS-B Out compliance equipment to meet FAA airspace requirements in the United States. The aircraft's straightforward electrical system makes avionics upgrades and additions accessible for owner-maintainers comfortable with basic aircraft electrical work.
Who Buys and Sells the Texas Aircraft Colt
Private sport pilots seeking an affordable, American-built light aircraft for local recreational flying and cross-country touring are the primary market for the Texas Aircraft Colt. The aircraft's ASTM LSA certification means that buyers holding a Sport Pilot Certificate or Basic Med authorization can legally fly the Colt without a full third-class medical — a significant regulatory benefit that has expanded light aviation access to thousands of pilots across the United States.
Flight training organizations operating sport pilot programs find the Colt's gentle handling characteristics, simple systems, and low operating costs well-suited to primary training environments. The aircraft's American manufacture also resonates with schools that prefer to support domestic aviation industry suppliers. Private owners transitioning from ultralights or seeking a step up from single-seat sport aircraft appreciate the Colt's side-by-side seating for sharing the flying experience with a passenger.
On the seller side, Texas Aircraft Colts that come to market with complete maintenance documentation, current airworthiness, and well-maintained engines typically attract strong buyer interest from the growing community of American sport pilots seeking domestic LSA options.
Key Features of the Texas Aircraft Colt
- American-designed and built — manufactured in Laredo, Texas, by Texas Aircraft Manufacturing
- ASTM LSA certified — fully compliant with F2245 light sport aircraft standards
- Rotax 912 ULS powerplant — 100 HP, dual ignition, MOGAS/AVGAS compatible
- High-wing configuration — excellent visibility, stable handling, easy passenger boarding
- Side-by-side two-seat cabin — comfortable cockpit for pilot and passenger with full dual controls
- Fixed tricycle undercarriage — wide track for stable crosswind and training operations
- Glass cockpit compatible — accepts Garmin G3X, Dynon SkyView, and other modern avionics
- Owner-maintainable systems — LSA rules allow owner-performed preventative maintenance
- Low fuel burn — Rotax efficiency enables economical operations on MOGAS
- Factory support — Texas Aircraft Manufacturing provides parts and technical support
Find Your Texas Aircraft Colt on Airplane Trade
Browse current Texas Aircraft Colt for sale listings on Airplane Trade and connect with private sellers and dealers across the United States and worldwide. Whether you're looking for a low-time Colt to begin your sport pilot journey, a well-equipped training aircraft for your flight school, or an affordable weekend flyer, our marketplace makes it easy to find, compare, and contact sellers directly. Ready to sell your Texas Aircraft Colt? List your aircraft today and reach thousands of active sport pilot buyers searching for quality American-built light sport aircraft.