Are piston engines still used in aircraft?

Yes — piston engines are still very much used in aircraft today! ✈️

Why piston engines still used in aircrafts?

They are common in general aviation, especially for:

Training aircraft (like the Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee)
Private planes for short to medium distances
Bush planes and utility aircraft (like the Cessna 208 Caravan in piston versions, or older rugged aircraft)
Light sport aircraft (LSA) and homebuilt/experimental planes
Some aerobatic aircraft (because of the engine’s responsiveness)

Why are piston engines still popular?

Cost-effective: Much cheaper to buy, run, and maintain than turbine engines.
Simple technology: Easier to repair, especially in remote areas.
Low-speed, short-range missions: Perfect for local flying, sightseeing, training.
Good for short runways: Many piston aircraft can take off and land from small airstrips.
Pilot training: Almost every pilot begins training in a piston-engine airplane.

**Where they are less common:**

Commercial airlines (jet engines dominate here)
High-speed, long-distance flights
Military fighter jets (all turbine-powered now)

However, some military trainers and small surveillance planes still use piston engines even today!

Modern piston engine aircraft:

Modern piston engine aircraft are way more advanced than the old-school planes you might be picturing — but they still stick to the same core idea: a propeller driven by a piston engine. 🔥🛩️

Also Read: Modern piston engine aircraft.

Here is the examples of some common modern piston engines aircraft.

Aircraft	Notes
Cirrus SR22T	Turbocharged, luxury, glass cockpit, parachute system
Diamond DA62	Twin-engine diesel piston, high-end touring plane
Tecnam P2010	Italian design, 4-seater, Garmin avionics
Piper M350	Pressurized piston aircraft, onboard weather radar
Mooney M20V Acclaim Ultra	One of the fastest single-engine piston aircraft