Published profiles from 2008 described Harrison Ford with a varied collection of aircraft, from a backcountry-ready de Havilland Beaver to a business jet and a helicopter. They are historical accounts, not confirmation of what he owns today. Among the six, Ford named the Beaver as the one airplane he would keep if he had to choose.
What aircraft did Harrison Ford own?
AOPA’s 2008 profiles reported that Ford owned or used the six aircraft below. The dates matter: those reports do not establish his current fleet. The FAA’s Aircraft Registration Inquiry provides current registration records, but registration alone would not establish beneficial ownership or personal use.
| Aircraft | Configuration | Reported role or connection | What the source establishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver | Single-engine bush plane | Backcountry flying; Ford’s favorite | AOPA and the National Aviation Hall of Fame described his ownership in reports published in 2008 and 2003. |
| Waco Taperwing CTO-10 | Open-cockpit biplane | Vintage flying | AOPA described it in 2008 as an aircraft Ford bought for its appearance. |
| Bell 407 | Helicopter | Flying and search-and-rescue support | AOPA identified it as Ford’s helicopter in 2008 and discussed a Wyoming rescue. |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | Twin-engine business jet | Personal and business travel | AOPA reported a purchase in March 2005 and described his training and use in 2008. |
| Cessna Grand Caravan | Single-engine utility turboprop | Travel and relief work | AOPA included it in its 2008 coverage; Ford later recalled using a Caravan on a 2010 Haiti relief mission. |
| Pilatus PC-12 | Single-engine turboprop | Longer-range turbine flying | AOPA reported that Ford bought one in 2004 and described past transatlantic trips. |
Why the Beaver was Ford’s favorite
Ford became interested in the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver while preparing to fly one for the film Six Days, Seven Nights, then acquired one of his own for backcountry flying. The National Aviation Hall of Fame also noted his Beaver ownership in a 2003 release.
In AOPA’s June 2008 profile, Ford said: “If I had to sell all of my airplanes but could keep only one, it would be the Beaver.” That makes the Beaver the clearest answer to the question of his favorite airplane—not a claim that it remains in his possession.
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Waco Taperwing: a vintage biplane
AOPA’s 2008 profile said Ford bought a Waco Taperwing CTO-10 because he was “seduced by its appearance.” The profile described the aircraft as a 1929 design built new in 1960, with a 275-horsepower fuel-injected Jacobs radial engine. Those are details reported about the aircraft in that profile, not a specification sheet for every Taperwing.
Ford also described it as challenging to land, citing its narrow landing gear, short coupling and sensitive controls. The account presents a different side of his flying from the practical bush-plane work associated with the Beaver.
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Bell 407: flying connected to rescue work
AOPA identified Ford’s helicopter as a Bell 407 and linked it to the 2001 search for a 13-year-old Boy Scout in Wyoming. Ford credited experienced local pilot Ken Johnson with helping locate the boy in poor weather. The AOPA profile also reported that Ford volunteered himself and the helicopter for search-and-rescue operations. The National Aviation Hall of Fame’s 2003 release separately referred to his helicopter rescues in Wyoming.
Citation CJ3: a move into jet travel
AOPA reported that Ford bought a Cessna 525B Citation CJ3 in March 2005 for faster, higher-altitude travel. Its 2008 profile described the jet as serving personal and business transportation and covered Ford’s type-rating training and use of a professional pilot.
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AOPA’s later 2008 turbine profile said insurance limitations meant Ford was not then certificated to fly the CJ3 single-pilot. That is a historical account of his certification and insurance circumstances at the time, not a statement about his current qualifications.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Grand Caravan: utility beyond personal travel
AOPA’s June 2008 profile included a Cessna Grand Caravan among the aircraft Ford flew. In an Associated Press interview published around 2025, Ford recalled using his Cessna Caravan for a 2010 Haiti earthquake relief mission organized with Operation Smile. He said they carried supplies and medical professionals from Miami to Port-au-Prince, then flew to Hinche, which he described as having a landing field but no airport.
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The account illustrates a practical use for the aircraft, rather than merely documenting travel: a turboprop able to support a relief effort involving people and supplies. Ford recalled asking whether the airplane he had was suited to the work.
PC-12: longer-range turbine flying
AOPA reported in October 2008 that Ford bought a Pilatus PC-12 in 2004. The profile said he used it for a year to gain experience in a more sophisticated aircraft after the Caravan’s unpressurized cabin limited altitude, and that he made two transatlantic trips via Greenland and Iceland in the PC-12. These are reports of past ownership and use, not evidence of his present fleet.
What the published timeline does—and doesn’t—show
AOPA’s October 2008 profile gave this turbine-aircraft chronology:
- Ford purchased a Cessna Caravan in 2000.
- He bought a Pilatus PC-12 in 2004.
- He purchased a Cessna 525B Citation CJ3 in March 2005.
- AOPA reported that he expected delivery of a Cessna CE-680 Citation Sovereign in March 2009. That was a planned delivery reported in 2008, not confirmation that delivery or ownership followed.
AOPA’s June 2008 fleet profile also discussed aircraft outside this six-item selection: a Cessna 172 for initial training, a turbocharged Cessna T182 in which Ford soloed, a Cessna T206 used in continued training, an Aviat Husky A1B kept in Wyoming for backcountry flying, an earlier Grumman Gulfstream G-II, and a Beech B-36TC Bonanza he no longer owned by the time of that interview. These details help explain his aviation history but should not be mistaken for a verified current inventory.
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