I had a Ford Flex until it was totaled in an accident. That vehicle was a real hauler and I miss it. I have a much longer commute, so I drive a Ford Escape which has decent airplane carrying ability. I definitely needed something that got better gas mileage. The Escape, with the 1.6l Ecoboost engine will get 32mpg highway as long as I keep it at 65-70mph max. It has plenty of pep for my sedate driving style.
Having said that, I do like what I have seen here regarding getting an older vehicle like a minivan, stripping out the seats and making it a full time airplane hauler. I'll have to keep my eyes open for something good!