| PA-32 Cherokee Six | |
|---|---|
 1973 model Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six | |
| General information | |
| Type | personal use and air taxi aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft |
| Status | Production complete; in service |
| Number built | 7,842+ |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1965-2007 |
| Introduction date | 1965 |
| First flight | December 6, 1963 |
| Developed from | Piper PA-28 Cherokee |
| Developed into | Piper PA-32R Piper PA-34 Seneca |
The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six is a series of single-engine, fixed landing gear, light aircraft manufactured in the United States by Piper Aircraft between 1965 and 2007.
The PA-32 is used around the world for private transportation, air taxi services, bush support, and medevac flights.
Development
The PA-32 series was developed to meet a requirement for a larger aircraft than the four-seat Piper PA-28 Cherokee. The first prototype PA-32 made its initial flight on December 6, 1963, with the type being publicly announced in October 1964, with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft_type certification following on March 4, 1965. The first production aircraft was the 260 horsepower (190 kW) PA32-260 Cherokee Six, a significantly modified six-seat (or seven-seat) development of the PA-28 Cherokee.
The Cherokee Six and its successors feature a baggage compartment in the nose between the cockpit and the engine compartment and a large double door in the back for easy loading of passengers and cargo.
PA-32-300
On 27 May 1966, Piper obtained FAA type certification for a 300 hp (220 kW) version, designated as the PA-32-300. It was offered by the company as a 1967 model.
PA-32R
Main article: Piper PA-32RThe 1975 addition of retractable landing gear resulted in the first of the PA-32R series, the Piper Lance. This was the earliest aircraft in the Piper Saratoga family, Piper's luxury, high-performance single line.
Piper's transition to tapered wings for the Cherokee series resulted in a new wing for the PA-32 series, as well. The tapered-wing version of the Cherokee Six was named the Saratoga and debuted in 1980.
Piper 6X
After the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994, production of the retractable-gear Saratoga resumed in 1995. A fixed-gear PA-32 was reintroduced in 2003 as the Piper 6X and the turbocharged 6XT. Sales of the 6X and 6XT models did not meet expectations and production ceased in late 2007.
PA-34 prototype
Piper built a prototype PA-32-260 with IO-360 engines mounted on the wings. The trimotor aircraft was the proof-of-concept aircraft for the twin-engined, retractable-gear version of the Cherokee Six, the PA-34 Seneca.
Variants
- PA-32-250 Cherokee Six
- Prototype with 250hp Lycoming O-540 engine, two built
- PA-32-260 Cherokee Six
- Production variant with a 260hp Lycoming O-540-E4B5 engine
- PA-32-260 Cherokee Six B
- 1969 model with increased cabin space
- PA-32-260 Cherokee Six C
- 1970 model with minor changes
- PA-32-260 Cherokee Six D
- 1971 model with minor changes
- PA-32-260 Cherokee Six E
- 1972 model with interior and instrument panel changes (note model letters not used after 1972)
- PA-32-300 Cherokee Six
- Variant with a 300hp Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 engine, named the Piper Six 300 after 1979
- PA-32-300 Cherokee Six B
- 1969 model with instrument panel changes, engine changed to IO-540-K1G5
- PA-32-300 Cherokee Six C
- 1970 model
- PA-32-300 Cherokee Six D
- 1971 model
- PA-32-300 Cherokee Six E
- 1972 model (note model letters not used after 1972)
- PA-32-300LD
- Experimental low-drag variant for increased fuel efficiency, one built
- PA-32S-300
- Factory built on floats, only a small number were made.
- PA-32-301 Saratoga
- Variant from 1980 with a 300hp Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine
- PA-32-301T Turbo Saratoga
- Saratoga with a turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD engine and revised cowling
- PA-32-3M
- PA-32 prototype modified as a three-engined aircraft with two 115-hp Lycoming O-235 engines fitted to the wings, for development of the PA-34 Seneca
- Embraer EMB-720C Minuano
- Brazilian license-built version of PA-32-300 Cherokee Six.
- Embraer EMB-720D Minuano
- Brazilian license-built version of PA-32-301 Saratoga Fixed Gear version. Production by Embraer and its subsidiary Indústria Aeronáutica Neiva.
- Embraer EMB-721C Sertanejo
- Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Lance.
- Embraer EMB-721D Sertanejo
- Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Saratoga Retractable Gear version. Production by Embraer and its subsidiary Neiva.
Specifications (1972 model PA-32-300)
Data from 1972 Piper Cherokee Six 300 "E" Owner's Handbook
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: five passengers (or six with optional seat)
- Length: 27 ft 8 in (8.4 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 10 in (10.0 m)
- Height: 7 ft 11 in (2.4 m)
- Wing area: 174.5 sq ft (16.5 m)
- Airfoil: NACA 65-415
- Empty weight: 1,788 lb (811 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 piston, flat six, 300 hp (225 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 174 mph (280 km/h, 151 kn)
- Cruise speed: 168 mph (272 km/h, 146 kn)
- Range: 840 mi (1,361 km, 730 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 16,250 ft (4,950 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,050 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
References
Notes
- ^ Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 63. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
- ^ Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 32. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1
- McDowell, Mark (November 24, 2021). "The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six". Flying. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- Taylor 1965, p. 292
- Federal Aviation Administration (June 2007). "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A3SO" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, p.96. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1
- ^ Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1980). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980–81. London: Jane's Publishing Company. pp. 17–18. ISBN 0-7106-0705-9.
- ^ Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
Bibliography
- Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1965). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
External links
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