Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six explained
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.[1] [2]
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.[3] 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 PA32-260 Cherokee Six, a significantly modified six-seat (or seven-seat) development of the PA-28 Cherokee.[1] [2]
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.[1] [2]
PA-32-300
On 27 May 1966, Piper obtained FAA type certification for a 300hp version, designated as the PA-32-300.[4] It was offered by the company as a 1967 model.
PA-32R
See main article: Piper PA-32R. The 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.[1] [2]
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.[5]
Variants
- PA-32-250 Cherokee Six
Prototype with 250hp Lycoming O-540 engine, two built
- 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.
- 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.[6]
- 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.[7]
- Embraer EMB-721C Sertanejo
Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Lance.[6]
- Embraer EMB-721D Sertanejo
Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Saratoga Retractable Gear version. Production by Embraer and its subsidiary Neiva.[7] References
Bibliography
- Book: Taylor . John W. R. . John W. R. Taylor . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1965–66 . 1965 . London . Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd..
External links
Notes and References
- Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 63. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977.
- Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 32. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992.
- Web site: McDowell . Mark . The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six . . November 24, 2021 . January 28, 2022.
- Web site: Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A3SO. 2009-09-12. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. June 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131022146/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/175d1136cb8a68b6862572f700681ff3/$FILE/A3SO.pdf. 2017-01-31. dead.
- Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, p.96. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992.
- Book: Taylor . John W. R. . John W. R. Taylor . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1980–81 . 1980 . London . Jane's Publishing Company . 0-7106-0705-9 . 17–18.
- Book: Taylor . John W. R. . John W. R. Taylor . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83 . 1982 . London . Jane's Yearbooks . 0-7106-0748-2 . 18–19.
