General Aviation

Piper Aircraft PA-32

Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft

The Piper PA‑32 Cherokee Six is a single‑engine, fixed‑gear light aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft from 1965 to 2007. It was designed as a larger, six‑seat version of the PA‑28 Cherokee and has been used worldwide for private transport, air taxi, bush support, and medevac missions.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
piper-pa-32
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
1,976
Example Registration
G-BXWP

Specifications

Wingspan
10 m / 32.83 ft
Length
8.4 m / 27.67 ft
Height
2.4 m / 7.92 ft
Max Speed
280 km/h / 174 mph
Cruise Speed
272 km/h / 168 mph
Range
1361 km / 840 mi
Ceiling
4950 m / 16250 ft
First Flight
1963-12-06
Production Start
1965
Production End
2007
Total Built
7842

Aircraft Overview

History

The PA‑32 series was conceived to fill a gap between the four‑seat PA‑28 and larger aircraft. The first prototype flew on 6 December 1963, and the type was announced in October 1964. FAA type certification followed on 4 March 1965. The initial production model was the 260‑hp PA‑32‑260 Cherokee Six. In 1966 a 300‑hp version (PA‑32‑300) received certification. The 1975 introduction of retractable landing gear produced the PA‑32R Lance, the first of the Saratoga family. A tapered‑wing version, the Saratoga, debuted in 1980. Production of the retractable‑gear Saratoga resumed in 1995, and a fixed‑gear 6X was reintroduced in 2003, but sales were weak and production ended in 2007. A prototype PA‑32‑260 with wing‑mounted engines led to the twin‑engine PA‑34 Seneca.

Design

The Cherokee Six features a single Lycoming IO‑540 engine, a nose baggage compartment, and a large double rear door for easy loading. Early models had fixed landing gear; the PA‑32R introduced retractable gear and a more powerful engine. Later variants incorporated tapered wings for better performance and optional turbocharging. The aircraft accommodates five passengers (six with an optional seat) and has a cruise speed of about 168 mph.

Variants

Key variants include the PA‑32‑260 Cherokee Six and its B–E sub‑models, the 300‑hp PA‑32‑300 and its B–E sub‑models, the experimental low‑drag PA‑32‑300LD, the float‑mounted PA‑32S‑300, the 300‑hp PA‑32‑301 Saratoga, the turbo‑charged PA‑32‑301T Saratoga, and the three‑engine PA‑32‑3M prototype. Embraer produced Brazilian license‑built versions such as the EMB‑720C/D Minuano and EMB‑721C/D Sertanejo.

Operations

The PA‑32 Cherokee Six is widely used for private ownership, air taxi services, bush and utility operations, and medical evacuation. Its spacious cabin, reliable performance, and versatility make it popular in both civilian and commercial roles around the globe.

Notable Facts

  • First prototype flight on 6 December 1963.
  • FAA type certification on 4 March 1965.
  • Retractable‑gear PA‑32R Lance introduced in 1975.
  • Tapered‑wing Saratoga debuted in 1980.
  • Production of the 6X and 6XT models ceased in 2007.
  • The PA‑32‑260 prototype with wing‑mounted engines proved the concept for the twin‑engine PA‑34 Seneca.
  • Embraer produced Brazilian license‑built Minuano and Sertanejo variants.

Variants

  • PA-32-300- 992 registrations - Example N100BJ
  • PA-32-260- 649 registrations - Example N10480
  • PA-32-301- 167 registrations - Example N100LW
  • PA-32-301T- 81 registrations - Example N100WD
  • PA32-301FT- 39 registrations - Example N104WH
  • PA32-301XTC- 36 registrations - Example N117SE
  • PA-32-301XTC- 7 registrations - Example N205SG
  • PA32-301FT- 4 registrations - Example N1040Z
  • PA-32-300 Cherokee Six- 1 registrations - Example G-BXWP

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources