Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six

PA-32 Cherokee Six
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[ citation needed ]
Introduction date	1965
First flight	December 6, 1963
Developed from	Piper PA-28 Cherokee
Developed into	Piper PA-32R ; Piper PA-34 Seneca

Last updated February 10, 2025

A 1966 model Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six PiperPA-32-260CherokeeSix02.jpg — A 1966 model Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six

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]

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.^[4] 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.^[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 300 hp (220 kW) version, designated as the PA-32-300.^[5] It was offered by the company as a 1967 model.^{[ citation needed ]}

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.^[6]

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.^[7]
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.^[8]
Embraer EMB-721C Sertanejo: Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Lance.^[7]
Embraer EMB-721D Sertanejo: Brazilian license-built version of PA-32R-301 Saratoga Retractable Gear version. Production by Embraer and its subsidiary Neiva.^[8]

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 m²)
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

1 2 3 4 Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 63. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
1 2 3 4 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
1 2 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.
1 2 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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[Plane_and_Pilot-1] 1 2 3 4 Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 63. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0

[Foster-2] 1 2 3 4 Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, page 32. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1

[flymd-3] McDowell, Mark (November 24, 2021). "The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six". Flying . Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[jawa65p292-4] Taylor 1965 , p. 292

[A3SO-5] 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.

[Foster96-6] Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition, p.96. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. ISBN 0-395-62888-1

[jawa80p17-8-7] 1 2 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.

[jawa82p18-9-8] 1 2 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.

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