Piper PA-31T Cheyenne

Piper PA-31T Cheyenne
PA-31T Cheyenne at Valle, Arizona, in October 2005
Role	Turboprop
Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
First flight	29 August 1969
Primary user	Corporate
Number built	823
Developed from	Piper PA-31 Navajo
Variants	Piper PA-42 Cheyenne

The Piper PA-31T Cheyenne is a turboprop development of the earlier PA-31P Pressurized Navajo.

Development

Originally, the aircraft was an upgraded version of the Pressurized Navajo equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 turboprop engines. Later, the aircraft was further refined and developed, including aerodynamic improvements and fuselage extensions. The PA-31T led to the development of the PA-42 Cheyenne III and IV.

Variants

PA-31T Cheyenne

Initial production version, powered by two 620-shp (462-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 turboprop engines.

PA-31T-1

Original designation of the PT-31T Cheyenne II. Powered by 500-shp (373-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-II turboprop engines.

PT-31T Cheyenne II

Improved version, renamed version of original powered by two 620-shp (462-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 turboprop engines.

PT-31T Cheyenne IIXL

Stretched version, powered by two 750-shp (559-kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 turboprop engines.

Specifications

Data from Jane's all The World's Aircraft 1976-77

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 4-6 passengers
• Length: 34 ft 8 in (10.57 m)
• Wingspan: 42 ft 8¼ in (13.01 m)
• Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
• Wing area: 229 sq ft (21.3 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,870 lb (2,209 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PT-6-28 turboprop, 620 shp (462 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 326 mph (525 km/h, 283 knots) at 11,000 ft (3,360 m)
• Cruise speed: 244 mph (393 km/h, 212 knots) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
• Stall speed: 88 mph (142 km/h, 77 knots) (flaps down)
• Range: 1,702 mi (2,739 km, 1,478 nmi) (econ cruise, 45 min reserves)
• Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,840 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (14.2 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Cessna 425
• Cessna 441
• Beechcraft King Air
• Mitsubishi Mu-2
  

References

• Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976, ISBN 0-354-00538-3.

External links

• The Piper PA-31T Cheyenne history from Airliners.net