Piper Cheyenne IIIA Specifications

Background/History

The Piper Cheyenne IIIA, PA-42-720, can trace its development to the earlier Cheyenne PA-31T which was a turboprop development itself of the piston PA-31 Navajo. The PA-42 Cheyenne III series is a larger aircraft which was originally intended to compete with the successful Beech King Air twin turboprop series. Its first appearance was in 1979, with an airframe that was three feet longer than the Cheyenne II, turbine power and a T-tail, with full production beginning in 1980. Continued development of the type led to the Cheyenne IIIA, PA-42-720, with more powerful PT6A-61 engines, a higher service ceiling and revised systems and interior. Approximately 60 Cheyenne IIIAs were produced before production ceased in 1992.

Power

The Cheyenne IIIA is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney of Canada PT6A-61 turboprop engines rated at 720 shp driving three-blade, constant-speed Hartzell propellers. The inspection interval on the engines is 3,600 hours.

Avionics

A typical avionics installation for the Cheyenne IIIA includes a Collins FCB 65 five-tube EFIS, Collins FCB 65 flight director, and APS 65 autopilot, dual Collins VHF 22B comms, dual VIR 32 navs, TDR 90 transponder, ADF, DME, King KLN 90A GPS, radar and encoding altimeters and Collins WXT 200 color weather radar.

Design Features

The Piper Cheyenne IIIA is a mid-sized, cabin-class, twin turboprop business aircraft configured as a cantilever low-wing monoplane with a T-tail. The airframe is of aluminum monocoque construction. The retractable tricycle landing gear has one wheel on each unit. An airstair entry door is located on the port side aft of the wing.

Accomodations

The Cheyenne IIIA is normally configured to seat a pilot and seven passengers with one additional passenger in the right seat on the flight deck if desired. Main cabin seating is commonly arranged in a four-seat club with three additional individual seats. Interior cabin dimensions are 17.6ft in length, 4.4ft in height and 4.3ft in width.