A Family of Cheyennes

Piper first introduced turbine power to their range of business aircraft in 1974 when they produced a Turbo Prop version of the PA. 31P Pressurised Navajo. Up to this time, Piper had resisted any suggestion of a move into Turbines even to the extent of dropping plans to put their ‘wide body’ commuter airline, the Pocino, into production when no suitable-sized piston engine could be found to power it.

The PA. 31P Presurised Navajo together with the other competitive Pressurised Cabin Class aircraft of the early seventies was suffering reliability problems with its geared piston engines and the change to Turbines made a lot of sense. Improved performance, smoothness of operation and increased reliability immediately boosted sales and soon convinced Piper that not only did they have a winner on their hands in the form of the PA. 31T which they named the Cheyenne but also that so far as the ‘top of their range’ business aircraft were concerned, Turbo Props were the way to go in the future.

From that time on Piper’s dedication to Turbine power has been evident by the progressive introduction to their range of both Business and Commuter aircraft of additional Turbo Prop powered models which now number five – with it is rumoured others are on the way.

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