Aircraft overview

The Piper PA-31 Navajo / Chieftain / Mojave is a family of cabin class piston twins built by Piper Aircraft for business, charter, air taxi and owner flown transport. The original PA-31 Navajo first flew in 1964, with production beginning in the late 1960s and continuing into the 1980s. The PA-31-350 Chieftain introduced a longer fuselage and higher powered engines, while the PA-31P-350 Mojave was a later pressurized development with Chieftain based capacity. The series matters because it remains one of the most widely recognized piston twins for carrying people and baggage over regional distances without moving into turbine operating costs.

Performance & specifications

Typical cruise speeds are in the high 100 knot to low 200 knot range, depending on variant, engine condition, altitude, weight and power setting. Many Navajo and Chieftain aircraft are used for stage lengths where practical range is roughly 700 to 1,000 nautical miles with reserves, again depending on configuration and fuel load. Useful load is a major attraction of the type, commonly around 2,000 lb or more on many examples. Service ceiling is typically around 24,000 feet for non pressurized Navajo and Chieftain models. Power comes from turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540 series six cylinder engines, with 310 hp on early Navajos, 325 hp on some counter rotating models and 350 hp on the Chieftain and Mojave.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin is larger than many light twins, with club or commuter seating layouts commonly accommodating six to nine occupants depending on variant and certification. The Chieftain’s stretched fuselage gives it a clear advantage for passenger operations, while the Mojave adds pressurization for higher altitude comfort. Avionics vary widely because most aircraft left the factory with analog panels. Buyers will more often find Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, Garmin G500 or G600 displays, Aspen equipment, digital engine monitors, modern audio panels and ADS-B upgrades. Garmin Perspective and factory G1000 installations are not typical for this aircraft family.

Buying & value

Condition and records matter more than model year. Key review items include engine times and turbocharger history, corrosion inspections, landing gear maintenance, fuel system condition, pressurization system health on Mojave aircraft, and compliance with airworthiness directives and service bulletins. Common market choices include the standard Navajo for private and utility use, the Chieftain for passenger carrying capacity, and upgraded panels or engine monitoring for operational value. On PlaneFox listings, current asking prices average about EUR 197,000, with a range from EUR 50,000 to EUR 465,000, reflecting large differences in variant, avionics, engine status and overall maintenance pedigree.