Aircraft overview

The Piper PA-31T Cheyenne is a pressurized, twin engine turboprop developed by Piper Aircraft from the PA-31 Navajo airframe family. The type first flew in the late 1960s, with customer deliveries beginning in the 1970s, and production continued through the 1980s. It occupies the light turboprop category, positioned between piston cabin twins and larger corporate turboprops. For buyers, its significance is practical: it combines turbine reliability, pressurization and cabin class utility in an aircraft that can operate from many regional airports while carrying a useful business or private load.

Performance & specifications

Typical cruise performance for the Piper PA-31T Cheyenne is in the mid 200 knot range, commonly around 250 to 260 knots depending on altitude, weight and engine condition. Range is often planned at roughly 900 to 1,100 nautical miles with IFR reserves, again dependent on payload and power settings. The aircraft has a certified ceiling of 31,000 feet. Power is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A series turboprops, most commonly PT6A-28 engines on the PA-31T Cheyenne II, driving three blade constant speed propellers. Useful load varies by equipment and modification status, but many aircraft fall around the 3,000 lb class.

Cabin & avionics

The cabin is typically arranged for six to eight occupants including crew, with club seating or mixed executive layouts common in upgraded examples. The fuselage is narrower than later clean sheet turboprops, but the pressurized cabin, baggage provisions and aft air stair door make it suitable for owner flown business travel and regional charter style missions. Original avionics were conventional analog and often built around Bendix, King or Collins equipment. On the used market, avionics condition varies widely. Many aircraft have been modernized with Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, Garmin G500 or G600 displays, Aspen flight displays, digital engine instruments and updated transponders for ADS-B compliance.

Buying & value

Prospective buyers should separate the Piper PA-31T Cheyenne from related PA-31, PA-31T1 and later Cheyenne models when comparing performance and maintenance costs. Key inspection areas include engine time and hot section status, propeller time, pressurization system condition, landing gear rigging, corrosion history, fuel system maintenance and logbook continuity. Common value drivers include upgraded avionics, interior refurbishment, paint condition, known ice equipment, autopilot capability and engine upgrade programs such as PT6A-135A conversions where applicable. In current PlaneFox used listings, asking prices average about EUR 1,080,000, with observed listings from about EUR 427,000 to EUR 1,970,000, reflecting major differences in engine life, avionics and overall refurbishment standard.