Piper Pa-32

Single Piston

The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six and its successor, the Saratoga, represent Piper's answer to the need for a true six-seat single-engine piston aircraft capable of hauling families, cargo, and light freight across respectable distances. First flown in 1963, the Cherokee Six stretched the fuselage of the popular PA-28 Cherokee to accommodate a third row of seats and a 300-horsepower Lycoming engine, creating one of the most spacious cabins in the single-engine piston class. The later Saratoga variants, introduced in the 1980s, refined the design with a semi-tapered wing and improved handling, while retaining the generous useful load and club-seating configuration that made the type a favorite among family pilots and small cargo operators. With a maximum takeoff weight of 3,400 pounds and a never-exceed speed of 169 knots, the PA-32 offers a practical blend of payload capacity and cross-country performance, cruising comfortably in the 140-knot range with full fuel and passengers. The type remains a workhorse in general aviation, equally at home on weekend trips to the lake or supporting remote operations where payload flexibility matters more than speed. SkyMeter has tracked 3 flights across 2 airframes and 2 operators, with HOROVITZ PAUL M the largest observed operator.