Piper Aircraft Pa-32r

Single Piston

The Piper PA-32R represents Piper's successful evolution of the Cherokee Six into a retractable-gear, high-performance single. Introduced in 1976 as the Lance and later refined as the Saratoga, the PA-32R combines a spacious six-seat cabin with the speed advantage of retractable landing gear, cruising around 160 knots while maintaining the load-carrying capability that made the fixed-gear Cherokee Six popular with families and small charter operators. The type's wide cabin and large rear cargo door made it a favorite for light cargo work and air ambulance operations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Powered by a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 producing 300 horsepower, the PA-32R offers genuine cross-country capability with a range exceeding 800 nautical miles and useful loads approaching 1,400 pounds in later variants. The retractable gear adds about 20 knots over the fixed-gear PA-32, though at the cost of increased maintenance complexity and insurance premiums. The Saratoga variant, introduced in 1980, brought improved interior appointments and updated systems while retaining the sturdy airframe and forgiving handling characteristics that define the PA-32 family. Today the PA-32R serves primarily in private ownership and small commercial operations, valued for its combination of speed, payload, and cabin space in a single-engine package. SkyMeter has tracked 27 flights across 10 airframes and 10 operators, with SKY JZ LLC the largest observed operator.