Piper Pa-32-260 Cherokee Six

[alan_mcmahon]

We are looking at purchasing a PIPER PA-32-260 CHEROKEE SIX single light aircraft for long range touring. Does anyone have any experience on this aircraft, recommendations or advice on purchasing this type ? Any pitfalls with the Cherokee Six ?

The spec is as folloews:

PIPER PA-32-260 CHEROKEE SIX

YEAR 1965
HOURS AIRFRAME 2012 HOURS SINCE NEW
ENGINE 1078 HOURS SMOH
PROPELLER 55 HOURS SOH
ENGINE TYPE LYCOMING 260 HP O-540-E4B5 (2000 TBO + Extn)
PROPELLER TYPE HARTZELL 2 BLADE CONSTANT SPEED

Thanks,
Alan

[flying masai]

I have ben operating a Pa32 for 3 years in Africa without any problem. They are strong and reliable. There is a separation between the engine and the cabin(cargo) that makes the plane less noisy inside.
Very low Airframe time for a 1965 plane, now it is a question of how much you will buy it and with what kind of avionics.

I will suggest the pa 32-300.

[JJflyer]

I have about 300 hours or something in it...Mostly on delivery flights accross the Pacific.
Nice machine in most aspects. Tends to rain in when flying in heavy rain. Door is leaky and in the Solomons my first preflight item was to " Showel " all the water out. Instrument panels in the older airframes are more of a hodge podge. Looked like someone took all the instruments and therw them at the panel and stick them where they hit.

I seem to remember that the -300 was a real performer even on 25% overload takeoffs from really hot & humid conditions.

Biggest problems I ever had was that due to age pneumatic line had crackef to the Manifold pressure indicator and prop threw grease all over the top left corner of windshield (Overgreased? never found out). All these where 1965 something airframes.

[vector4fun]

I have a couple hundred hours in the PA-32, mostly the 300hp version. Very stable aircraft, good IFR platform. Fairly nose heavy in the flare unless you have some weight in back, so be prepaired for that. The 260 burns as much or more fuel at cruise as the 300 since you generally can't lean it as precisely. Very low hours on this aircraft may mean it sat without flying for long periods, which can be a problem in itself. Has it flown much recently, or do you know? I'd be very hesitant without a very thorough inspection of systems and avionics. Other than that caveat, I had very, very few problems with the Cherokee 6.

:)