PA32 running costs and ownership compared with PA28
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 5
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From: UK
PA32 running costs and ownership compared with PA28
Thinking of increasing the size of aircraft I fly due to PA28 not quite offering enough space sometimes, so hoping to get a view on the annual costs for a PA32 compared with the smaller PA28s.
Be great if some PA32 (or similar) 6 seater owners could give an idea on the cost of ownership in the UK for a year. Are they significantly more than a PA28?
Insurance?
Annual?
How thirsty are they?
Anything I should be wary of with the 32 or moving up in general? I had assumed take off performance would be limiting airfield wise but reading mostly US reports it doesn't appear like there is much of a hit for the larger airframe.
Edit: assumed fixed undercarriage for now. VFR <10,000ft flying.
Anything else I should be aware of?
Thank you
Be great if some PA32 (or similar) 6 seater owners could give an idea on the cost of ownership in the UK for a year. Are they significantly more than a PA28?
Insurance?
Annual?
How thirsty are they?
Anything I should be wary of with the 32 or moving up in general? I had assumed take off performance would be limiting airfield wise but reading mostly US reports it doesn't appear like there is much of a hit for the larger airframe.
Edit: assumed fixed undercarriage for now. VFR <10,000ft flying.
Anything else I should be aware of?
Thank you
Last edited by AH419293; 4th March 2025 at 10:43.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2,901
Likes: 31
From: MAN. UK.
Whilst as a moderator I should not be pushing you away, I have to say that this is probably not the right place to ask. Firstly the PA32 is relatively rare in the UK. There are only 87 registered and most will be retractable types. You would be better asking on one of the social media forums that include American owners and a more targeted membership.
That said. Essentially you're really just dealing with a PA28 with another row of seats. Structurally there won't be much more to maintain. The main costs differences will be in prop overhauls, fuel consumption and insurance. The other thing to remember is that with AVGAS on its way out there is a remote possibility that should supplies dry up your engine may not be eligible to run on UL91. If that happens you're looking at owning a hangar Queen until the matter is resolved.
Field performance will be similar due to the excess power available, but of course that will be tempered by load.
If you want to gauge insurance then use Visicovers website and get a quote just to get a feel and work on more detailed quotes once you're likely to move on one.
This page seems to offer some figures:
PA32-300 Specs
That said. Essentially you're really just dealing with a PA28 with another row of seats. Structurally there won't be much more to maintain. The main costs differences will be in prop overhauls, fuel consumption and insurance. The other thing to remember is that with AVGAS on its way out there is a remote possibility that should supplies dry up your engine may not be eligible to run on UL91. If that happens you're looking at owning a hangar Queen until the matter is resolved.
Field performance will be similar due to the excess power available, but of course that will be tempered by load.
If you want to gauge insurance then use Visicovers website and get a quote just to get a feel and work on more detailed quotes once you're likely to move on one.
This page seems to offer some figures:
PA32-300 Specs
Joined: Mar 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 345
Likes: 38
From: Lander, WY, USA
The numbers in the Specs link posted by BoeingBoy above look about right. I was going to estimate $270-$300/hr (USD) as a guess for overall costs in the US. (note those numbers, and the numbers in the link, co not include any financing costs).
