Piper PA-34 Seneca
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twin-engined light aircraft
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
, produced by Piper Aircraft since 1971 and still in production in 2011.
The Seneca is primarily used for personal and business flying.
Development
The Seneca was developed as a twin-engine version of the Piper Cherokee SixPiper Cherokee Six
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. The prototype was a Cherokee Six that had wing-mounted engines installed, retaining its nose engine. The prototype was flown as a tri-motor aircraft in the initial stages of the test-flying program.
PA-34-180 Twin Six
With the decision to abandon the three-engined design tested on the PA-32-3M the PA-34 was developed as a twin-engined design. The prototype PA-34-180 Twin Six, registeredAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
N3401K first flew on 25 April 1967. The prototype had two 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engines, a fixed nosewheel landing gear and a Cherokee Six vertical tail. The second prototype flew on 30 August 1968, still with the 180 hp Lycomings but had retractable landing gear and a taller vertical tail. During development flying the wingspan was increased by two feet. The third prototype was closer to the production standard and flew on 20 October 1969; it was fitted with 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-A1A engines.
PA-34-200 Seneca I
Certified on 7 May 1971 and introduced in late 1971 as a 1972 model, the PA-34-200 Seneca I, is powered by pair of Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 engines. The righthand engine is a Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 engine variant, the "L" in its designation indicating that the crankshaft turns in the opposite direction, giving the Seneca I counter-rotating engines. The counter-rotating engines eliminate the critical engineCritical engine
The critical engine of a multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft is the one whose failure would result in the most adverse effects on the aircraft's handling and performance.- Description :...
limitations of other light twins and make the aircraft more controllable in the event of a shut down or failure of either engine. A total of 934 Seneca Is were built, including one prototype.
The early Seneca Is have a maximum gross weight of 4000 lb (1,814.4 kg), while later serial numbers allowed a take-off weight of 4200 lb (1,905.1 kg).
PA-34-200T Seneca II
Responding to complaints about the aircraft's handling qualities, Piper introduced the PA-34-200T Seneca II. The aircraft was certified on July 18, 1974 and introduced as a 1975 model.The new model incorporated changes to the aircraft's control surfaces, including enlarged and balanced ailerons, the addition of a rudder anti-servo tab, and a stabilator bobweight.
The "T" in the new model designation reflected a change to turbocharged, six cylinder Continental TSIO-360E
Continental IO-360
The Continental IO-360 is a family of fuel-injected air-cooled, six-cylinder aircraft engines manufactured by Continental Motors in the United States of America, now part of the Teledyne corporation, since 1962....
or EB engines for improved performance, particularly at higher altitudes. The Seneca II retained the counter-rotating engine arrangement of the earlier Seneca I.
The Seneca II also introduced optional "club seating" whereby the two center-row seats face rearwards and the two back seats face forward allowing more legroom in the passenger cabin. A total of 2,588 Seneca IIs were built.
Gross weights are 4570 lb (2,072.9 kg) for takeoff and 4342 lb (1,969.5 kg) for landing, with all weight in excess of 4000 lb (1,814.4 kg) required to be fuel.
PA-34-220T Seneca III
In 1981, the PA-34-220T Seneca III was introduced, having completed certification on December 17, 1980.The change in model designation reflected an engine upgrade. Continental TSIO-360-KB
Continental IO-360
The Continental IO-360 is a family of fuel-injected air-cooled, six-cylinder aircraft engines manufactured by Continental Motors in the United States of America, now part of the Teledyne corporation, since 1962....
engines were used which produced 220 horsepower (165 kW), although only rated as such for five minutes and then dropping to 200 hp).
The horsepower increase, with the new engines' limit of 2800 rpm (up from 2575 rpm), combined for much improved climb and cruise performance. The new aircraft also incorporated a one piece windshield and a bare metal instrument panel instead of one covered with a removable plastic fascia; and some models have electrically-actuated flaps. More than 930 Seneca IIIs were built; the last 37 Seneca IIIs built had a 28-volt electrical system rather than the 14-volt system of previous aircraft.
The aircraft's gross weight was increased to 4570 lb (2,073 kg) for takeoff and 4513 lb (2,047 kg) for landing.
PA-34-220T Seneca IV
In 1994, the "New" Piper Aircraft company introduced the Seneca IV, having achieved certification on November 17, 1993. This model was similar to the Seneca III offering minor improvements, such as a streamlined engine cowl for increased cruise performance. It continued to use the counter-rotating Continental TSIO-360-KB engines and gross weights remained unchanged. A total of 71 Seneca IVs were built.PA-34-220T Seneca V
Certified on December 11, 1996, the Seneca V was put into production as a 1998 model year. Again the cowls were redesigned for increased performance, several cockpit switches were relocated from the panel to the headliner and a slightly different engine variant, the Continental TSIO-360-RBContinental IO-360
The Continental IO-360 is a family of fuel-injected air-cooled, six-cylinder aircraft engines manufactured by Continental Motors in the United States of America, now part of the Teledyne corporation, since 1962....
was installed.
The Seneca V's gross weights remain the same as the Seneca III and IV at 4570 lb (2,073 kg) for takeoff and 4513 lb (2,047 kg) for landing.
Embraer EMB-810 Seneca
From 1975 the Seneca was built under licence in Brazil by EmbraerEmbraer
Embraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
as the EMB-810. The PA-34-200T as the EMB-810C Seneca (452 built) and the PA-34-220T as the EMB-810D (228 built).
Civil
The aircraft is popular with air charter companies and small feeder airlines, and is operated by private individuals and companies. One notable civil operator is the Costa Rican Air Surveillance Service.Military
- Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
(EMB 810C Seneca)
Burkina Faso- Dominican Air ForceDominican Air ForceThe Air Force of the Dominican Republic or Fuerza Aérea Dominicana, is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Navy.- History :...
- Armed Forces of HaitiArmed Forces of HaitiThe Armed Forces of Haiti, , consisted of the Haitian Army, Haitian Navy , Haitian Coast Guard, the Haitian Air Force, and some police forces . The Army was always the dominant service with the others serving primarily in a support role...
- Panamanian Public Forces