IATA PA2ICAO PA31

Piper PA-31 Navajo

Piper

TravelerPulse profile

Twin-engine piston utility aircraft for regional and charter work.

First flight

1964

Category

Piston twin utility transport

Seating

6–8

Range

1,993 km

Engines

Two Lycoming TIO-540 horizontally opposed piston engines

Status

In service

The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a twin-engine, piston-powered light transport aircraft developed by Piper Aircraft in the 1960s. Designed to bridge the gap between single-engine personal aircraft and larger turboprop transports, it offered seating for up to eight occupants and became popular with air taxi, charter, and commuter operators worldwide. The Navajo spawned a prolific family of variants, including the turbocharged PA-31-350 Chieftain, the stretched Navajo Chieftain, and the turboprop-powered PA-31T Cheyenne. It became one of the most widely used light twin-engine aircraft in commuter aviation during the 1970s and 1980s. Thousands of PA-31 series aircraft were built before production wound down, and many remain in service today in roles ranging from cargo hauling to bush operations in remote regions. Its robust construction and versatile airframe contributed to its long operational life.

Notable operators

Widely used by regional and commuter carriers such as Air Midwest, various Pacific Island operators, and numerous air taxi companies globally.

Notable facts

›First flew in 1964 and entered production in 1966.
›The PA-31-350 Chieftain variant featured a stretched fuselage and became the most popular model.
›The turboprop-powered PA-31T Cheyenne series is considered a separate but related aircraft family.
›Over 3,900 Navajo-series aircraft were produced across all variants.
›Still widely used in cargo, charter, and remote-area operations decades after production ended.