Photograph:
Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga VH-SMY (c/n 32-46217) at Albion Park, NSW in May 2016 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Power Plant:
One 224 kw (300 hp) Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine.
Specifications:
- (PA-32-301)
- Wingspan: 11.03 m (36 ft 2 in)
- Length: 8.59 m (28 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 16.53 m² (178 sq ft)
- Max speed: 304 km/h (189 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 295 km/h (183 mph)
- Cruising speed at 55% power: 267 km/h (166 mph)
- Stalling speed clean: 111 km/h (69 mph)
- Stalling speed landing configuration: 106 km/h (66 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 308 m/min (1,010 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,090 m (16,700 ft)
- Take-off distance at sea level: 361 m (1,183 ft)
- Landing distance over 15 m (50 ft) obstacle: 491 m (1,612 ft)
- Landing distance ground roll: 223 m (732 ft)
- Stalling speed flaps down: 109 km/h (68 mph)
- Stalling speed, flaps up: 120 km/h (75 mph)
- Fuel capacity: 386 litres (85 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: (1,986 lb)
- Useful load: (1,629 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,633 kg (3,600 lb)
History:
The Saratoga was introduced to the Piper range in 1980 and was the culmination of years of development of the PA-32 series through from the PA-32-260 Cherokee Six, which first appeared in 1965 and was in production for 14 years before being replaced by the PA-32R-300 Lance, which was a variant with a retractable undercarriage and entered the market in 1976. In 1978 Piper replaced the low-mounted stabilator with a T-tail on the Lance II and offered a turbo-charged variant. However, the T-tail was not well received and although it eliminated pitch trim changes with flap extension or retraction, runway handling was adversely affected. Piper responded to complaints about the Lance and introduced the Saratoga which had the low-mounted stabilator, had the constant chord wing of the Cherokee, the wingspan being increased by 1.03 m (3 ft 4 in) but wing area was virtually the same as the Lance and Cherokee Six. With Frise ailerons installed, the handling was improved.
The Saratoga was offered in four models, being fitted with a normally aspirated engine and a fixed undercarriage; a turbo-charged fixed undercarriage model, and normally aspirated and turbo-charged models with retractable undercarriage. The two prototypes of the Saratoga were flown in November 1978 and January 1979 but it was only in production for a short time. In early 1980 the PA-32R Lance series was replaced on the production line by the PA-32 Saratoga series. This was basically the same airframe. The PA-32-301 Saratoga II HP was first flown in March 1993 and had a new low-drag engine cowling with small circular inlets, a revised instrument panel, reduced windows and leather seating. By 1994 some 43 had been delivered and some upgrades were made, one of which was a 28-volt electrical system in lieu of the 14-volt system in 1996. Normal seating is for five but six can be accommodated if necessary.
The PA-32-301R Saratoga in custom and executive models was available with a fixed undercarriage and the 224-kw (300-hp) Avco Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine. The PA-32R-301 Saratoga SP had a retractable undercarriage and the same engine. The PA-32R-301T Turbo Saratoga had a 224-kw (300-hp) Avco Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD engine, this engine also being installed in the fixed undercarriage Turbo model. The latter could cruise at 75% power at 295 km/h (183 mph) for 1,453 km (904 miles). Piper built 390 normally aspirated retractable undercarriage Saratogas between 1980 and 1986; 390 retractable undercarriage turbocharged models; 316 normally aspirated fixed-under carriage Saratogas and 111 fixed undercarriage turbocharged model, bringing the total to 1,207.