Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Light twin-engine touring and training monoplane

Power Plant:

Two 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-E1AD four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engines

Specifications:

History:

The Piper PA-44 Seminole was designed in 1974 as a twin-engine training aircraft for pilots who had previously flown only single-engine aircraft, basically being a replacement for the Twin Comanche.  As a general light utility, twin-engine monoplane suitable for charter and business work, it was intended to continue the Company’s domination of the light-twin market, following the success of the Apache, Twin Comanche, and Seneca. The Seminole had parts in common with other Piper types.  The fuselage was basically that of the Arrow II from the firewall to the cabin bulkhead, and the wings were borrowed from the Arrow III with strengthening to take the two four-cylinder Lycoming O-360-E carburetted engines, which had counter-rotating constant-speed two-blade propellers, three-blade propellers being optional.

Construction was of conventional light-alloy along the lines used in a number of other Piper products, the retractable undercarriage being basically borrowed from the electro-hydraulically actuated system in the Arrow.  Piper had previously designed and built a prototype of the PA-40 Arapaho, this being a converted Twin Comanche, and this was flown in March 1972.  Two pre-production Arapahos were also built, one having turbocharged engines, but the Company decided to shelve the design and continue with the Seminole.

The prototype of the new design, which was flown for the first time in May 1976, was the smallest twin at that stage in the Company’s line-up, certification being received in March 1978. As with all Piper aircraft of that time, it was fitted with a T-tail and a new tapered wing. Accommodation was provided for a pilot and three passengers in individual seats, and the baggage compartment to the rear of the cabin had a capacity of 0.68 m³ (24 cub ft). The fuel capacity was 416 litres (91.5 Imp gals).  Competing on the market with the Beech 76 Duchess and the Grumman Cougar, which it closely resembled, the Seminole sold quite well throughout the world.  In the first year of production a total of 328 was delivered but slowed thereafter. In the last few years it was in and out of production a few times but was still being built, and over 500 were delivered.

In 1979 Piper chose to increase the performance of the PA-44 and produced the PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole, the prototype of which was flown late that year. Certification was obtained the following year.  It could achieve competitive speeds whilst saving on fuel and running costs. Certified to operate at altitudes up to 6,100 m (20,000 ft), with a built-in oxygen system behind the baggage compartment, the Turbo Seminole was powered by two Lycoming TO-360-E1 engines rated at 134 kw (180 hp), achieving a maximum speed of 362 km/h (225 mph), and a cruising speed at 75% power of 339 km/h (183 mph). Production of this model continued until October 1982 and 86 were delivered.  In 1988 Piper’s new owner put the type back into production for marketing to professional flying training schools but production was slow until it was suspended in 1993.  Following the incorporation of New Piper Inc in July 1995 the Seminole was again placed back into production.

A number have been placed on the Australian and New Zealand registers since it first appeared in 1979, with six examples on the New Zealand register and 31 on the Australian register. During 1979 three-blade propellers were again offered as an option.