Piper PA-31-31 Turbocharged Navajo 350 SCO 2502
The PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built by Embraer as the EMB 820. In the mid-1960s company founder William T. Piper started development of the PA-31. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and the corporate market, the aircraft was a success. It continues to prove a popular choice, but due to greatly decreased demand across the general aviation sector in the 1980s, On 30 September 1964 Piper flew the prototype of a new twin-engine executive aircraft which was then the largest built by the company. Identified at first as the Piper PA-31 Inca, the aircraft had been redesignated as the PA-31 Navajo when deliveries began on 17 April 1967. A six/eight-seat corporate/ commuter transport of cantilever low-wing monoplane configuration with retractable tricycle landing gear, it was powered by two 224kW Avco Lycoming IO-540-K flat-six engines, and was available in optional Standard, Commuter and Executive versions with differing interior layouts. Made available at the same time was the optional PA-31T Turbo Navajo, which differed only by having two 231kW TIO-540-A turbocharged engines, and the range was extended in 1970 by introduction of the PA-PA-31P Pressurized Navajo with a fail-safe fuselage structure in the pressurised section and two 317kW Avco Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A engines. Production of the PA-31 Navajo ended during 1972 and at the same time the company introduced for 1973 the PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain which, by comparison with its predecessor, had the fuselage lengthened by and was powered by two 261kW TIO-540-J2BD turbocharged engines driving counter-rotating propellers.
Size: 5620px × 3733px
Location: Inverness Dalcross Airport Scottish Highlands Region UK
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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