Small · ICAO PAY4

Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400

The Piper PA-42 Cheyenne 400 was the largest, fastest, and most powerful member of Piper's Cheyenne twin-turboprop family, fitted with high-revving Garrett engines that gave it near-jet cruise speeds. Its pressurised cabin and strong climb performance let it compete for some of the same missions as light jets of its era, at a turboprop's lower fuel cost. Its distinctive high-pitched engine sound, a hallmark of the Garrett TPE331, set it apart from the Pratt & Whitney PT6-powered turboprops common elsewhere in the Cheyenne lineup. Comparatively few were built, making it a rare sight next to Piper's smaller, more common Cheyennes.

Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Peter Bakema · GFDL 1.2 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

Garrett TPE331 engines, like the Cheyenne 400's, are notoriously sensitive to starting technique — a mishandled start can ruin one within seconds.

Specifications

Length10.3 m (34 ft)
Wingspan14 m (46 ft)
Height4.3 m (14 ft)
Maximum passengers8
Persons on board11
Maximum take-off weight5.4 t
Range2,100 NM (3,889 km)
Maximum speed330 kt (611 km/h)
Stall speed89 kt (165 km/h)
Service ceiling41,000 ft (12,497 m)
Optimum ceiling35,000 ft (10,668 m)
Rate of climb3,242 ft/min (16.5 m/s)
Take-off distance588 m (1,929 ft)
Landing distance700 m (2,297 ft)
Fuel capacity1,520 l
Engines2x Garrett TPE331-14
Units built44

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

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