Piper Aircraft

The Piper Navajo is no longer in production, but that does not mean this early forerunner of Piper's cabin-class line did not enjoy one heck of a run. The Navajo has a fairly long history as far as aircraft models are concerned. The model also played an important role in Piper's own history, adding this company's name to those that catered extensively to the business and cargo class.

The Navajo followed in the footsteps of other models in the Piper line named after famous Native American Indian tribes. Like the Apache before it, the Navajo was on the cutting edge. This plane's earlier models featured a bevy of perks only rivaled by the Apache's replacement - the Aztec. Even still, the Piper Navajo was seen as several steps beyond in its standard features.

Unlike the Aztec, the Navajo was designed with feeder line and cargo companies in mind. It also was a darling of the corporate world for its size, speed, storage capacity and affordability.

The original Navajo was built at the request of Piper's founder, William T. Piper. This aviation pioneer saw a big gap in his company's line and set out to fill it. Although smaller models and even executive class planes were in Piper's production line by the 1960s, a plane offering the Navajo's features was not.

The initial Piper Navajo offered seating for six with a fair amount of room to boot. With a length of 32.7 feet and a useful load capacity of 2,700 pounds, this plane made some major waves. It was powered by twin Lycoming 310 hp engines and featured a Hartzell propeller system.

The first Navajo, flying under the prototype name of the Inca, took to the air in 1964. The plane was the largest of its kind made by Piper at the time. The first sales of the model began in 1967, featuring a turbocharged set up, and a new name.

Through the years, the Piper Navajo was tweaked and added on to. Upgraded versions of the Piper Navajo offered bigger and better Lycoming engines. The pressurized version featured a corporate bent and multiple windows. In addition, it offered fuel injected engines and a larger cargo capacity. This model was a major step forward in the plane's design.

The Navajo ceased production in the 1980s, but not before making a big mark on Piper's history. Planes in the company's present line offer many similar features, building on the earlier success of models such as the Piper Navajo.

Piper Aircraft |