PIPER PA-34 SENECA
- Passengers 4
Produced for over 40 years, the Piper PA-34 Seneca is a versatile twin-engine aircraft suited for short-haul business or leisure trips.
About this aircraft
- Designed as an upgrade of the Piper Cherokee Six, the Piper PA-34 Seneca was first certified in 1971. The most recent variation, the PA-34-220T Seneca V, entered production in 1997.
- The cabin is typically laid out for four passengers. If the aircraft is owned, a further passenger can be seated in the cockpit with a single pilot, but this option isn’t available for charters.
- The Seneca is designed for short flights like London to Edinburgh or New York to Boston. It can fly nonstop for up to 1,296 km, with newer variants travelling further than the original.
- The Seneca’s baggage hold has space for around four suitcases.
The Piper PA-34 Seneca enjoyed a long production run with many upgrades, including the PA-34-200 Seneca, PA-34-200T Seneca II, PA-34-200T Seneca III, PA-34-220T Seneca IV and PA-34-220T Seneca V.
Interior design
The Piper PA-34 Seneca is usually configured for four passengers in a club formation. Newer and retrofitted models typically feature premium leather seats, luxurious carpets, power plugs, lighting controls, beverage holders, a work table and individual seat controls.
Below is a typical layout found on a Piper PA-34 Seneca.
Interesting facts to learn before you fly
- Many older Piper PA-34 Senecas are retrofitted with modern interiors and avionics.
- The aircraft’s cabin is not pressurised.
- Piper’s other twin aircraft, the Aztec and Comanche, share many similarities with the Seneca. The Aztec has more cabin space, while the Comanche is slightly faster.
Technological features
The original Piper PA-34 Seneca’s twin Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 engines were counter-rotating, making the aircraft more controllable in the event of a shutdown or the failure of either engine. These were updated in later variations and the PA-34-220T Seneca V is powered by two Continental TSIO-360-RB engines.
Avionics depend on the variant, but the Seneca V usually features Garmin G1000 avionics.
History
Developed as a twin-engined version of the Piper Cherokee Six, the original PA-34-200 Seneca was certified in 1971 following years of prototypes.
Many upgrades have been launched over the Seneca’s long history, starting with the PA-34-200 in late 1971. Next was the PA-34-200T Seneca II in 1974, powered by two turbocharged Continental TSIO-360 E or EB engines and boasting improved handling and control, a new rudder anti-servo tab and enlarged ailerons.
The PA-34-200T Seneca III was announced in late 1980 with a one-piece windshield and a bare metal instrument panel. The PA-34-220T Seneca IV followed in 1994, featuring minor changes including a streamlined engine cowl for better cruise performance. The final upgrade, the PA-34-220T Seneca V, entered production in 1997 with redesigned cowls and more powerful engines.
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft began as Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company, founded by Clarence and Gordon Taylor in 1927. After going bankrupt, the business was bought by engineer William Piper and renamed the Piper Aircraft Corporation in 1937.
Piper went from strength to strength and was later sold to the Bangor Punta Corporation. In 1972, the company opened a factory in Florida after a hurricane flooded its Pennsylvania site, destroying about 100 aircraft and causing an estimated $23 million in damage.
Increasing insurance premiums caused sales of American light aircraft to slump in the mid-1980s, leading Piper to file for bankruptcy again. The company later relaunched, partnering with Honda in 2006 to market the HA-420 HondaJet. Today, Piper is owned by the Brunei government and based at Florida’s Vero Beach Regional Airport.
Cost
Depending on factors like age and condition, the average price for a used Piper PA-34 Seneca is $500,000 (USD).
Charter rates
Charter rates for the Piper PA-34 Seneca vary depending on the length of your journey and the airports you’re flying in and out of.
If you’d like to charter a Piper PA-34 Seneca, contact our team for a quote today. For information on other charter options, browse our list of available private aircraft.
Wet lease rates
ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) wet lease rates for the Piper PA-34 Seneca vary depending on the age of the aircraft, lease term length, number of guaranteed block hours and average cycle ratio. Contact us for a personalised quote.
