Air Compare: Piper Lance vs. Saratoga

Moving six seats from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

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When it comes to Piper's PA-32, there are several versions available at a variety of price points. [Photo: Stephen Yeates]

Key Takeaways:

The Piper PA-32 series, including the Lance and Saratoga, evolved from the PA-28 to become a popular six-seat "flying station wagon" designed for utility, comfort, and significant load-carrying capacity, especially for families.
Often described as "aviation's SUV," these aircraft are valued for their spacious cabin, club seating, and double-door entry, prioritizing passenger and baggage transport over high speed or short-field performance.
The market offers a wide range of PA-32 models, with earlier Lances generally more affordable and later Saratogas, particularly those with conventional tails and luxury upgrades, commanding higher prices.
Despite variations in design (like the T-tail Lance II vs. conventional-tail Saratoga) and useful load decreases in later models, the PA-32 series maintains its appeal due to its reliable, easy-to-fly nature and ability to match specific missions.

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General aviation was booming in the late 1970s as aircraft manufacturers sought to compete in as many market segments as possible, often creating new categories and niches within niches along the way.

Among the best at turning out new aircraft quickly and on a budget was Piper, which evolved its 1960 PA-28-140 into a range of models from basic trainers to high-performance and complex machines. In 1965 the company stretched the four-place PA-28 into the six-seat PA-32 initially known as the Cherokee Six, designed to be a sort of fixed-gear flying station wagon for growing families with lots of baggage.