A New Take on the Faithful Cherokee Six

Staff

Sunday, June 01, 2003 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Piper has introduced two new six-place, fixed-gear PA-32 aircraft: the 6X (300hp normally aspirated) and the 6XT (turbocharged).
Positioned as "entry-level sport utility vehicles," these planes are priced competitively ($336,000 - $356,000) to rival some four-place aircraft.
Both models boast impressive useful loads (over 1,300 lbs), seat six passengers with a club configuration, offer good cruising speeds (150-155 knots), and include a Garmin GNS 430 as standard.
Deliveries for the new 6X and 6XT are expected to commence later this summer.

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In a move designed to capture what Piper believes is an attractive niche market, the company recently unveiled a pair of upgraded six-place fixed-gear PA-32s. The airplanes’ new names pay homage to their Cherokee Six origins. The 6X is powered by a 300-horsepower normally aspirated Lycoming IO-540, and the 6XT is turbocharged.

The airplanes, said Piper head Chuck Suma, are designed to function as “entry-level sport utility vehicles,” and the base prices of the airplanes, $336,000 and $356,000, respectively, are designed to compete with some popular four-place airplanes.