The Practical Endurance of the Piper Cherokee Six

FLYING investigates what it's like to own, maintain, and fly the original Cherokee Six.

Jason McDowell

Friday, December 24, 2021 at 08:23 AM ET

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The Cherokee Six was designed with simplicity and utility in mind. Credit: Jason McDowell

Key Takeaways:

The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six (1965-1979) is a fixed-gear utility aircraft renowned for its significantly expanded cabin, accommodating 6-7 passengers, and exceptional baggage capacity, making it ideal for large loads.
Equipped with reliable Lycoming O-540 series engines, it delivers strong performance, though pilots must adapt to different flight characteristics when heavily loaded, and its fuel system requires careful management.
Owners consider it an economical and straightforward solution for high-capacity transport, offering an appealing alternative to more expensive light twins while benefiting from easy parts availability and maintenance.

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When Piper introduced its popular four-place PA-28 Cherokee in 1960, it didn’t take long for the company to realize that a significant number of customers (and potential customers) had a need for more space and more load-carrying capability. By 1963, Cessna had responded to that market segment by introducing its six-place 205, and Piper followed suit in 1965 by introducing the PA-32 Cherokee Six.

The Cherokee Six was designed with simplicity and utility in mind. While it later evolved into the Saratoga, Lance and “Six”—all with various blends of retractable gear, turbocharged engines, T-tails and tapered wings—we’re focusing on the original version, built from 1965 to 1979.