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 highly versatile and economical fixed-gear aircraft, specifically designed to transport 6-7 passengers and substantial cargo, offering a cost-effective alternative to larger, more complex airplanes.
Powered by reliable Lycoming O-540 or IO-540 engines, its robust load-carrying ability significantly impacts flight characteristics, requiring pilots to be proficient across various weight-and-balance configurations.
Owners benefit from the aircraft's simplicity, good parts and service availability, and a straightforward transition from smaller Cherokees, though its high seating capacity can affect insurance costs and BasicMed eligibility.

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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.