Piper PA-25 Pawnee

The Piper PA-25 Pawnee was introduced in the late 1950s as a purpose-built agricultural aircraft. Designed for crop spraying, it featured a reinforced structure and chemical hopper. The model became common in agricultural aviation.

Piper PA-25 Pawnee. © Ronnie Macdonald

Get the Newsletter

The latest aviation news and stories sent to your inbox.

Overview

Piper United States ICAO: PA25 1959–1981 Active $9,000 (1960)

Piper PA-25 Pawnee — single-seat agricultural aircraftThe PA-25 first flew in 1957 and entered service in 1959. It adopted a high-wing configuration for visibility and spray clearance. The airframe was reinforced for low-level operations.Piston engines producing between 235 and 300 horsepower powered various versions. Cruise speed approached 120 knots (222 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeded 3,000 pounds (1,361 kg).The Pawnee became widely used in crop-dusting operations worldwide. Its rugged construction suited demanding field work. Production concluded in the 1980s.

Live Fleet Activity (PA25)

📡

Fetching live data…

Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Lycoming O-540-B2B5
Engine type
Piston
Power
235 hp · 175 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
24 ft 9 in  ·  7.55 m
Tail height
—
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 3 in  ·  1.00 m
Wing span
36 ft 2 in  ·  11.02 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
2,900 lb  ·  1,300 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
1,200 lb  ·  550 kg
Fuel capacity
40 gal · 100 L · 100 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
107 kt  ·  123 mph  ·  198 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
53 kt  ·  61 mph  ·  98 km/h
Range
203 nm  ·  230 mi  ·  380 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
13,000 ft  ·  4,000 m
Rate of climb
630 ft/min  ·  3 m/s
Takeoff distance
1,350 ft  ·  410 m
Landing distance
1,250 ft  ·  380 m
(/) tap to zoom
(/)
‘G-BDPJ’ Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee

Live fleet activity details

📡
Fetching live data…
All Active Aircraft Types
Flight Airline Reg Alt Speed Heading V/S

Operational Context

In 1953, the aircraft designer Fred Ernest Weick was asked by Piper to act as a consultant on the agricultural variant of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub designated as PA-18A specifically to build and test an aircraft that will distribute dust and seeds.

After a few weeks, an agricultural aircraft derived on the AG-1 incorporated with PA-18A and PA-22 parts was designed by the Texas A&M University. It was designated as the AG-3 and was comparably small than the AG-1 with a steel tube fuselage covered in fabric.

The designed AG-3 was a low-wing monoplane that could accommodate a single seat positioned high in the fuselage and equipped with wing struts that joined the wings and the fuselage. It also featured a tailwheel-type landing gear and an engine rated at 135 horsepower.

In November 1954, the aircraft conducted its first flight. The flight test was a success and a few years later, in 1957, the AG-3 was given the new name as the PA-25 Pawnee. The 135-horsepower engine was improved to Lycoming O-320-A1A rated at 150 horsepower.

In the same year, two pre-production models were built and in May 1959, aircraft production began. The initial production version was designated as PA-25-150 Pawnee. In 1962, the PA-25-235 Pawnee B was built. It was powered by a Lycoming O-540-B2B5 engine rated at 235 horsepower and showcased a larger hopper, enhanced dispersal gear, and increased payload of 540 kg.

In 1967, the PA-25-235 and PA-25-260 Pawnee C were introduced. It was an enhanced variant of the previous Pawnee B fitted with a 235 horsepower or 260 horsepower high-compression type of the Lycoming O-540 engine. It also featured a fixed-pitch or a constant-speed propeller.

The Pawnee C was designed with oleo shock-absorbers, an easily-removed panel, and other upgrades. The PA-25-235 and PA-25-260 Pawnee D with fuel tanks located in the outer wings were also built, as well as the eTug; a converted PA-25 fitted with a General Motors LS all-alloy automotive water-cooled engine and drives a three-bladed composite propeller.