Piper PA-61 Aerostar

Also known as the Ted Smith Aerostar

Overview

Piper United States ICAO: PA61 1967–1984 $160,000 (2020)

The Piper PA-61 Aerostar was designed by Ted R. Smith as a twin-engined propeller-driven aircraft produced from 1967 to 1984. The light transport aircraft was initially built by Ted Smith Aerostar Company before it became Piper Aircraft Corporation. A total of 1,010 aircraft were produced.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
2 × Lycoming IO-540-K
Engine type
Piston
Power
2 × 290 hp · 216 kW
Avionics
Dual Collins VHF-250 , Dual VIR-350 etc.
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
6
Crew
—
Cabin width
4 ft 1 in  ·  1.25 m
Cabin height
4 ft 0 in  ·  1.22 m
Cabin length
12 ft 6 in  ·  3.80 m
Exterior length
34 ft 10 in  ·  10.61 m
Tail height
12 ft 2 in  ·  3.70 m
Fuselage diameter
4 ft 5 in  ·  1.35 m
Wing span
36 ft 8 in  ·  11.18 m
Baggage volume
30 ft³  ·  0.9 m³
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
6,000 lb  ·  2,700 kg
Max landing weight
6,000 lb  ·  2,700 kg
Max payload
2,050 lb  ·  950 kg
Fuel capacity
180 gal · 700 L · 500 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
240 kt  ·  276 mph  ·  444 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
74 kt  ·  85 mph  ·  137 km/h
Range
1,063 nm  ·  1,220 mi  ·  1,970 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
25,000 ft  ·  7,600 m
Rate of climb
1,800 ft/min  ·  9 m/s
Takeoff distance
2,500 ft  ·  760 m
Landing distance
2,050 ft  ·  620 m
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Piper Aerostar Super 700

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Operational Context

In October 1967, the American aircraft designer Ted R. Smith performed the maiden flight of Aerostar 600. The aircraft was a twin-engined mid-wing cantilever monoplane that could accommodate up to six persons on board. Later variants were equipped with turbocharged engines designated as the Aerostar 601. While in the production run, the aircraft had a cruising speed of 220 knots to 261 knots which made its claim to be the fastest twin-piston general aviation aircraft. The Aerostar was also designed with light construction, as well as low drag and better engines to provide a faster rate of climb. It was produced from 1967 to 1984 with a total of 1,010 aircraft built.

The six-seater light aircraft has an external length of 10,61 meters, an external height of 1.9 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.35 meters. The Aerostar was designed with a mid-wing with a wingspan of 11.18 meters and a wing area of 16.56 square meters. It has a tail height of 3.7 meters. The aircraft was fitted with a tricycle landing gear and has a wheelbase of 3.6 meters. The cabin height is 1.22 meters, the cabin length is 3.8 meters, and the cabin width is 1.25 meters. It has an empty weight of 1,939 kg and a gross weight of 2,864 kg. The maximum takeoff weight is 2,721 kg, the maximum payload is 930 kg, and the fuel tank capacity is 177 US gal.

The Piper Aerostar is powered by two Lycoming IO-540-K engines. It is a six-cylinder air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine with two overhead valves per cylinder, a fuel injection system, and an air cooling system. Each engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 290 horsepower. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 240 knots and a cruise speed of 210 knots. The travel range is 1,063 nautical miles. It can fly up to 25000 feet and can climb at a rate of 1800 feet per minute. It has a takeoff and landing distance of 759 meters and 619 meters, respectively.