Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III

2 × Turboprop Pressurized Low Wing • Retractable

Range Map

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+ cargo

Payload vs. Range

Occupants:

Fuel on board

Cargo

Range

Cargo is additional payload after occupants and baggage.

Adjust payload

full tanks

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. This load flies with full fuel.

Fuel reduced by . left aboard for nm range.

Over max payload by . At this load it cannot lift a single occupant.

Trip Preview

Mission Profile

Used market

290

KTAS

Cruise Speed

1,550

Max Range

33,000

Service Ceiling

Occupants

598

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

High-Performance
Complex
High-Altitude
Pressurization
Multi-Engine
Instrument

Piper PA-42-720 Cheyenne IIIA (N444CY) at Daytona Beach International Airport, March 2024. Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III

Type certificated 1979

Overview

The Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III is the larger, T-tailed evolution of the Cheyenne family, designed specifically to compete with the Beechcraft King Air 200 in the mid-size cabin-class turboprop segment. Five feet longer than the PA-31T Cheyenne II and powered by two 720 shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines, it does not share the short-coupled handling concerns of its predecessor: the T-tail keeps the horizontal stabilizer out of the propwash and removes the need for the Stability Augmentation System.

The III cruises around 290 knots at low altitude and 270 at FL290, with practical range of roughly 1,300 nm at typical cruise. The Cheyenne IIIA (the PA-42-720), which followed in 1983, swapped to PT6A-61 engines, raised the service ceiling to 35,000 ft, and modestly improved cruise speed and range. Production totalled 89 IIIs and 60 IIIAs across the 1980 to 1991 window, with roughly 71 still on the FAA registry.

The Cheyenne III’s reputation in the used market is shaped by its relative scarcity. Direct Beechcraft King Air competitors hold value better and have a denser support network, but examples in the $1.0 to $1.5 million range with modern panels offer one of the lower-cost paths into a true cabin-class, FL330-capable turboprop. For the buyer who wants cabin-class, FL330 turboprop capability and will trade the King Air’s deeper support network and firmer resale for a lower cost of entry, the Cheyenne III is the contrarian’s choice: a 290-knot, eleven-seat cabin twin for an owner who values the mission over the badge on the tail.

Key Features for GA Buyers

T-tail handling. The horizontal stabilizer is removed from the propwash and wing wake. Pitch authority is conventional and SAS is not required, in contrast to the short-coupled Cheyenne II.
High-altitude cabin. 6.3 psi pressurisation differential maintains a sea-level cabin altitude up to 14,600 ft and a comfortable cabin altitude in the low 30s.
Cabin capacity. Up to 11 occupants certificated, typically two pilots plus seven passengers in a club layout, with notable cabin width relative to a King Air 90 or Cheyenne II.
PT6A-41 economics. 720 shp per side at a published cruise fuel flow around 82 GPH, giving the Cheyenne III competitive economics for the cabin class.

Trade-offs

Runway requirements. 11,200 lb MTOW and higher wing loading mean takeoff over a 50-foot obstacle requires roughly 3,200 ft at gross weight. Less of a short-field performer than the Cheyenne I or II.
Smaller installed base. 89 IIIs plus 60 IIIAs built. Parts are generally available but the network of shops with deep PA-42 expertise is smaller than the King Air support ecosystem.
Engine TBO. PT6A-41 is rated at 3,000 hr TBO, lower than the PT6A-11 and PT6A-28 used on the smaller Cheyennes. Factor the more frequent overhaul interval into reserve planning.
Bleed-air HVAC. Cabin heating and cooling rely on engine bleed air. Both heat and cooling lag on initial start until at least one engine has been running.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 15 ft
Length: 43 ft
Parking area (ft²²): 2,791 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: 11,200 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 10,330 lbs
Useful Load: 4,363 lbs
Fuel Capacity: 562 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: 290 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 245 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 245 KIAS
Approach Speed: 105 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): 89 KIAS
Range: 1550 NM
Service Ceiling: 33,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 531 - 2236 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 3,230 ft
Landing over 50 ft obstacle: 2,554 ft

Engines

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.

FAA TCDS A23SO (Rev 20) §I Model PA-42 (Cheyenne III), Airspeed Limits drs.faa.gov

2 × Turboprop Low Wing Used market

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