Page 17 - Volume 15 Number 8

The PA-31P-350 Mojave’s wings are similar to the Chieftain, but with great strength and a 4-foot longer wingspan. Tip to tip, the Mojave is 44 feet 6 inches, and is 34 feet 6 inches tip to tail. Like the Chieftain, the Mojave has spacious wing lockers in the engine nacelles, holding up to 90 pounds each side. The tail with its dual trim tab actuators is Chieftain as well.
Piper engineers knew what a cabin-class business aircraft should look like and designed in some big-airplane features. A pneumatic one-piece airstair door aft of the left wing allows for easy entry. Once inside, a four-place club-style seating arrangement offers excellent seated comfort and great visibility through big, square windows. The cabin, which measures 4 ft, 2 in. across and 4 ft, 3 in. tall, compared favorably with its Cessna competitors of the day, matching the cabin height of the Cessna 414 and 421. The two Cessna twins were only slightly wider at 4 ft 7 in. The Mojave offered an optional fifth seat/lav option, which is located opposite the door.
In addition to seated comfort, the Mojave is a quiet airplane, too. Owners typically operate the aircraft at 33 MP and 2,200 RPM, which reduces engine and propeller noise. Passengers can easily converse without headsets.
There is ample baggage storage totaling 590 pounds. In addition to the 180 pounds available in the nacelle lockers, the huge nose compartment can hold 300 pounds. An additional baggage door opens adjacent to the airstair to reveal a 200-pound aft-cabin baggage space.
The cockpit is arranged Cheyenne style, with two banks of electrical switches – including magnetos, starter, fuel pump and alternator – located overhead. The original panel was equipped with a comprehensive King avionics package that many owners today
have updated with moving-map GPS/comm units, digital radios and XM WX datalink weather.
Speed and range are the Mojave’s strong suits. To achieve best speed, range and fuel-flow combination, the aircraft likes cruising between FL200 and FL240. There it will consistently deliver 205 kts while burning 20 gph LOP per side. Max cruise speed is 242 kts, and maximum range is around 1,300 nm.
As any Mojave owner will tell you, the aircraft loves runway, so shorter fields are more of challenge especially on a hot day or when hauling lots of payload. The aircraft has an empty weight of 5,070 pounds, maximum gross weight of 7,200 pounds (200 pounds greater than the Chieftain), and a useful load of 2,175 pounds.
Rare Bird Preserved
In Cliff Barnett’s 1983 review of the Mojave, he concluded, “The
Hartzell Pro- pellers Ser- vice Ctr. Half Page 4/C Ad
AUGUST 2011
TWIN & TURBINE • 15