Page 14 - Volume 17 Number 10

MAINTENANCE• All scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance by our friendly, experienced technicians• Qualified to work on Citation, KingAir, Twin Commander, and Pilatus Avionics• Legacy: partial and full glass cockpit completions• Garmin GTN650 and GTN750 installations• XM Weather, traffic and mode S upgradesCRS #FTUR030Ewas achieved on July 25, 1966. By the end of March, 1967, deliveries of the newly-renamed Navajo began.As with nearly all Piper products, engines were supplied by neighboring Lycoming, based downriver in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Initially, the PA-31 was offered with 310-hp turbocharged powerplants, but a normally-aspirated 300-hp version was certificated on June 12, 1967. However, only about 14 of the non- turbo Navajos were sold and it was dropped in 1969, most likely because its takeoff weight was 500 pounds less.The Navajo’s sales success begat more adaptations of the basic airframe, resulting in a pressurized- cabin PA-31P, certificated on November 26, 1969 with massive 425-hp geared TGIO-541-E1A engines. It was the forerunner of the turboprop Cheyenne, approved on May 3, 1972. Our focus, however, is on the piston-powered unpressurized Navajos.Because part of the airplane’s original concept was to service the small airliner market, development began in 1971 on a stretched “Chieftain” version, with two feet more fuselage and cabin length. Certificated on May 3, 1972, the bigger PA-31-350 received 350-hp engines, which applied a bit more manifold pressure to the TIO-540 core. The Chieftain seated up to ten, and it had 500 pounds more takeoff weight and 800 pounds more landing weight than its smaller sibling. It quickly became popular with charter, freight and commuter airline operators.Because of a massive hurricane- related flood that ravaged the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania plant in mid- 1972, plus ongoing labor unrest, Piper began building Navajos at Lakeland, Florida in 1973. By 1975, all Navajos were being built there.In 1970, an improved Navajo B was introduced, with TIO-540E enginesinfo@northeastair.comwww.northeastair.com Portland Jetport (KPWM) Maine12 • TWIN & TURBINEOCTOBER 2013