Piper PA-44 Seminole

{{Short description|American twin-engined utility aircraft}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use American English|date=April 2021}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name= PA-44 Seminole |image= File:Piper-pa-44.jpg |caption= |type=Training and personal aircraft |manufacturer=Piper Aircraft |designer= |first_flight= 1976 |introduction= |produced=1979–present |number_built=926 (until 2019)<ref>Roger Peperell: ''Piper Aircraft – Freedom of Flight, Supplement'', Air-Britain, Tonbridge 2020, {{ISBN|978-0-85130-524-0}}, p. 106.</ref> |developed_from= Piper Cherokee }} thumb|Piper PA-44-180 Seminole thumb|right|PA-44 landing thumb|Piper PA-44-180 Seminole

The '''Piper PA-44 Seminole''' is an American twin-engined light aircraft manufactured by Piper Aircraft.<ref name="NewPiper">{{cite web |url = http://www.newpiper.com/aircraft/seminole/default.asp |title = Welcome to the Seminole |publisher= New Piper Aircraft |access-date = 2007-10-02 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070723065414/http://www.newpiper.com/aircraft/seminole/default.asp |archive-date = 2007-07-23 }}</ref> Developed from the single-engined Piper Cherokee, the PA-44 is primarily used for multi-engined flight training.<ref name="NewPiper" /><ref name="Foster">Montgomery, MR & Gerald Foster: ''A Field Guide to Airplanes, Second Edition'', page 92. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992. {{ISBN|0-395-62888-1}}</ref> The Seminole has been built in three production runs; from 1979 to 1982, 1989 to 1990, and continuously since 1995.

==Design and development== The first production Seminoles are equipped with two 180 hp (135 kW) Lycoming O-360-E1A6D engines. The right-hand engine is a Lycoming LO-360-E1A6D variant, which turns in the opposite direction to the left-hand engine. This feature eliminates the critical engine and makes the aircraft more controllable in the event that an engine needs to be shut down or fails.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.newpiper.com/aircraft/seminole/specifications.asp |title = Seminole Price and Standard Equipment |publisher= New Piper Aircraft |access-date = 2007-10-02 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023061708/http://www.newpiper.com/aircraft/seminole/specifications.asp |archive-date = 2007-10-23 }}</ref><ref name="A19SO">{{cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/f07de52f6061c8cc8625720a0054ef4f/$FILE/A19SO.pdf|title = TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. A19SO Revision 10|access-date = 2008-09-09|publisher = Federal Aviation Administration|date = August 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608084840/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/f07de52f6061c8cc8625720a0054ef4f/$FILE/A19SO.pdf|archive-date = 2011-06-08|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The first prototype Seminole made its maiden flight in May 1976 and the type was publicly announced on February 21, 1978.<ref name="jawa82p447"/> The Seminole was first certified on March 10, 1978, and introduced as a 1979 model year in late 1978. Gross weight is 3800 lbs (1723 kg).<ref name="A19SO" />

Later production Seminoles were built with Lycoming O-360-A1H6 engines.<ref name="A19SO" />

The PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole version was certified on November 29, 1979. It features two turbocharged 180 hp (135 kW) Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D engines, which offer a significant improvement in performance at high density altitude. The Turbo Seminole had its takeoff gross weight raised to 3925 lb (1780 kg), while the landing weight remained at 3800 lbs (1723 kg).<ref name="A19SO" />

The PA-44 features a high T-tail similar to the T-tailed Arrow IV. The Seminole is visually similar to the Beechcraft Duchess.<ref name="Foster" />

Production of both versions of the Seminole was stopped in 1982, after 361 Seminoles and 87 Turbo Seminoles had been built. Production of the normally aspirated PA-44-180 restarted in 1988.<ref name="jawa90p483">{{harvnb|Lambert|1990|p=483}}</ref> Changes were limited to modifications to the aircraft's electrical systems and instrumentation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Moll|1990|p=60}}</ref> Production was stopped again in 1990 after 29 more aircraft had been delivered owing to Piper's financial problems.<ref>{{harvnb|Lambert|1992|p=429}}</ref> Production restarted again in 1995.<ref name="jawa03p696">{{harvnb|Jackson|2003|p=696}}</ref>

==Variants== ;{{Visible anchor|PA-44-180 Seminole}} :Normally aspirated version powered by two Lycoming O-360-E1A6D or two O-360-A1H6 engines.<ref name="A19SO" /> ;PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole :Turbocharged version powered by two Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D engines.<ref name="A19SO" /> ;PA-44 Seminole DX :A diesel-powered variant equipped with two DeltaHawk DHK4A180 engines.<ref name="j205">{{cite web | title=Piper Seminole DX Receives First U.S. Order | website=AVweb: Premier Aviation News and Insights for Pilots and Professionals | date=2025-10-07 | url=https://avweb.com/aviation-news/piper-seminole-dx-receives-first-us-order/ | access-date=2026-03-10}}</ref>

== Operators ==

===Civil=== The PA-44 is popular with air charter companies and flight schools, and is operated by private individuals and companies.

===Military=== ;{{JOR}} * Royal Jordanian Air Force{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} ;{{PER}} * Peruvian Air Force<ref name="World Air Forces 2021">{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=75345|title = World Air Forces 2021|publisher= FlightGlobal |date= 4 December 2020 |access-date= 5 January 2021}}</ref>

==Specifications (PA-44-180 Seminole)== frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-44-180 Seminole

{{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83<ref name="jawa82p447">{{Harvnb|Taylor|1982|p=447}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |genhide=

|crew=1 |capacity=3 passengers |length m= |length ft=27 |length in=7+1/4 |length sigfig=3 |span m= |span ft=38 |span in=7+1/4 |span sigfig=4 |height m= |height ft=8 |height in=6 |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=183.8 |airfoil=NACA 65<sub>2</sub>-415<ref name="jawa03p696"/> |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=2354 |gross weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb=3800 |fuel capacity={{convert|110|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|2|USgal|impgal L|abbr=on}} are unusable  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Lycoming O-360-E1A6 |eng1 type=air-cooled flat four (counter rotating) |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=180

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=Hartzell fully-feathering metal constant-speed propellers |prop dia m= |prop dia ft=6 |prop dia in=2

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=193 |max speed kts= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=187 |cruise speed note=(75% power) |stall speed mph=68 |stall speed note=(flaps down) CAS |range km= |range miles= |range nmi=915 |range note=(55% power) |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=17100 |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1340 |more performance= * '''Single Engine Service Ceiling:''' {{convert|4100|ft|m|abbr=on}} * '''Take-off to 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1400|ft|m|abbr=on}} * '''Landing from 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1190|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= * Piper Cherokee |similar aircraft= * Beechcraft Duchess * Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar |lists= |similar engines= }}

==References== {{reflist}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Jackson |editor-first=Paul |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2003–2004 |year=2003 |location=Coulsdon, UK |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=0-7106-2537-5}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first=Mark |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1990–1991 |year=1990 |location=Coulsdon, UK |publisher=Jane's Defence Data |isbn=0-7106-0908-6}} * {{cite book |editor-last=Lambert |editor-first=Mark |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1992–1993 |year=1992 |location=Coulsdon, UK |publisher=Jane's Data Division |isbn=0-7106-0987-6}} * {{cite magazine |last=Moll |first=Nigel |title=Borne-Again Trainer |magazine=Flying |date=January 1990 |volume=117 |number=1 |pages=56–62 |issn=0015-4806 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JsVZgnUgo90C&pg=PA56 }} * {{cite book |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=John W. R. |editor-link=John W. R. Taylor |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83 |year=1982 |publisher=Jane's Yearbooks |location=London |isbn=0-7106-0748-2 }}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.piper.com/aircraft/trainer-class/seminole/ Piper Aircraft PA-44 Home page]

Seminole Category:1970s United States civil trainer aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:T-tail aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1978 Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear