Piper Aerostar

An Aerostar 600 in Red Deer, Alberta in 2000

The Piper Aerostar (formerly the Ted Smith Aerostar) is an American twin-engined propeller-driven executive or light transport aircraft, designed by Ted R. Smith. It was originally built by Ted Smith Aircraft Company, but the design was acquired in 1978 by the Piper Aircraft Corporation, which continued production of the aircraft as the PA-60.

Development

After having designed the Aero Commander and Jet Commander, Ted R. Smith founded the Ted Smith Aircraft Company in 1963 to build a new line of aircraft. The Bellanca Aircraft Company and Chance Vought also expressed interest in acquiring the design. In 1978, the Aerostar line was acquired by the Piper Aircraft Corporation, which continued to build two variants, the 600A and 601B, and then re-introduced the 601P. Piper continued using the basic Ted Smith model designation system but prefixed each model as the PA-60.

Design

The Aerostar emerged as a mid-wing cantilever monoplane powered by two wing-mounted piston engines, with retractable landing gear in a tricycle configuration. It is designed to seat six, and is distinguished from light twins of similar size and weight by its high wing loading, careful attention to fine aerodynamic details, a mid wing, and in early models, the absence of cowl flaps; Smith was adamant that they were not needed because of the refined cooling system design. Despite this, the later 700P used cowl flaps because engine cooling of earlier models proved marginal if the system is not maintained rigorously.

The engines of early 601s are turbonormalized—they retain the higher compression ratio typical of a non-turbocharged engine, and the turbo system is designed primarily to compensate for increasing altitude by providing more boost pressure as the outside air pressure declines. Later models featured a redesigned turbo system intended to increase reliability and be more forgiving of improper operation by the pilot. Capable of cruise speeds from 220 knots (410 km/h; 250 mph) for the earliest 600 models to 261 knots (483 km/h; 300 mph) for the later 700 models. Light construction, low drag, and powerful engines contribute to fast climb rates, while allowing high operating altitudes and class-leading fuel efficiency. In 2006, Speer restarted design studies for a jet-powered Aerostar, and in 2010, Aerostar Aircraft first flew the Aerostar Jet, a 601P refitted with a pair of wing-mounted 1,460 lbf (6.5 kN) Pratt & Whitney CW615F engines, providing an estimated maximum cruise speed of 355 knots (657 km/h; 409 mph). In 2014, Aerostar Aircraft said it was investigating production of the aircraft.

Model 400

Modification of first prototype with two 200 hp (150 kW) IO-360 engines; type certified, but did not enter production. 282 produced under four different company names

600A

Model 600 with some minor detail changes and improved engines

Aerostar Jet

601P with two 1,460 lbf (6.5 kN) Pratt & Whitney CW615F engines; one converted

Accidents and incidents

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the crash of a 601P to a pilot-induced stall. The accident report noted that the upper half of the cabin door was found open; it is speculated that the door opened on takeoff and the pilot was attempting to close it when control was lost.
• On January 4, 1995, Piper PA-60-601P N720EM, piloted by Eduardo Mata, former conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, crashed into a ravine and exploded after an engine failure during climbout from Cuernavaca Airport, killing Mata and his passenger. Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the engine failure.

Specifications (700P)

Data from Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 5 passengers
• Length: 34 ft 9.75 in (10.61 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft 8 in (11.18 m)
• Height: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m)
• Wing area: 178.2 sq ft (16.56 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,275 lb (1,939 kg)
• Gross weight: 6,315 lb (2,864 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Avco Lycoming TIO-540-U2A flat six counter-rotating piston , 350 hp (261 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 306 mph (492 km/h, 266 kn)
• Cruise speed: 242 mph (390 km/h, 210 kn)
• Range: 1,024 mi (1,648 km, 890 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,840 ft/min (9.4 m/s)

See also

• Aero Commander 500 family
• Beechcraft Baron
• Beechcraft Travel Air
• Cessna 310
• Let L-200 Morava
• Partenavia P.68
• Piper PA-23
• Piper PA-34 Seneca

References

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing
• Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994–95. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7
• Simpson, R.W. Airlife's General Aviation, 1991, Airlife Publishing, ISBN 1-85310-194-X
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1967–68. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1967.

External links

• Aerostar Aircraft Corporation