Courtesy of Cheyenne Air Service
Total Production Run for Cheyenne Modes:
PA 31T1 I 198
PA 31T1A IA 17
PA 31T II 525
PA 31T2 IIXL 82
PA 42 III 89
PA 42-720 IIIA 60
PA 42-1000 IV (400) 44
Cheyenne is Born
1974 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 5
The Cheyenne was introduced in May of 1974. After many years of flight tests, Piper was now in the turbine powered arena. The Cheyenne also gave birth to a new distribution system for Piper ‘the Corporation Aircraft Center’ (CORPAC).
1975 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 46
CIP AVIONICS PROGRAM The customer program for avionics installations was born. The program has been very successful providing Piper installations on most any item our customers require. The program also slashed avionics lead times considerable.
1976 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 51
AVIONICS JUNCTION BOX The junction box provides for simplified designs and ease of installation at the factory. For the customer, it provides improved reliability and ease of avionics troubleshooting. It also provides simplified field installations of avionics to satisfy last-minute customer requirements.
1977 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 69
CREW SIDE WINDOWS Crew-side windows were enlarged in height. With this change, the overhead pilot windows were eliminated.
1978 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 100
Cheyenne Family is Born
In September of 1977, the Cheyenne family is born:
Cheyenne I
Cheyenne II
Cheyenne III
EXTERIOR PAINT SCHEME New exterior paint scheme. Color matching GM trim stripe colors were introduced to match the GM interiors. Three (3) trim stripes replaced the two (2) stripes from the previous years.
GM INTERIOR PROGRAM Cadillac division of General Motors Corporation interiors was introduced. Six (6) colors in the Florentine fabrics. This was the starting point for the General Motors program at Piper.
NEW ANNUNCIATOR PANEL The annunciator panel was not only relocated but also totally redesigned. The three (3) inch round panel mounted unit was discontinued, with the new system installed in the glare shield. The easily readable lights are installed end to end, providing a more professional installation.
INTERIOR CABINETRY The cabinet design plus the finish were changed for ’78. A New England Cherry wood finish replaced the all-white finish from the previous years.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Several changes to CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATION WERE MADE ALONG WITH THE ADDITION OF THE RIGHT ESSENTIAL BUS. Plug-in type circuit breakers were introduced to make bus system maintenance less consuming.
WIDER CABIN INTERIORS The interior side panels were redesigned, providing an additional three (3) inch cabin width. □WIDER CABIN SEATS Seats were redesigned providing nearly a two (2) inch increase in seat width.
LOW PROFILE PANEL A new low profile instrument panel was introduced providing improved pilot visibility.
DUAL BELT AIR DRIVE During mid-year, dual drive belts were installed for the air conditioner compressor unit. This provided increased reliability for the air conditioning system.
CLEVELAND WHEELS AND BRAKES Beginning with serial number 016, the Cleveland wheels and brakes became the standard and Goodyear the option.
1979 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED: 149
EXTERIORS Standard Exterior Paint Scheme
TAIL LOCATED “N” NUMBERS The registration numbers were relocated from the fuselage to the tail.
FOUR (4) PAINT COLORS Four (4) exterior paint colors were made standard, base plus the three (3) trim stripe colors. □INTERIORS New fabric was made available – Halifax, in each of the six (6) available interiors.
AIR-RESEARCH PRESSURIZATION The Garrett Air-Research Pressurization system was introduced replacing the Dukes control system. This gave the pilot the ability to select cabin altitude based on flight level without doing the math. It also alleviated the ascend/descent switch.
CALICO FLAP SYSTEM This system replaced the Dukes flap system. This improved asymmetric flap protection. The reliability of the flap system was also improved because of solid-state electronics. This system also afforded an infinite selection from 0-40 instead of the three (3) position limited Dukes system.
JEPP SIZE POH Pilot’s operating handbook size was reduced from the large cumbersome type to Jeppesen manual size providing simple storage and ease of use in the cockpit.
EXPANDED POH CHARTS POH charts were expanded to include: Range Payload Specific Range Recommended Holding Power
FLIGHT PLANNING HANDBOOK A pilot’s flight planning handbook was prepared for the Cheyenne II.
HIGHER ALTITUDE The Cheyenne II received certification to increase the operational altitude from 29,000 feet to 31,000 feet.
FLIGHT-SAFETY INTERNATIONAL The first schools conducted by Flight Safety in the new training center were conducted in June/1979 with full motion visual simulators.
TEL-TAIL LIGHTING During mid-year, the floodlighting for the aircraft tail became available. This improved in flight as well as on ground recognition.
STRETCHED CHEYENNE III A stretched version of the original Cheyenne III was introduced at NBAA. The aircraft is three (3) feet longer than the original Cheyenne III, providing a total five (5) feet longer cabin than the Cheyenne II.
PASSENGER BRIEFING CARDS Cards contain both general and emergency information for use by the passengers. Satisfies Part 135 operations for most operators.
PROPELLER SYNCHROPHASER The prop synchrophaser replaced the synchronizer during the year. The unit provides a fixed phase for reducing prop noise.
NEW AVIONICS Avionics introduced in 1979 included: Ground Clearance Energy Saver System – very useful and popular pilot option – especially as a back-up avionics power source. KN 72 VOR/LOC Converter KN 75 GS Receiver KI 206NAV Indicator PRIMUS 300 Radar KI 207NAV Repeater Indicator Bend ix Color Radar Indicators KFC 250System with three (3) inch air driven gyros for Cheyenne I KAS 294Altitude Preselect for Cheyenne I
1980 MODEL YEAR
CHEYENNE UNIT DELIVERED 160
EXTERIORS Standard Exterior Paint Scheme
INTERIORS Choice of five (5) all new interior color themes/textiles: Dark Cedar Venetian, Blue Venetian, Burnished gold Venetian, Dark Green Venetian, and Dark Carmine all leather interior The 1980 interior program provided for five (5) all new interiors and retained seven (7) of the popular 1979 selections for a total of 12 interior color/textile selections.
INCREASED VISIBILITY Increased windshield area. The windshield area with 1980 models had been increased providing an increase effective vision of approximately 20%. The windshield was heightened even with the side windows.
DIGITAL CLOCK A digital clock was standard in the pilot’s panel with 1980 models.