View source for Piper PA-44 Seminole

{{Short description|American twin-engined utility aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= PA-44 Seminole
 |image= File:Piper-pa-44.jpg
 |caption=
 |type=[[trainer (aircraft)|Training]] and [[General aviation|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]]
}}
[[File:Piper PA44-180 aircraft.jpg|thumb|Piper PA-44-180 Seminole]]
[[File:EC-GHA Piper PA-44 Seminole.JPG|thumb|right|PA-44 landing]]
[[File:PiperPA-44-180SeminoleC-FLZJ01.jpg|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>

The PA-44 is a development of the [[Piper Cherokee]] single-engined aircraft and 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&nbsp;hp (135&nbsp;kW) [[Lycoming O-360|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&nbsp;lbs (1723&nbsp;kg).<ref name="A19SO" />

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

The PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole version was certified on November 29, 1979. It features two [[turbocharger|turbocharged]] 180&nbsp;hp (135&nbsp;kW) [[Lycoming O-360|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&nbsp;lb (1780&nbsp;kg), while the landing weight remained at 3800&nbsp;lbs (1723&nbsp;kg).<ref name="A19SO" />

The PA-44 features a high [[T-tail]] similar to the T-tailed [[Piper Cherokee|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|Lycoming O-360-E1A6D]] or two [[Lycoming O-360|O-360-A1H6]] engines.<ref name="A19SO" />
;PA-44-180T Turbo Seminole
:Turbocharged version powered by two [[Lycoming O-360|Lycoming TO-360-E1A6D]] engines.<ref name="A19SO" />
;PA-44 Seminole DX
:A proposed diesel-powered variant powered by two [[Continental Motors CD-170]] engines.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Air Britain Aviation World|publisher=[[Air-Britain]]|title=General Aviation News|year=2018|issn=1742-996X|page=114}}</ref>

== Operators ==

===Civil===
The PA-44 is popular with air charter companies and [[Flight training|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)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83<ref name="jawa82p447">{{Harvnb|Taylor|1982|p=447}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|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
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Lycoming O-360]]-E1A6
|eng1 type=air-cooled [[flat four]] (counter rotating)
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=180<!-- prop engines -->

|prop blade number=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hartzell fully-feathering metal [[constant-speed propeller]]s
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=6<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=193
|max speed kts=
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed mph=187<!-- if max speed unknown -->
|cruise speed note=(75% power)
|stall speed mph=68
|stall speed note=(flaps down) [[Calibrated airspeed|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 (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]

{{Piper}}

[[Category:Piper aircraft|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]]