Piper Seminole
Developed in the late ’70s as a trainer to fill a niche where the by-then upscale Seneca twin had once resided, the T-tail Seminole entered the market at a time when GA’s fortunes were turning dim. The Seminole had the distinct advantage of being just about the only comparable twin, Beechcraft and Grumman having retired the Duchess and the Cougar, respectively. The easy-flying Piper twin has counter-rotating propellers to eliminate the critical engine on single-engine operation. While it’s occasionally operated by private flyers, the Seminole’s 162-knot cruise speed hardly seems to justify the additional expense of an extra engine, and the majority of Seminoles have found their way into organizations, where it’s a reliable, successful training platform for private and commercial pilots. Today, it has a few unconventional competitors, the diesel-powered Diamond DA42 and Rotax-powered Tecnam P20006T.
Niche: Training/Utility
Base Price: $699,990
Competitors: Diamond DA42,Tecnam P2006T
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