Plane & Pilot 2017 Buyer's Guide: Piston Twins

Looking for a piston multi? You've come to the right place.

Plane & Pilot

Friday, January 20, 2017 at 08:25 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The multi-engine piston aircraft market, though small, offers diverse options ranging from dedicated flight trainers to high-performance personal and business transportation planes.
Entry-level twins, such as the Tecnam P2006T and Piper Seminole, are predominantly used for flight training, often prioritizing fuel efficiency or simplified operation.
Mid-range models like the Diamond DA42 blend training utility with personal transportation capabilities, frequently featuring modern diesel engines and advanced composite construction for efficiency.
High-end multi-engine pistons, including the Vulcanair Vr, Piper Seneca V, Diamond DA62, and Beechcraft G58 Baron, provide superior speed, payload, advanced avionics, and enhanced comfort for discerning private pilots and business travel.

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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

Piper Seminole Specifications

Learn more at Piper Aircraft.

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