Plane & Pilot 2017 Buyer’s Guide: Piston Twins

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

Gemini Sparkle

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 Seneca
Piper Seneca

Piper Seneca V

Piper’s signature twin, the Seneca V, has been around for years, and in some ways it’s been a forgotten part of Piper’s fleet, with more visible, popular platforms in the PA46 lineup. But the Seneca is a terrific personal airplane—it’s fast, has a good payload, can go a long way and has the kind of friendly flying manners common to Piper aircraft. The Seneca’s turbocharged Continental TSIO-360Bs produce 220 hp each (160 fewer ponies than the Baron, its main competitor), but it makes the most of that power with a sleek aerodynamic design and big wing that create a similar end result arrived at in a different way. The Seneca is fast (200 knots at high cruise), roomy and boasts the G1000 integrated flat-panel avionics suite with a host of safety features. It’s available with flight into known icing capability, onboard weather radar, and air-conditioning, built-in oxygen and satellite communications.

Niche: Transportation

Base Price: $999,900

Competitors: Beech G58 Baron, Diamond DA62, Vulcanair Vr

Piper Seneca VSpecifications

Learn more at Piper Aircraft.

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