I am changing seasons in airplanes, from fun sport flying to travel and higher instruction for my son. We are looking for a PA32 Cherokee 6. We are just starting the search, and have our Skybolt and Avid Flyer for sale. I am not real specific on my must haves, but more of a value shopper. I am total (operational & purchase) $ sensitive as well. Fixed gear would best suit my need, but I will not rule out a competive Lance if all else was equal.

I would appreciate any referals, and would further apprecaite an email to airplane@nitrams.net

Thanks
larry

Good airplane. Suggest you head over to piperforum.com and post there.

My last (before this) was a Cherokee Six. I love my aircraft but I sure miss that "6" - Here are some things I learned

Consider only the 300 HP
Make sure you get tip tanks
Don't fall for a Saratoga, the 6 is only slower by about 4 kts
Speed mods are great. Wing root fairings are the best payback, pants are good, flap, aileron and stab gap seals are great too

Develop a good routine for managing the fuel. I did 60m from left main, 60m from right main, 30 from left tip, 30 right, then repeat. Now all your fuel remaining is in the two mains.

Or develop your own. These are real haulers - many happy times and long trips.

What's wrong with a Saratoga? I always liked the simpler fuel system and longer wing compared to a 6.

Friend has a 6-300

It's nose heavy. Not terrible or crazy, but if you're used to a lighter plane you'll notice it

It's got an awesome set of mods if you find them: the R/STOL is worth it if you want it

It's versatile: modifiable seating, high useful load, big doors

There are options: retractables (Lance, Saratoga) that basically act the same

It's tough: You can see Sixes as backwoods people haulers or poor man's cargo planes

The NA's have a near bulletproof engine: if you take care, it's going to work a long time

It's balanced: very hard to get out of CG if you take even minimal care

Think of it like a fat Beech: tough, "slow", but heavier handling on the ground and in the air

assuming a straight-wing model, follow the fuel burn recommendations to the letter: Fill the tips first, then do your partial fuelling on the mains. Burn the mains dry before using a drop from the tips. If you fly in turbulence with the tips empty, that's how you get those little cracks on the upper wing skins that lead to all those ugly diamond patches.

warning - once your family gets used to that size of cabin the'll never be satisfied with a small plane again. It's the only reasonably priced plane i can think of where there is honest to goodness open air in between the shoulders of adjacent people.

Thnaks for the encouragement. Now, if I can only get the Skybolt and Avid Flyer sold......

larry

I have a Cherokee Six 260 and love it. Its comfy and fun to fly. It's great for trips and hauls a ton. I have extensively upgraded it with just about all the avionics I could put in it, new auto pilot and put new interior in it. Very happy with my plane.
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Excellent looking 6 Bill!

Thanks! It's been a fun (expensive!) journey. Still a few more things to do....just don't tell my wife

We have a '82 Saratoga with the wheel pant, gap seals and wing root mods. I have done several 3 way GPS TAS tests and it trues out 155kt consistantly at 15.5 gph. Just one data point.. Don't think you can beat the C6/Saratoga as a big roomy load hauler that is fast enough. Easy to load within CG.

The Six is a great choice Larry. I've got quite a bit of time in a Six-300. You won't find much more room and UL in that price range in a single. I regularly got 145kts on about 16gph and had tons of room for our family trips and more bags than you can possibly imagine. The nose baggage is one of it's best features allowing a LOT of baggage to be loaded without taking up cabin space. My only warning to you is that once you get used to that space and UL, you're next step up from the Six will likely be a twin.

Good luck in your search.

I had a 1976 Piper Lance (straight tail) and it was one of the best airplanes I have ever owned. Almost 1500lb useful and cruised at 15 GPH at 155kts. Flew it from KVNY to the Bahamas 3 X and had plenty of room.