This might be old news, or maybe even inaccurate. I’ve noticed that Piper Aircraft no longer lists the Seneca as a model in production. I have done a cursory search for news articles or other postings, and I can’t find anything about this.

Any truth to it? Maybe just on hiatus?

Russ, I found this in wikipedia, I know they are not always accurate, but it says they are still being produced.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-34_Seneca

Russ, dare you to call up Piper and try to buy a new one over the phone. That will get you the real answer!

I know after the Piper Saratoga was discontinued, you could still get one with Garmin glass for a little while. Only way I know that is that when I went to the factory they had one in post production. But according to GAMA, it is not selling. I would definitely take one over a G58. Faster, much better single engine performance, better avionics, but the G58's aren't really selling either.

I am shocked. So I had to look. And nope, it isn't there.

I would guess that for what it would cost to buy a new Seneca, that kind of money would rather also have pressurization and a turbine engine PA46. Or pressurization and a single piston PA46.

Just not that many people sold on the twin engine platform anymore. Cost to acquire, operate and maintain likely would be as much, if not more than the M500.

Shame, I liked my Seneca II.

One thing that happens is that a plane stops being available for small or individual unit orders before it becomes unavailable for big orders from fleet users. So you might see zero Seminoles on the production line, and not advertised for individuals to buy, but if Embry Riddle wanted 50 of them the project would ramp up and happen.

So there is often a prolonged or intermittent state of limbo for plane models between “retail availability” like the Cirrus SR22 and truly out-of-production; there is often a state where no planes are being made but the company would be able to ramp back up if demand appears for a fleet order.

Per GAMA Deliveries which are reported by Piper to GAMA, the last Seneca was built and delivered in Q4 2020. It was the only Seneca built in 2020. In 2019 they built 3, in 2018 they built 2 and in 2017 only one was built.

7 Seneca V built in 6 years - none in the last 2+ years - that can't be very sustainable.

Aviat still claims they will sell a Pitts S1S. I knew a guy that asked the owner if they still made them and he said yes. So he said I'll take one. The owner told him to call the shop next week. He called and they said they would call him back to get details... That was a few years ago and we are expecting that call from Aviat at any moment!

Not sure when they last built an S-2C either. I think the Pitts line is pretty much at an end.

John, you've had both, Considering Beechcraft (Textron) only makes 1 or 2 B58's a year, is this a bad omen for GA?

When I was looking for an upgrade to my DA40 and SR22, I considered the Seneca. And the Baron. I liked both of them, the Seneca, just a little bit more, because living in the mountains, I wanted a twin that would be able to stay at altitude. I really wasn’t in the market for a big piston single, but when I compared pretty much everything to the piston PA46’s, the PA46 beat them in every metric. Except one engine inop, but that big lycoming is a pretty darn reliable engine. It had a much bigger cabin, less runway needed to take off and land, especially high and hot living in the mountains and more speed and range. Was pressurized, higher usable altitudes, thus more weather capable. It also had more of a big airplane ramp presence. I think that is what happened to the Seneca on a bigger scale. Otherwise a very nice twin.

John, you've had both, Considering Beechcraft (Textron) only makes 1 or 2 B58's a year, is this a bad omen for GA?

Not sure when they last built an S-2C either. I think the Pitts line is pretty much at an end.

the only small twin selling well is the DA62 and that is because it has 180 hp engines that can use a reliable quality fuel that is available anywhere but they needed to make drastic compromises to get it fly ok on two small engines.

If a 300 to 400 hp diesel was available on a small twin it would sell very well elsewhere in the world.