It has been in non-continuous production since 1971. The Seneca is primarily used for personal and business flying. A total of 5037 had been produced by 2019. The Seneca was developed as a twin-engined version of the Piper Cherokee Six. The prototype was a Cherokee Six that had wing-mounted engines installed, retaining its nose engine. The prototype was flown as a tri-motor aircraft in the initial stages of the test-flying program. Early models, the Seneca I, handled awkwardly and were slower than expected and the Seneca II incorporated improvements including: turbo-charging, larger and redesigned ailerons and improved stick forces. For 1975 149kW Continental TSIO-360-E turbocharged and counter-rotating engines were introduced and the landing gear was strengthened for operation at higher gross weight, the designation then changing to PA-34-200T Seneca II. In 1982 the Seneca II was superseded by an improved PA-34-220T Seneca III. A total of 28 improvements changed the II into the III, and while most of these are cosmetic, the two most significant are further increases in available power, and weight - most of which means useful load. A five minute take-off power rating increases 20 hp to 220, an rpm increase from 2575 to 2800, and an increase in MTOW of 180 lbs. This translates to a 190 lbs increase in useful load. The Seneca III has Continental TSIO-360-KB turbocharged and counter-rotating engines. Senacas have also been marketed as PZL Mielec M 20 Mewa, Embraer EMB-810 Cuesta and Neiva Cuesta For details of the many models of the Seneca, click here. Specifications (PA-34-220T Seneca V) below,
