The Piper PA-40 Arapaho twin-engined cabin monoplane designed by Piper as a replacement for the PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R. The Arapaho was similar in size to the Twin Comanche and had six seats but had a taller main landing gear and larger cabin windows. It had two counter-rotating 160 hp Lycoming IO-320 engines.
The prototype was damaged in June 1972 when the factory at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, flooded and the prototype, registered N9999P, did not fly until 16 January 1973. It crashed on 21 September 1973 during spin trials when the anti-spin drag chute failed to deploy, and the aircraft was redesigned with a taller tailfin. The second modified prototype with normally aspirated engines first flew in April 1974 and was followed by a third aircraft with turbocharged engines.
The PA-40 was type certified on 18 July 1974, as an amendment to the Twin Comanche type certificate. The Arapaho was scheduled to be launched as a 1975 model, but the company decided not to market the aircraft and the project was cancelled in December 1974. Piper stated that the cancellation was for financial reasons as it did not want to establish a new production line during the 1973–1975 recession.
Following cancellation the two aircraft were used by Piper as company liaison and communication aircraft, one based at Lock Haven, the other at Lakeland, Florida. Later, one aircraft was scrapped by Piper and the third, registered N9997P, was privately owned in Texas, following use by the Purdue University student maintenance program.
28-May-21 Barnstormers advert:
This is the only remaining Piper PA-40 Arapaho out of 3 built. Extensive mechanical restoration completed. (15 SMOH) Original paint and interior. It was rescued from Purdue University in 2018 and is in airworthy condition. Please review the Specs Page for the extensive amount of work that has been completed and other details before calling with any questions. Delivery available. We are taking offers now and will be showing it publicly for the first time at Oshkosh 2021. This is probably the only one of a kind Piper aircraft that is still flyable and airworthy.
**
From the specs page:
1974 Piper PA-40 Arapaho
1270 Total Time Airframe/Engine
15 SMOH both engines and propellers in 2018
Lycoming (L)IO-320-B1A
Condition Inspection due August 2021
Original Engines Installed
Original Airframe and Engine Logbooks
History
The PA-40 Arapaho was designed to be the follow-on aircraft to the PA-39 Twin-Commanche.
The Arapaho differences include leading edge cuffs both inside and outside both nacelles which lower Vmc and stall speeds by approximately 10-15 kts., a single 60 gallon bladder in each wing, 6 inch taller main landing gear, a completely redesigned hydraulic landing gear operating system, strakes on both sides of the rear fuselage as well as above and below the rear fuselage, a redesigned windshield that extends further rearward at the top of the fuselage, redesigned dual pane side windows, as well as other minor changes.
The aircraft has similar cruise speeds to a PA-39 but much lower approach speeds as well as much better pitch authority in the flare which contributes to much nicer landing characteristics.
This aircraft is serial number 3 and is the last remaining Arapaho out of 3 built.
PA-40 Arapaho
1973
Engines: two 160hp Lycoming IO-320
Wing span: 36’5″
Length: 25’2″
Useful load: 1460 lb
Max speed: 201 mph
Cruise: 181 mpj
Stall: 69 mph
Range: 1115 mi
Seats: 6
All Aero 