Piper Aerostar 600

Piper Aircraft · United States · first flew 1967 · light aircraft

The Piper Aerostar (originally Ted Smith Aerostar) is a high-performance twin-piston mid-wing business aircraft known for its exceptional speed, rivalling some turboprops. Its mid-wing layout and slender fuselage give it an aerodynamically refined profile.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Very slender fuselage with pointed nose
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Mid-wing configuration unusual for a piston twin
Twin turbocharged IO-540 engines in sleek nacelles
Very slender fuselage with pointed nose

The mid-wing position is the primary identifier — virtually all other piston twins are low-wing. The very slender fuselage, flush engine cowlings, and pointed nose further distinguish it.

Specifications

The Piper Aerostar 600 has a length of 10.61 m (35 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.18 m (37 ft).
Its maximum speed is 467 km/h (290 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by Ted R. Smith and first flown in 1967, the Aerostar was acquired by Piper Aircraft in 1978 after passing through several owners. The 601P and 602P pressurised variants extended its appeal to the corporate market.

Variants

Variants include the unpressurised 600 and 601, the pressurised 601P and 602P with more powerful turbocharged engines, and the rare supercharged 700P prototype.

Where you'll see it

Produced in limited numbers and prized by performance-oriented owner-pilots; the Aerostar remains in active general aviation service in the US and internationally.

Related aircraft

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