The Piper PA-31-310 Navajo is a six-seat all-metal low-wing twin-engine
business aircraft. The Piper Aircraft Corporation developed the PA-31
Navajo in the early 1960s. The first prototype PA-31 flew first on 30
September 1964. The production model PA-31-310, powered by two 230kW
turbo-charged Lycoming TIO-540-A1A engines, entered production in 1967.
The model PA-31-310 was developed further and in 1971 model PA-31-310
Navajo B entered production, in 1974 followed by the PA-31-310 Navajo C.
Production of the PA-31-310 ended in 1983. In 1971, development of a
stretched version of the Navajo with a maximum seating for 10 passengers
began and this design was introduced as Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
in 1973. The PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (later renamed Chieftain) is
powered by two 260kW Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD turbo-charged engines.
Deliveries of the PA-31-350 Chieftain began in 1974. Production ended in 1984,
with a total of 3942 PA-31s in various models built, including 1827 Piper PA-31-350
Chieftain airframes. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for both the Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain is PA31. |
The 1975-built Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain s/n 31-7552075 was registered N59979 in the USA.
On 9 July 1975, registration N59979 was cancelled as exported to the
Netherlands. On 14 July 1975, the aircraft was registered PH-OTH in the
Netherlands with Schreiner & Co NV, Den Haag. On 17 July 1975, the
PH-OTH was registered with KLM Aerocarto BV, Den Haag. On 29 November
1996, the registered ownership changed to KLM Aerocarto BV, Arnhem. On 2 April 1998,
registration PH-OTH was cancelled as exported to the UK. On 6 April 1998, the Piper PA-31-350
was registered G-BXUV in the UK with KLM Aerocarto BV, Arnhem. The next day, registration G-BXUV was cancelled
and on 9 April 1998, the Chieftain was restored as PH-OTH with KLM Aerocarto BV, Arnhem. On 14 April 1998, registration
PH-OTH was cancelled for the second time and the same day the aircraft was restored in the UK-register as G-BXUV with
KLM Aerocarto BV, Arnhem, Netherlands. On 1 June 1999, registration G-BXUV was cancelled as exported to the Netherlands
and on 15 June 1999, the aircraft was restored in the Dutch register as PH-OTH with KLM Aerocarto BV, Arnhem. On 26 February 2009,
Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain PH-OTH was registered with Fugro Aerial Mapping BV, Leidschendam, as operator, and Fugro Finance AG in Swiss,
as owner. On 28 May 2013, registration PH-OTH was cancelled as exported to Malta, where the Piper PA-31-350 was registered 9H-FMH with Fugro Malta
Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fugro NV. When seen at Teuge Airport in the Netherlands, the Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain 9H-FMH wear still
the basic colors of KLM Aerocarto. |