ICAO PA44

Piper PA-44 Seminole

Piper

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Twin-engine piston trainer favored by flight schools worldwide.

First flight

1976

Category

Piston light twin

Seating

3 passengers + 1 pilot (4 total)

Range

1,930 km

Engines

Two Lycoming O-360-E1A6D flat-four piston engines (counter-rotating)

Status

In production

The Piper PA-44 Seminole is a light, twin-engine piston aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft, primarily designed for multi-engine flight training. It seats up to four occupants and is powered by two counter-rotating Lycoming engines, which eliminate the critical engine problem and simplify training. First flown in 1976, the Seminole has become one of the most widely used multi-engine trainers in the world, favored by flight academies and universities for its docile handling and reliability. Its low-wing, retractable-gear configuration closely mirrors the systems found in more advanced aircraft. The aircraft remains in production and continues to serve flight training organizations globally, including major aviation universities and airline cadet programs. Variants include the Turbo Seminole, which features turbocharged engines for improved high-altitude performance.

Notable operators

Widely operated by flight training organizations such as ATP Flight School, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and various airline cadet academies.

Notable facts

›Counter-rotating engines eliminate the critical engine asymmetric thrust problem, simplifying multi-engine training.
›The PA-44 shares its fuselage design with the single-engine Piper PA-28 Arrow.
›A turbocharged variant, the Turbo Seminole, was produced for enhanced performance.
›The aircraft features retractable tricycle landing gear and a T-tail configuration.
›It has been continuously produced with updates since its introduction in the late 1970s.