PA-36-285

About the PA-36-285

The Piper PA-36-285 is an American single-engine, low-wing agricultural aircraft tailored for aerial spraying operations. Designed primarily for the agricultural sector, the airframe features a specialized single-pilot layout seating one person, combined with a chemical hopper positioned ahead of the cockpit to enhance pilot protection during emergency landings. Propulsion comes from a single flat-piston engine turning a multi-bladed constant-speed propeller.

Announced in the early 1970s as an evolution of an earlier agricultural design, the aircraft entered service featuring improved cabin ventilation, heating, and enhanced fuel tank baffling. Over the course of its manufacturing history, successive versions introduced more powerful flat-six and flat-eight engines. Manufacturing rights were later transferred to alternative enterprises, leading to further variants being produced before the program ultimately concluded toward the end of the century.

This page covers the Piper PA-36-285 (Normal category), PA-36-285 (Restricted): the same aircraft under other designations.