The Piper Navajo, Cheyenne, and Chieftain family covers a range of twin-engine piston and piston-turboprop aircraft that handle the Dallas short-haul market for groups of up to eight or nine. For corporate teams or families needing more capacity than a Baron or a Cherokee Six, these aircraft offer the largest piston-category cabin in the DFW charter market.
Piper produced several variants under the Navajo lineage: the PA-31 Navajo with Lycoming IO-540 piston engines, the turbocharged Navajo C/R, the stretched PA-31-350 Chieftain with more powerful engines and eight-to-nine seats, and the Cheyenne I with Pratt and Whitney PT6A turboprops. Depending on the specific variant, seats range from six to nine and range spans roughly 800 to 1,000 nautical miles. Full specifications for the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain are published by Piper Aircraft.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Piston
- Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft
- Year introduced: 1973
- Seating: 8 to 9
- Crew: 1 to 2
- Range: 883 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 211 knots
- Service ceiling: 24,000 feet
- Length: 34.6 feet
- Wingspan: 40.7 feet
- Height: 13 feet
- Baggage volume: 38 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Belted
Why the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain Fits Dallas
Eight or nine seats at piston or lower turboprop pricing is the Navajo family’s core position in the Dallas market. A corporate group of seven or eight heading from Addison Airport (KADS) to a regional Texas destination at Lubbock (LBB) or San Angelo (SJT), or a family traveling to a smaller Texas city, fits in one aircraft without paying jet rates. The Chieftain’s stretched cabin makes it one of the largest piston-category options available.
The Cheyenne variant with PT6A turboprops is the aircraft in this family that clients sometimes ask for specifically. Turboprop reliability and slightly higher cruise speeds than the piston versions, at a rate that stays below entry-level jet charter, is the appeal. We identify the specific variant on every quote because the performance and handling differ meaningfully between the piston Navajo and the Cheyenne.
Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (KFTW) in Fort Worth, with a 7,502-foot primary runway and two confirmed FBOs, is a practical base for Navajo family operations serving the Fort Worth and Tarrant County corporate market. Clients in Southlake, Colleyville, or the western Metroplex sometimes find KFTW a more convenient departure point than KADS or KDAL.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain run $1,200 to $1,800 per hour as of 8/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Navajo, Chieftain, and Cheyenne family quotes across a range depending on variant, with piston models at the lower end of the Dallas piston band and the Cheyenne turboprop stepping up toward the entry-level jet category. For a large group on a short Texas sector, the per-seat cost is the best available in piston charter.
Other Pistons Available
- Beech Baron 58
- Beechcraft Baron G58
- Cessna 340
- Cirrus SR-22
- Piper Aerostar 600
- Piper Cherokee Six PA-32
The full pistons category page lists every piston we arrange for Dallas departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Piper Navajo / Cheyenne / Chieftain charter from Dallas, TX, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or visit our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.