Indicative 1980 market range$447k (€414k) to $535k (€495k)
Fixed annual planning base$86k (€80k)
Direct hourly planning cost$821 (€760) / h
A Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain costs approximately $447k (€414k) to $535k (€495k) to buy at 1980 market values. Owning one and flying 80 hours a year costs roughly $238k (€220k) annually, about $2,970 (€2,750) per flight hour all-in, made up of a $86k (€80k) fixed annual base plus $821 (€760) per hour flown. Over five years, purchase and operating costs total around $1.67m (€1.55m) before financing, depreciation and tax.
Ownership scenarios
Indicative cash costs before financing, depreciation and tax.
Annual use
Annual cash cost
Effective cost / h
Five-year cash outlay
40 h / year
$205k (€190k)
$5,119 (€4,740)
$1.51m (€1.4m)
80 h / year
$238k (€220k)
$2,970 (€2,750)
$1.67m (€1.55m)
120 h / year
$270k (€250k)
$2,254 (€2,087)
$1.84m (€1.7m)
180 h / year
$320k (€296k)
$1,776 (€1,644)
$2.08m (€1.93m)
What drives the real price?
Airframe and engine time, maintenance history, damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment can move a real transaction well outside a model-level estimate. A cheaper example with deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft after the first annual inspection.
What is included?
PlaneFit combines an annual fixed-cost base with a direct hourly estimate. The result is intended for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation scenarios. It is not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
A large and productive cabin, but commercial-use fatigue, two turbocharged engines and high fuel burn require professional oversight.
Test your own utilisation
The scenarios above assume 80 hours a year. This calculator opens on the Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain figures so you can change the hours, or any of the inputs, and see what it does to the cost per hour.
Estimated annual cash cost€140,800
Effective cost per flight hour€1,760
Five-year operating cash€704,000
Prefer to work from fuel burn and maintenance reserve separately? Use the operating cost calculator.
Common questions about Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain costs
How much does a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain cost to buy?
An indicative 1980 market range for a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain is $447k (€414k) to $535k (€495k). Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics and equipment move real transactions well outside a model-level estimate.
What does a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain cost per year to own?
Flying 80 hours a year, budget roughly $238k (€220k) in annual cash costs, which works out at about $2,970 (€2,750) per flight hour all-in. That covers a $86k (€80k) fixed annual base plus $821 (€760) per hour of direct operating cost.
What does five years of Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain ownership cost?
Purchase plus five years of operating cost at 80 hours a year comes to approximately $1.67m (€1.55m) in cash terms, before financing, depreciation and tax.
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