The useful load on the -260 is greater than the -300.

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.net...

We used to haul passengers in both the 260 and 300 for a small real
estate development outfit. The 300 is the right size plane with the
right size engine. Plenty of power to haul what you can get in it --
something the 260 often came up short on.


-----Original Message-----
From: Al ]
Posted At: Monday, June 26, 2006 16:47
Posted To: rec.aviation.owning
Conversation: Cherokee 6 manual/info?
Subject: Cherokee 6 manual/info?


"john smith" wrote in message
news:jsmith-A2C33B.14391126062006@network-065-024-007-
027.columbus.rr.com...
In article ,
"Al" wrote:

It looks like I will have a mission to pick up a PA32-300 on
Thurs.
Can
anyone point me to an online copy of the flight maual, or perhaps
some
of
the pertinent information? I've got a couple of hours in a PA32-260
some
years ago, and will have a copy of the manual available when I pick
up
the
airplane, however I would like to prepare myself somewhat. Any
warnings
or
items I should watch out for?

What year?
I have manuals for a 1972 and a 1978. There are differences
depending on
aircraft serial number.
Does the one you will be flying have club seating or all forward
facing?
- Fuel management is the important thing. The outboards have 17 gal,
the
inboards/mains have 25. The tab on the inboards/mains may be at 15
gallons or 18 gallons, depending on the serial number. Know which
one
you have. You will need this information depending on the load you
will
be carrying. I think the -300 series with the straight wing has 84
gal
(17-25-25-17) usable, the -301 series with the taper wing has 96 gal
(48-48) usable.
- Find out how accurate the fuel flow gauge is. You fly off the
mains
first, then the outboards.
- The manual warns that it may take up to 12 seconds to get fuel
flowing
from a full tank to the engine if one tank is run dry. [It may give
you
a warning, listen for the engine surging! Ask me how I know! ;-) ]
- Cruise at 16-18 gph, depending on what the owner wants.
- Full throttle altitude will vary with OAT, between 6000-8000 feet
MSL.
- Know your speeds for the current weight you are flying. (Make a
table
using a spreadsheet or word processor.)
- Use 10-deg flaps for all takeoffs to reduce takeoff run.
- Fly the airplane using trim.
- I prefer to fly high MP/low RPM at cruise, make sure you have a
power
chart handy. Remember, at or below you can fly LOP without harming
the
engine.

Thanks John.

No clue yet what year or config, I do know that the "Load" is 1 pax in
addition to me.

Al G.