PA-25 Pawnee

The Piper PA‑25 Pawnee is an agricultural aircraft that entered service in 1959 and quickly became the benchmark for crop‑dusting and aerial application. Designed by Piper Aircraft in response to the demand for a purpose‑built, single‑engine monoplane, the Pawnee replaced the aging “Crop‑duster” conversions of older trainers. Its robust all‑metal airframe, high‑wing configuration and spacious 64‑inch‑wide hopper allowed it to carry up to 350 lb (160 kg) of chemicals while maintaining excellent low‑speed handling and short‑field performance. Powered originally by a 150‑hp Lycoming O‑320 engine, later models received the more powerful 180‑hp O‑540, giving a maximum climb rate of 1,600 ft/min and a cruise speed near 120 kt. The aircraft’s simple fixed‑gear, rugged landing gear and straightforward maintenance regime made it popular with farms and aerial‑service companies worldwide. Over 4,000 Pawnees were built, and the type remained in production until 1981, influencing later utility designs such as the PA‑28 Cherokee series. Its reliability, low operating costs and dedicated agricultural capabilities cemented the PA‑25 Pawnee’s legacy as an iconic workhorse in civil aviation. Even after production ceased, the Pawnee remains in active service, and many restored examples are displayed in aviation museums, underscoring its enduring impact on agricultural flight.