Pilot Operating

Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ..........................................................................................1

Getting Started .............................................................................................1
Instrument Panel...........................................................................................3
Additional Panels ........................................................................................5
Circuit Breakers .......................................................................................5
Lower Panel ............................................................................................6
Warning Indicators...................................................................................6
Cowl Flaps Control ...................................................................................7
Clock......................................................................................................7
VC Clickspots ..........................................................................................8
SPECIFICATIONS: .........................................................................................9
History ....................................................................................................... 13

EULA

All rights reserved per the terms of the End User License Agreement. No part of
this manual may be scanned, reproduced, copied, transmitted, distributed,
downloaded or used for any purpose without the express written consent of FSD
International.

Information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Getting Started

This guide describes the operation of the Piper Navajo. The manual consists of this
document, which details the panel controls and systems, as well as the aircraft
specifications. The following handbooks are also provided in this directory for the
following:

• Climb and cruise checklist.pdf

• Clock Instructions.pdf
• ECS Checklist.pdf
• Emergency Procedures.pdf
• Fuel System.pdf
• Landing and shutdown checklist.pdf
• Load Manager Documentation.pdf
• Normal Procedures.pdf
• Paintkit.pdf
• Receiving Aircraft And Startup Procedures.pdf
• Taxi and takeoff checklist.pdf
•• Totalizer Instruction Manual.pdf

Separate documents are used to better facilitate changes and updates, which
otherwise would require a large download size. We recommend you review all of
these documents to fully familiarize yourself with the Navajo instrumentation and
systems.

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 Pilot Operating
Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

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 Pilot Operating
Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

Instrument Panel
Click on image hotspots for detailed information

The instrument panel is designed to be functional and professional and will

accommodate complete instruments and avionics. The owner’s individual needs can
surely be fulfilled with the wide selection of optional equipment available.

Important
It is very important that the 2D panel be loaded at the
beginning of your flight. Even if you prefer to fly strictly in
the Virtual Cockpit. Otherwise a number of critical aircraft
systems will not initialize. You can select and load the
aircraft while in VC mode, but in this case, make sure you
open the 2D panel at least momentarily.

Flight instruments are directly in front of the pilot and are grouped in a standard “T”
configuration. The radio navigational indicators are to the right of the flight
instruments. The radios are located in the middle panel and the engine instruments
are mounted below the radios. Additional engine gauges are located in the right
instrument panel. The tachometer and manifold pressure gauges are located in the
center panel and are positioned respective of the propeller and throttle controls.

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Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

The attitude indicator and heading indicator are operated by air under pressure,
whereas the turn and slip indicator is operated electrically to serve as a standby
instrument in case the pneumatic system becomes inoperative.

Instrument lighting is provided by individual post lamps mounted adjacent to each

instrument. These lights are controlled by a rotary switch located on the overhead
panel. This switch can activate the instrument lighting alone, or both instrument
lighting and panel floodlighting. A pilot and copilot dome light is located between the
pilots’ seats. The rocker switch is located on the overhead panel switches on this
dome light, as well as the interior cabin light.

The landing and taxi lights are mounted to the upper nose gear strut. The rocker
style switches are located in the overhead switch panel.

Each of these main instruments can be expanded in a zoom view by clicking on the
center of the gauge,

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Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

ADDITIONAL PANELS
There are several auxiliary panels incorporated into the Navajo cockpit, to control the
various aircraft systems:

• Radio Stack (pop-up)

• Throttle/Trim (pop-up)
• GPS
• Fuel Tank Controls (and cowl flaps)
• Also, controls for ATC and Map pop-ups.

You can also raise and lower the sun visor by clicking on it.

Circuit Breakers
Access to the circuit
breaker panel is
obtained through
the hotspot on the
main panel, as
illustrated above.
Critical engine and
aircraft system
electrical circuits
feed through this
panel.

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 Pilot Operating
Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

Lower Panel

This section includes:

Gear handle and indicators
HSI compass control module (see HSI information)
Parking brake

The landing gear indicators will show 3-green when all three gears
are down and locked. Otherwise the will show red (in transit, but
not locked) or they will be dark (gear up). If the gear handle is in
the down position, and all three gears are not locked, the Gear
Not Locked warning indicator will illuminate red.
Additionally, if the gear handle is inadvertently lowered while the
aircraft is on the ground, this indicator will illuminate red, and an
audible alarm will sound (depending on Load Manager Alarms
setting).

Warning Indicators

Left Annunciators Center Annunciators:

Engine Out Low Fuel Flow
Indicators Low Oil Pressure
Stall Warning

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PA 31 Navajo

Cowl Flaps Control

The cowl flaps switches are
electronically controlled. The
switches are located directly
above the Fuel Control Module.
Cowl flaps position on the Navajo
are either fully deployed or fully
retracted.
You can access these controls by
selecting the Fuel Control Module:

Clock

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Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

The Navajo clock/timer is a standard 12-hour cycle clock and a 12 hour timer. Timer
settings can be adjusted in increments of 1 minute. A buzzer will sound when the
timer has counted down to zero.

The current time, and the current timer setting are also displayed on the mouse
tooltip for the Clock. Note that you must have Show Tooltips checked in your Flight
Simulator Options/general menu in order to see any mouse tooltips.

CONTROLS
There are three control devices for the timer:

1. Set Minutes Knob - Turn clockwise to increase timer minutes, counter-

clockwise to decrease. In steps of 1 minute.
2. Set Hours Knob - Turn clockwise to increase timer hours, counter-clockwise to
decrease. In steps of 1 hour.
3. Timer Start/Stop Button - Press to start or stop timer.

VC Clickspots
The illustration to
the right illustrates
the clickspots that
are available in
the VC.

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 Pilot Operating
Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

SPECIFICATIONS:

Aircraft Dimensions
Wing span 40' 8"
Length 34' 7"
Height 11' 3"

Weight and Balance

4,250
Empty weight
lb.
Maximum Takeoff Weight 8,130
(MTOW) lb.

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Engine
Left Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD
Right Lycoming LTIO-540-J2BD
Horsepower
350 @ 2,575 RPM
(ea.)
100/130 Grade Aviation
Fuel
Gasoline (minimum)

Propeller
Manufacturer Hartzell Propeller, Inc.
Hub Model
Left HC-E3YR-2A
Right HC-EY3YR-2AL
Blade Model
Left C8468-6R
Right JC8468-6R

Altitude Limits
Maximum
Operating 27,200 ft..
Altitude
Service Ceiling 28,300 ft.

Temperature
Limits
Maximum 50 oC
Minimum -50 oC

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Airspeed Limitations
VA Maneuvering Speed 162 KIAS
VMO Maximum Operating Speed 187 KIAS
VNO Max Structural Cruising Speed 187 KIAS
VNE Never Exceed Speed 236 KIAS
VSO Stalling Speed in Landing Configuration 74 KIAS
VMC Velocity Minimum Control 77 KIAS
VFE Flaps Max Extend Speed
Approach 152 KIAS
Full 130 KIAS
VLO Landing Gear - Operation 130 KIAS
Landing Gear - Max speed when extended 130
VLE
KIAS

Maximum Flap Extended

Speeds
Flaps
KIAS
degrees
25 130
15 - 25 152

Cruising Range RPM Range

182 Gal. usable fuel 2400 1,185 nm
With 45 min. fuel
2400 1,005 nm
reserve

Engine Specifications (ea)

Rated
350
Horsepower
Rated Speed 2,575 RPM
Displacement 541 cubic inches

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Handbook
PA 31 Navajo

Airframe Systems
Air Cabin heating is achieved by mixing ram air with engine bleed air in
Conditioning variable proportions for temperature control.

The cabin ventilating system consists of ram air inlet, a booster fan,
and two fresh air nozzles under the instrument panel.
Electrical Electrical power is provided by a 28 V DC negative ground system.
Power The system incorporates a generator busbar, a battery busbar, and
electrical hotbus bar.

The primary source of power is a 28 V DC, 200 A engine driven

starter/generator.
Fuel System Fuel is contained in four integral fuel tanks with a total usable
capacity of 182 US gallons. The fuel quantity indicators are located
on the overhead panel, and register the quantity of fuel in the tank
selected by the fuel control module. See the Fuel System Checklists
for more information.

Fuel flow indicators are located on the main instrument panel with
the engine instrumentation. Fuel pressure indicators are located on
the copilot panel.
Ice Protection Ice protection consists of an electrical heating system for the pitot
tube, static ports, and the fuel control unit. Prop heating elements
are also provided.

The deice controls are located on the overhead panel.

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PA 31 Navajo

History

One of the most enduring and robust general aviation twins ever made is the Piper
Navajo.

In 1964 Piper released the first of what was to become several Navajo variants over
the course of a production run lasting almost two decades. The original 300Hp
Navajo offered a spacious and roomy cabin with generous seating for six, a roomy
flight deck, and a generous baggage allowance. The air-stair door set the Navajo
apart from contemporary, more traditional low-wing twin designs of that day.

The Navajo - when released - was the largest design then undertaken by Piper and
the basic design evolved considerably over the years to include longer, more
capacious cabins with increased performance and useful loads. A pressurized Navajo
variant (Pa-31P) was produced for fifteen years until the Navajo ended production in
1984. Over the life of the design, the original 300HP Lycoming 540 engine variants
grew steadily in power, as did the airframe through various growths until peaking at
350HP installed in the substantially stretched fuselage.

In character, the Navajo could best be described as a robust workhorse. It is a

satisfying aircraft to fly if flown well, and this durable design serves operators well.
From a pilot's perspective it is a pleasant albeit noisy aircraft to fly. Flight deck noise
levels are quite intrusive at even moderate power settings and few choose to operate
the Navajo without the use of headsets. In the spacious rear cabin (in low density
seating) the noise levels are appreciably lower and not unpleasant. Whilst relatively
solid on the controls, the Navajo remains responsive if not nimble and is stable
throughout the flight envelope. The Navajo is a good IFR platform.

The Navajo has been the focus of much attention and design enhancements by third
party remanufactures. Aerodynamic improvements and improved sound insulation,
and cabin sealing being two areas of interest. The basic airframe offered considerable
scope for comfort enhancements especially as the airframe aged.

Power plant options available from engine manufacturers are many, as are propeller
options. One such variant is the Panther modification of the Navajo CR, which the
Navajo the FSD model represents. This visually striking modification of the
venerable Navajo CR features some immediately obvious aerodynamic
enhancements in the form of prominent winglets. Power plant modifications include
contra-rotating four bladed 'Q-Tip' propellers and higher performance 350Hp
engines with dual magnetos for improved reliability. The engine and propeller
modifications, combined with aerodynamic enhancements, result in an appreciably
quieter cabin and usefully improved performance in terms of acceleration, increased
climb and cruise performance.

Although it has been out of production for almost twenty years, the Navajo remains
one of the most sought after twin engine general aviation designs of all time.

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For use with Microsoft Flight Simulator only. Not for real world aviation.