Meet Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III
The PA-42 Cheyenne III is a pressurised business twin powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines. Propair Flight describes 720 shaft horsepower per engine, hydraulic landing gear with emergency backup, pneumatic airframe de-icing and engine and propeller ice protection.
History & design
Piper moves into the larger turboprop cabin
Piper unveiled the PA-42 Cheyenne III in 1977 to compete in the King Air 200 market. A longer fuselage, greater span, 720-shaft-horsepower PT6A-41 engines and a T-tail distinguished it from the smaller Cheyenne II. The first flight followed in May 1979, with certification and deliveries in 1980.
The improved IIIA arrived in 1983 with PT6A-61 engines and changes to electrical, air-conditioning and fuel-control systems. That distinction matters when reading performance tables: the IIIA's high-altitude capability is not automatically a Cheyenne III specification.
AOPA · Quick Look: Cheyenne III/IIIA ↗AOPA development account; existing profile remains scoped to the selected aircraft.
Systems & details
Panels and cabin fits
The MSFS 2020 and 2024 package offers G1000 and analog panels, passenger and medevac configurations, and six liveries. The aircraft can be flown without using the bundled SkyPass course.
Related PA-42 flight-control design
The PA-42-720 Advanced Trainer chapter describes conventional dual columns, mechanical cables and linkages, with aileron, elevator and rudder trim on the pedestal. This is IIIA family documentation; it does not establish the equipment or geometry of Propair's III implementation.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024Cheyenne III
Propair Flight · Released
Cheyenne III
Propair Flight · Released
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Developer documentation
PropairFlight Cheyenne III + SkyPass Type Rating BundlePropair Flight · PA-42 Cheyenne III · product description and included MSFS editionsAircraft systems
Piper PA-42-720 Advanced Trainer Maintenance Manual — chapter 27Piper Aircraft, public document reproduction · Chapter 27-00-00, page 1 · PA-42-720 IIIA Advanced Trainer, effectivity 040–999Aircraft documentation
Quick Look: Cheyenne III/IIIAAOPA · AOPA Quick Look, April 2014; explicit III/IIIA development comparison.Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261011-v3 · 1 profile choice
Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III
Propair Flight · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Manual twin-turboprop loading, standard trim relief and observed gear/flap-motion cues for Propair Flight’s PA-42 Cheyenne III. Autopilot following is off.
Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III
Manual twin-turboprop loading, standard trim relief and observed gear/flap-motion cues for Propair Flight’s PA-42 Cheyenne III. Autopilot following is off.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III · Propair Flight · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- Piper PA-42 Cheyenne III · Propair Flight · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
Propair Flight PA-42 Cheyenne III; MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 product scope. · Piper PA-42-720 IIIA Advanced Trainer maintenance chapter 27 is related-family control documentation, not a Propair III simulation manual.
The simulator model and controls
The PA-42 Cheyenne III is a pressurised business twin powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 engines. Propair Flight describes 720 shaft horsepower per engine, hydraulic landing gear with emergency backup, pneumatic airframe de-icing and engine and propeller ice protection.
Propair Flight offers passenger and medevac cabins, with G1000 and analog panels, for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024.
How this profile feels
The baseline spring is 0.74. The low-speed blend rises from 20 to 90 KIAS, while aerodynamic loading uses a 190-KIAS reference and 0.68 gain.
Pitch and roll trim relief use inherited authorities of 0.3 and 0.14. Continuous flap-motion and gear-motion textures each use a 0.12 gain; discrete flap-step and index-dependent flap buffet are off.
Controls and trim
Piper’s related PA-42-720 IIIA maintenance chapter describes conventional columns, cables and linkages, with pedestal aileron, elevator and rudder trim. This profile retains a manual twin-turboprop estimate; exact Propair trim geometry and hand forces remain unmeasured.
Equipment cues
Hydraulic landing gear, pneumatic de-icing and engine/propeller ice protection are listed by Propair Flight. Flap motion is represented from actual position changes. The add-on’s detent schedule has not been established, so discrete step, index-gated buffet and flap-drag cues are off.
Autopilot
The panel options do not establish an autopilot servo-demand interface. Autopilot follow, neutral hold and surface following are disabled.
About the values
Gains are normalized profile estimates. Physical hand force depends on the device and its output limits. Indicated-speed references are tuning scales; physical acceptance of revision 2 remains pending.
What the documentation establishes
Propair Flight identifies a PA-42 Cheyenne III for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, with two PT6A-41 engines rated at 720 shaft horsepower each.
The product lists 246 KCAS maximum operating speed. The 190-KIAS force reference is a separate profile estimate.
Piper’s PA-42-720 IIIA maintenance chapter describes conventional control columns, cables/linkages and pedestal trim. Its IIIA scope does not establish every Propair Cheyenne III detail.
Documentary review and sources
These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.
Aircraft and variant
ReviewedPropair Flight offers passenger and medevac cabins, with G1000 and analog panels, for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024.
Flight controls
InheritedPiper’s related PA-42-720 IIIA maintenance chapter describes conventional columns, cables and linkages, with pedestal aileron, elevator and rudder trim. This profile retains a manual twin-turboprop estimate; exact Propair trim geometry and hand forces remain unmeasured.
Trim
InheritedPitch relief authority is 0.3; roll relief authority is 0.14. These retained estimates are not derived from measured Cheyenne trim-tab geometry.
Autopilot and stability
Not yet reviewedThe panel options do not establish an autopilot servo-demand interface. Autopilot follow, neutral hold and surface following are disabled.
Equipment
ReviewedHydraulic landing gear, pneumatic de-icing and engine/propeller ice protection are listed by Propair Flight. Flap motion is represented from actual position changes. The add-on’s detent schedule has not been established, so discrete step, index-gated buffet and flap-drag cues are off.
Speeds and limits
ReviewedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
Not yet reviewedThe profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
InheritedThe settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
Starting settings and their rationale
These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe baseline spring is 0.74. The low-speed blend rises from 20 to 90 KIAS, while aerodynamic loading uses a 190-KIAS reference and 0.68 gain. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.68 | What it controls and whyThe 0.68 aerodynamic-load gain uses an inherited 190-KIAS tuning reference. Neither value is a published Cheyenne hand-force measurement. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value190.0 kt | What it controls and whyThe inherited 190-KIAS reference sets the aerodynamic load scale. Propair’s 246-KCAS maximum operating speed is a separate aircraft figure. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value90 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyScales roll aerodynamic loading. The separate roll spring curve also affects total axis balance. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyStandard trim relief is enabled with valid telemetry. Its pitch/roll authorities remain inherited estimates; exact Propair trim range and sign await installed checks. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThe panel options do not establish an autopilot servo-demand interface. Autopilot follow, neutral hold and surface following are disabled. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 47 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe baseline spring is 0.74. The low-speed blend rises from 20 to 90 KIAS, while aerodynamic loading uses a 190-KIAS reference and 0.68 gain. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.05 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.68 | What it controls and whyThe 0.68 aerodynamic-load gain uses an inherited 190-KIAS tuning reference. Neither value is a published Cheyenne hand-force measurement. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value20 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value90 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value190.0 kt | What it controls and whyThe inherited 190-KIAS reference sets the aerodynamic load scale. Propair’s 246-KCAS maximum operating speed is a separate aircraft figure. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whyAdds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value5 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyScales roll aerodynamic loading. The separate roll spring curve also affects total axis balance. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyStandard trim relief is enabled with valid telemetry. Its pitch/roll authorities remain inherited estimates; exact Propair trim range and sign await installed checks. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyPitch relief authority is 0.3; roll relief authority is 0.14. These retained estimates are not derived from measured Cheyenne trim-tab geometry. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.14 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThe panel options do not establish an autopilot servo-demand interface. Autopilot follow, neutral hold and surface following are disabled. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.28 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyFlap buffet is off because the exact add-on position and speed schedule has not been established. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.42 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.32 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.82 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyReverse-thrust vibration is off; a reverse-thrust telemetry mapping has not been qualified. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.06 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whyThe 0.12 gain supplies texture only during observed flap movement. It does not assign a flap detent or published extension speed. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
| Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe discrete flap-step cue is off pending review of the actual add-on detent schedule. |
Limits and open questions
- No installed-aircraft match or physical force acceptance is claimed.
- Standard pitch/roll trim feel and relief retain the core parent's starting estimates; exact geometry and response remain unmeasured.
- The published G1000 and analog panel options do not establish an autopilot servo-demand interface. Autopilot and surface following remain disabled.
- Continuous flap-motion/arrival textures use actual position changes. Discrete flap-step, index-based buffet and flap drag cues remain off until the add-on schedule is reviewed.
- The inherited numerical force settings are not Cheyenne III hand-force measurements.
- Observed simulator titles without the developer name are library aliases or manual selections. Developer-prefixed matching tests do not establish acceptance of installed telemetry titles.
Physical validation
No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.
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