The Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain is an all-metal low-wing twin-engine business aircraft for
up to 10 passengers. Piper Aircraft Corporation developed the PA-31 Navajo in the early 1960s.
The first prototype PA-31 flew first on 30 September 1964. The production model PA-31-310, powered
by two 230kW turbo-charged Lycoming TIO-540-A1A engines, entered production in 1967. In 1971,
development of a stretched version of the Navajo with a maximum seating for 10 passengers began and
this design was introduced as Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in 1973. The PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
(later renamed Chieftain) is powered by two 260kW Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD turbo-charged engines. Deliveries
of the PA-31-350 Chieftain began in 1974. 1827 Chieftain were built.
Fast-Eelde bv, "Frisian Air Service Transport" was founded in 1977. Their first aircraft, the Navajo Chieftain PH-AST,
ex N63722, was registered on 7 March 1977. The first commercial flight out of Groningen
Airport Eelde in the Netherlands by Fast-Eelde bv was made on 14 April 1977. Their Navajo
Chieftain PH-AST flew to Odense in Denmark. On 16 March 1981, the company was renamed Fast
Airways Holland bv. Over the years the fleet increased to four Piper PA-31 Navajo's. In January 1984, Fast
Airways Holland bv had to end it's activities when the well known Dutch
financier Mr. Maup Caransa took back his interest in Fast Airways and sold the aircraft to
Rijnmond Air Services. Without aircraft but with the contract to fly the regular service
Groningen-Rotterdam on behalf of the PTT a new company: Quick Airways bv was established.
Quick Airways started its operations in 1984. As Fast Airways did, they flew the regular
service Groningen-Rotterdam, first with leased aircraft.
The 1977-built Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain c/n 31-7752046 was registered N63722 in the USA. On 7 March 1977,
the Piper Navajo Chieftain was registered PH-AST with Netherlands European Air Services BV, Rotterdam. On 20 October 1977,
FAST-Eelde BV, Eelde, was registered as owner. On 16 March 1981, the registered owner name changed to FAST Airways Holland BV.
Chieftain PH-AST was registered with Rijnmond Air Services BV, Rotterdam, on 25 January 1984. XP Airlines BV, Beek, became
the registered owner of the Piper on 27 December 1985. The aircraft returned to Rijnmond Air Services BV and was registered on
30 June 1989. After the CofA expired on 17 June 2002, registration PH-AST was cancelled on 2 December 2003. The airframe
still exists and was transferred to Panther Aviation BV on 1 October 2007.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
