PT-RFT

PT-RFT is a Piper PA-31T3-500 T-1040, a twin-engine turboprop. SkyMeter has tracked 102 flights totalling 96 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is SBFL to SBFL. Service window in our records spans 370 days. The Piper PA-31T3-500 T-1040 has a 43 ft wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 9,000 lb.

About the Piper PA-31T3-500 T-1040

The Piper PA-44 Seminole is a light twin-engine trainer that has served as the primary multi-engine platform for commercial pilot certification since its introduction in 1978. Built as a twin-engine derivative of the PA-28 Cherokee Archer, the Seminole features counter-rotating propellers (a rarity in its class) that eliminate critical engine concerns and simplify single-engine handling for student pilots. Powered by two Lycoming O-360 engines producing 180 horsepower each, it cruises at around 160 knots and offers a service ceiling near 17,000 feet, making it capable enough for real-world light cargo and charter work while remaining forgiving for training operations.

Though not designed for records or headlines, the Seminole carved out a lasting niche by being predictable, maintainable, and exactly complex enough to teach the fundamentals of multi-engine flight without overwhelming new pilots. Its docile stall characteristics and benign single-engine performance made it the go-to twin for flight schools worldwide, and thousands of airline pilots earned their multi-engine ratings behind its yoke. Beyond training, operators have found the PA-44 useful for light freight, aerial survey, and charter missions where twin-engine redundancy matters more than speed or payload.

SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.