Ed Swakon’s 1977 Lance with the Miami skyline in the background.

Aircraft owners are forever seeking the free lunch: an airplane that carries as much as you can stuff into six seats and doesn’t burn much gas. Oh, and while we’re at it, how about a 200-knot cruise speed?

As the old saw goes, pick two. Or more likely one. The harsh truth is that airplanes that carry a lot generally don’t go fast. Piper’s Malibu may be an exception but its high price puts it in a rarified market.

And so we come to the Piper Lance and Saratoga series. This basic airframe has proven both a durable idea and robust performer, combining a number of desirable features into an affordable…