Piper PA-28 Cherokee Series

United States of America

Two and four seat light aircraft

The initial PA-28-150 and PA-28-160 Cherokees were introduced in 1961 as replacements for Piper's PA-22 TriPacer and Colt. Unlike the PA-22 series the new PA-28 was a low wing design with metal construction. The prototype Cherokee was powered by a 120kW (160hp) engine, and flew for the first time on January 14 1960. Production aircraft were powered by either 110kW (150hp) or 120kW (160hp) engines and were delivered from early 1961. From 1962 a 135kW (180hp) version was added to the lineup. The 127kW (235hp) flat six Lycoming O-540 powered Cherokee 235 was introduced in 1963, while the two seat trainer optimised Colt replacement PA-28-140 entered the marketplace in 1964. With these models the basic PA-28 lineup was in place (the retractable PA-28R and larger PA-32 are described separately). Subsequent variants include the Cherokee B and Cherokee C, the 180D, 235C, 140 Flite Liner two seat trainer PA-28-140, -180F, -235E, PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger and PA-28-235 Cherokee Charger, the PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer and PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder, PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior which introduced the new tapered wing that would become a feature of subsequent PA-28s, PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II and PA-28-236 Dakota (the Cherokee prefix was later dropped for the Archer II and Warrior), the PA-28-161 Warrior II, PA-28-201T Turbo Dakota and PA-28-161 Cadet. Small numbers of Warriors, Dakotas and Archers were built in the early 1990s. The PA-28-181 Archer III, which features a new, streamlined cowling, was introduced in 1994. The 1999 models gained new paint, improved interior and a new avionics package. The PA-28-161 Warrior III features a new instrument panel and was introduced in late 1994. Since 1995 Piper has had new owners, and the brand has enjoyed a strong resurgence.

PA-28-161 Warrior II - One 110kW (160hp) Lycoming O-320-A2B flat four piston engine driving a two blade fixed pitch propeller. PA-28-181 Archer III - One 135kW (180hp) Textron Lycoming O-360-A4M flat four.

PA-28-161 - Max speed 235km/h (127kt), max cruising speed 233km/h (126kt), long range cruising speed 195km/h (105kt). Initial rate of climb 644ft/min. Service ceiling 11,000ft. Max range with reserves 1185km (637nm). PA-28-181 - Max speed 246km/h (133kt), normal cruising speed 237km/h (128kt). Initial rate of climb 692ft/min. Service ceiling 14,100ft. Range with reserves at 75% power 822km (444nm), at 55% power 966km (522nm).

PA-28-161 - Empty 613kg (1352lb), max takeoff 1105kg (2440lb). PA-28-181 - Empty equipped 766kg (1689lb), max takeoff 1155kg (2550lb).

PA-28-161 - Wing span 10.67m (35ft 0in), length overall 7.25m (23ft 10in), height 2.22m (7ft 4in). Wing area 15.8m2 (170sq ft). PA-28-181 - Same except length 7.32m (24ft 0in).

Seating for four, two in some dedicated trainer versions.

By end 2004, over 30,200 fixed undercarriage PA-28 Cherokee series were built, including 10,089 PA-28-140s, 7455 PA-28-150/160/180s, 4256 PA-28-181s, 5504 PA-28-151/161s, 2856 PA-28-235/236s and 91 PA-28-201Ts.

Piper PA-28 Cherokee Series