Piper PA-28 Cherokee

Unpressurized all-metal civil utility aircraft

Overview

Piper United States ICAO: PA28 1961–Present $500,000 (2019)

The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is designed and produced by Piper Aircraft as a two to four-seat civil utility aircraft introduced in 1960. It was an unpressurized light aircraft with an all-metal structure, single-piston engine, low wings, and tricycle undercarriage. Produced from 1961 up to the present, the PA-28 is used as a personal aircraft, as well as for flight training and air taxi.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Lycoming O-320-E2A
Engine type
Piston
Power
150 hp · 112 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
4
Crew
—
Cabin width
3 ft 4 in  ·  1.01 m
Cabin height
3 ft 7 in  ·  1.09 m
Cabin length
8 ft 2 in  ·  2.50 m
Exterior length
23 ft 4 in  ·  7.10 m
Tail height
7 ft 3 in  ·  2.22 m
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 9 in  ·  1.15 m
Wing span
30 ft 0 in  ·  9.14 m
Baggage volume
21 ft³  ·  0.6 m³
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
2,150 lb  ·  1,000 kg
Max landing weight
2,150 lb  ·  1,000 kg
Max payload
950 lb  ·  400 kg
Fuel capacity
50 gal · 200 L · 100 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
108 kt  ·  124 mph  ·  200 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
47 kt  ·  54 mph  ·  87 km/h
Range
465 nm  ·  540 mi  ·  860 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
14,300 ft  ·  4,400 m
Rate of climb
660 ft/min  ·  3 m/s
Takeoff distance
1,650 ft  ·  500 m
Landing distance
1,850 ft  ·  560 m
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Piper PA-28 Cherokee ‘PH-TYD’

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Operational Context

In 1960, the first PA-28 was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration type certification. Aircraft production started from 1961 up to this day. Designed as a more economical substitute to the PA-24 Comanche, the PA-28 Cherokee has lesser manufacturing costs and cheaper parts that enable it to contest against the high-wing Cessna 172.

In 1961, the production of the original Cherokees designated as PA-28-150 and PA-28-160 began. In 1962, the manufacturing company built the PA-28-180 fitted with a Lycoming O-360 engine rated at 180 horsepower. The additional power enabled it to efficiently fly with four persons on board. In 1968, modifications were added such as a third window on each side and the cockpit of the aircraft was improved from push-pull engine throttle controls to quadrant levers.

In 1964, the Pa-28-140 Cherokee was introduced. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2A four-cylinder, air-cooled, horizontally-opposed piston engine rated at 150 horsepower and driven by Sensenich M74DM propellers. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 123 knots, a cruise speed of 108 knots, and a stall speed of 47 knots.

The travel range is 465 nautical miles. It can fly up to 14,300 feet and can climb at a rate of 660 feet per minute. It has a takeoff distance of 502 meters and a landing distance of 564 meters. The maximum takeoff and landing weight are both 975 kg. It has a maximum payload of 421 kg and a fuel capacity of 50 gallons.

The Cherokee 140 has an external length of 7.1 meters, an external height of 1.5 meters, a tail height of 2.22 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.15 meters. It has a wheelbase of 1.9 meters, a wingspan of 9.14 meters, and a wing area of 15 square meters.

In 1967, the PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow was built. It was equipped with a constant-speed propeller and retractable undercarriage. The version was fitted with a Lycoming IO-360-B1E engine rated at 180 horsepower. Several other versions were produced afterward.

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