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.