Photograph:
Piper PA-28RT-201T Arrow VH-MJY (c/n 28R-7931211) at Broken Hill, NSW in August 1985 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Light cabin touring monoplane
Power Plant:
One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)
- Length: 7.52 m (24 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 15.8 m² (170 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 282 km/h (175 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 265 km/h (165 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 241 km/h (150 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 254 m/min (831 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 4,950 m (16,200 ft)
- Range at 265 km/h (165 mph): 1,500 km (932 miles)
- Max range at 241 km/h (150 mph): 1,610 km (1,000 miles)
- Empty weight: 711 kg (1,568 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,247 kg (2,750 lb)
History:
The Cherokee Arrow, which was added to the Cherokee range of light touring aircraft in June 1967, was virtually a retractable-undercarriage variant of the fixed-undercarriage Cherokee. The first model of the Arrow was the PA-28-180R, which was similar to the PA-28-180 Cherokee D, except for the installation of a retractable undercarriage. These aircraft also had additional windows. Subsequent development led to the Cherokee Arrow II, which introduced the 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 engine.
Early versions had the old parallel Cherokee wing and the Arrow III replaced the Arrow II in the range in 1977. In that year the PA-28R-201 Arrow III and the PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III appeared and these two, as with the remainder of the Cherokee range, introduced a new tapered wing to improve the handling characteristics of the type, increased fuel capacity for greater range, and some interior improvements. Accommodation was provided for four individual seats front and rear, and baggage allowance was 91 kg (210 lb).
The PA-28R-201T Arrow III was later added to the range. Fitted with a 149 kw (200 hp) Continental TSIO-360-F turbo-super-charged four-cylinder engine, it could cruise economically at 284 km/h (177 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft) for 1,590 km (988 miles). Fuel capacity was 292 litres (64 Imp gals). The new engine was enclosed in a re-designed engine cowling and gave this model higher performance than any of the other models, the engine being basically transferred from the Seneca II.
In 1979 further new versions were designated PA-28R-201 Arrow IV and the PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow IV. Similar to the 1977 models, these introduced the new T-tail that was being incorporated through the Piper range at the time. Late in 1986 two basic models of the Arrow were available, the Custom and the Executive, both having the 149 kw (200 hp) Continental TSIO-360-FB six-cylinder turbo-charged engine which provided a cruising speed at 75% power of 319 km/h (198 mph) for a range of 1,287 km (800 miles).
Construction of the fuselage is all metal monocoque. Entry is through a single door on the port side. A few have been used by military forces around the world, including the National Civil Aviation Institute in Argentina, these aircraft being assembled by Chincul for training at the Moron Air Force Base. Four were used by the KulijLv Transport Squadron of the Finnish Airforce. In advertising brochures Piper stated ”Load up your passengers. Load up their luggage. The Turbo Arrow IV lets you go more places in less time with a greater economy than you might have thought possible.”
Production of the series ceased in 1982, resumed again in 1989 but stopped again in 1992. At this stage some 6,000 retractable-undercarriage aircraft in the Arrow series had been built, this figure mainly being made up of 81 PA-28R-180s; 1,664 PA-28R-200s and –201s; and 1,291 PA-28R-201Ts and PA-28RT-201Ts. Seventeen aircraft in the series are registered in New Zealand, and 155 in Australia.