Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Four-seat light touring monoplane

Power Plant:

One 175 kw (235 hp) Lycoming O-540-J3A5D four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

In 1968 the Cherokee C variant joined the Cherokee range.  Similar to the previous 150 and 160 models, this version added two more aircraft to the series: the PA-28-180 with a 134 kw (180 hp) Lycoming O-360-A3A engine, and the PA-28-235 with a 175 kw (235 hp) Lycoming O-540-B4B5 six-cylinder engine.  The latter was structurally strengthened to take the extra power, had better sound-proofing and was one of the few aircraft of the time that could carry a useful load greater than its empty weight, this model being released in August 1963.

Development and production continued until 1973 when names were given to the various Cherokee models and a re-designed wing was fitted. Whereas all previous aircraft in the Cherokee range had a constant-chord wing, the new models had a tapered aerofoil section outboard of the flaps, and a higher aspect ratio to reduce the induced drag. The fuselage was essentially the same.

As the years went by minor changes were made to models and the Cherokee 180 and 235 variants became the E and F models, in 1973 becoming known as the Cherokee Challenger and Cherokee Charger. The fuselage was lengthened by 13 cm (5 in) to provide more cabin room, larger horizontal tail surfaces, and a larger entrance door.  The Challenger was fitted with the longer wing that had been used on the Cherokee 235 Charger but after a time the names were changed to Cherokee Archer for the 134 kw (180 hp) variant and Pathfinder for the 175 kw (235 hp) model.

In 1974 a new series was released, and this included the Cherokee Warrior with a 112 kw (150 hp) Avco Lycoming O-320 engine.  It was joined by the Cherokee Archer 180 with a 134 kw (180 hp) Avco Lycoming O-360-A3A engine, the Pathfinder 235 with a 175 kw (235 hp) Avco Lycoming O-540-B4B5 engine, the Flite Liner, which was a two-seat trainer version to replace the old 140, and the Arrow with a retractable undercarriage. Development continued, and in 1977 additional variants in the range appeared, featuring a 119 kw (160 hp) engine rated for 100/130 octane aviation fuel. This model became known as the PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, an the 112 kw (150 hp) Lycoming O-320-E3D variant became the PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior.

In 1978 the PA-28-236 Dakota replaced the PA-28-235 Cherokee Cruiser in the range. The new model had the new wing and speed fairings on the undercarriage to help reduce drag, and was fitted with the 175 kw (235 hp) Lycoming O-540-J3A5D engine, giving a maximum speed of 274 km/h (170 mph).  Other related models included the PA-28-236T Turbo Dakota and PA-28-161 Cadet.  The 1987 production model was the PA-28-161 Warrior II fitted with a 119 kw (160 hp) Avco Lycoming O-320-D3G engine, which was produced in two models, the Custom and Executive.

As noted above, the Challenger replaced the Cherokee 180 on the production line; and this was replaced by the Archer in 1976 with the same basic airframe and power plant but revised equipment and avionics options.  Later again it became the PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II, and in 1978, with re-designed wings, it became the Warrior II.  Like the Warrior, the Archer II was available in two models, the Custom and Executive, the power plant being the 134 kw (180 hp) Avco Lycoming O-360-A4M.

In 1994 a company known as New Piper returned the Archer II and Dakota to low rate production, and in 1995 the PA-28-181 Archer III was also returned to production, these aircraft having some minor improvements to the cowling and interior, including a new avionics package.

In early 2013 a new variant of the PA-28-181 Archer III was released, this being the DX, an Archer TX airframe fitted with a 2.0S 116 kw (155 hp) Continental Motors Centurion diesel engine, the prototype of the new model becoming D-EPCP (c/n 2843701).