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Encyclopedia - Piper PA-28 Family (Cherokee / Arrow / Archer / Dakota)
In the early 1950’s Piper began investigation a replacement for the ageing PA-22 Tri Pacer, even looking at buying existing designs as the Mooney M20, the Erco Ercoupe and the Thorp Sky Scooter. In 1958 the decision was taken to design a completely new aircraft designated as the PA-28. John Thorpe and Fred Weick (designers of the Sky Scooter and Ercoupe respectively) were hired and a new factory was built at Vero Beach, Florida.
The PA-28 was to be a low-wing, fixed undercarriage, four-seat aircraft built out of the minimum number of components. The first prototype, N9315R, powered by a 112kW (150hp) engine took to the air for the first time on 10 January 1960. The designers succeed in the parts count, with only 1,200 parts compared to the 1,600 parts for the Tri Pacer and over 2,500 parts for the Comanche. The aircraft sported the latest technology, using glassfibre components for the wingtips, fin tips, and the engine cowling nosebowl. It also featured a one-piece all-moving elevator, wide-track landing gear and leading edge fuel tanks.
The first PA28 to be powered by the 119kW (160hp) Lycoming O-320-D2A piston engine (as used in the production aircraft) first flew in the spring of 1960, and certification for the Cherokee was granted on 31 October 1960. The first production aircraft flew on 10 February 1961. Initially two versions were available : the Cherokee 150 with a 112kW (150hp) Lycoming O-320-A2A engine and the Cherokee 160 with the -D2A engine. Cockpit and cabin trim came out in Standard, Custom, Super Custom and Autoflite, the latter having a simple autopilot system. August 1962 saw the addition of the 134kW (180hp) Lycoming O-360-A2A Cherokee 180 to the family.
On 19 June 1967 Piper announced the first retractable undercarriage variant of the Cherokee, namely the PA-28R Arrow. It was powered by a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360-A2A engine driving a constant speed propeller. The undercarriage was electro-hydraulically operated, and the Arrow was certified on 8 June 1967. The Arrow II was powered by the Lycoming IO-360-CC engine.
In 1972 Piper launched a stretched version of the Cherokee 180, its fuselage lengthened by 12.7cm (5in) to improve legroom for the rear passengers. It also featured a 0.6m (2ft) increase in wingspan, a larger tailplane, a wider door and a 23kg (50lb) increase in maximum take-off weight. This variant was the Cherokee Challenger, but this title was changed later that year to the Cherokee Archer.
After filing for bankruptcy in 1991, The New Piper Aircraft Company was launched in 1996. It currently produces the Warrior III, the Archer III and the Arrow. More than 30,000 PA-28’s have been built up to date.
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