EAA Sport Aviation - January 2010

With more than 40,000 aircraft produced over a 50-year period, an enormous variety of PA-28s is available to choose from. A quick review of listings at GlobalPlaneSearch.com shows 884

aircraft for sale with prices starting at just around $20,000 for basic, high-time Cherokee 140s, extending well beyond $300,000 for new Archers and Arrows complete with modern glass cockpits. With more than 200 PA-28s in the $20,000 to $40,000 price bracket, it’s a popular choice for those who are on a limited budget but love to fly.

Since the first aircraft was delivered in April 1961, more than 34,000 PA- 28 Cherokees in its many versions have been produced. A further 7,000 examples of its larger brother, the PA- 32, have been produced. Two models of the PA- 28 remain in production by Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach (the PA-28-161 Warrior and the PA-28R-201 Arrow III), and Piper Aircraft has announced plans to re-introduce the PA-28-181 Archer III in fall of 2010.

Conceived by some of the greatest minds in light aircraft design, the Cherokee has been enjoyed by pilots around the world for the past half-century. It has provided the basis for more than a dozen important single- and twin-engine aircraft that are used for every conceivable purpose, from training and air racing to recreational, agricultural, commercial, and even military flying. Its reputation as one of the most important aircraft ever built already achieved, the Cherokee is destined to be one of those classic designs that will be around in another half-century. Happy 50th birthday, PA- 28!

Kent Misegades is president of EAA Chapter 1114 and a member of IAC 19 and VAA 3 chapters.

A common set of qualities apply to pretty much the entire range of aircraft. Flight performance is solid, if unspectacular; Cherokees are generally easy to fly and land, make decent cross-country airplanes, proven in the training environment, and are a good platform for instrument flight. PA-28s are also economical to operate and relatively cheap to insure. Piper parts are plentiful and reasonably priced, and there are plenty of salvage parts available. For fixer-uppers, there is a large aftermarket industry o;ering a variety of improvements for everything from increased horsepower to wheel fairings to hand controls for paraplegic pilots.

EVENTS IN ;;;;

June 16-19 / Sentimental Journey 2010 Fly-In / Lock Haven, PA / www.SentimentalJourneyFly-In.com

June 24-26 / National Cherokee;Fly-In / Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, MO / www.CherokeeFlyIn.org

July 7-11 / 50th Birthday Party at the Fourth Annual West Coast Cherokee Fly-In / held in conjunction with the Arlington Fly-In / Arlington, Washington / Cherokee Fly-In: www.CPA- W.org / Arlington Fly-In: www.ArlingtonFlyIn.org

The PA- 28’s sturdy design has stood the test of time and there are few major ADs that a;ect the aircraft. Cherokee owners were shocked in May 1987 when the FAA issued an Emergency AD 87-8-8 requiring the removal of the wings of most PA-28s in service to inspect their spars, after an aircraft used for pipeline patrol had su;ered a wing failure in flight. Upon further review and with the assistance of Piper, the authorities in November 1987 rescinded the AD for all Cherokees except those in high-time or hard-used aircraft.

July 23 / Cherokees to Oshkosh / mass arrival at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010 of 50 Cherokees at 1 PM / www.Cherokees2OSH.com / www.AirVenture.org / sponsored by Piper Flyer Association: www.PiperFlyer.org

July 23-25 / Annual Piper Flyer Gathering / Waupaca, Wisconsin, airport / sponsored by Piper Flyer Association: www.PiperFlyer.org

A rare photo of N9315R, the first PA- 28 Cherokee, which made its maiden flight in Vero Beach on January 14, 1960, with Thomas F. He;ner, the company’s chief test pilot, at the controls.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PA;;;s Owned and Flown by EAA Members

Some common maintenance issues to look for in a pre-purchase inspection include corrosion in the wing structure, skin and spar, and complications from leaking battery acid under the rear seat.