ICAO P28A

Piper PA-28 (up to 180 hp)

Piper

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Classic light piston trainer and personal aircraft.

First flight

1960

Category

Piston light aircraft

Seating

3–4

Range

~1,000 km

Engines

One Lycoming four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine (up to 180 hp)

Status

In service

The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of single-engine, low-wing, light general aviation aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft. The variants producing up to 180 hp include the PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160, and PA-28-180, powered by Lycoming four-cylinder horizontally opposed engines. These aircraft feature a fixed tricycle undercarriage, all-metal construction, and a distinctive constant-chord 'Hershey bar' wing design. Introduced in 1961, the PA-28 was designed as a simpler, easier-to-produce competitor to the Cessna 172. It quickly became a popular choice for flight training schools and private owners worldwide due to its docile handling characteristics and straightforward systems. The ICAO designator P28A covers these lower-powered variants. The type remains widely used in flight training operations globally and continues to be supported with parts and maintenance, making it one of the most common light aircraft still active today.

Notable operators

Operated predominantly by flight training schools and private owners worldwide; no major commercial airline operators.

Notable facts

›The original PA-28-140 Cherokee was designed to be a low-cost alternative to the Cessna 172.
›Early variants feature a distinctive constant-chord 'Hershey bar' wing, later replaced by a tapered wing in some models.
›Thousands of PA-28 variants have been produced since 1961, making it one of the most numerous light aircraft types.
›The fixed tricycle undercarriage and low-wing layout offer good ground stability and easy entry.
›The type is a common first aircraft for student pilots in the United States, Europe, and Australia.