02-13
By the time the Piper Cherokee Archer came to market in 1974 the Cherokee line had been in production for 13 years and had yielded many variations.
The Archer was the product of the “fuselage II” project which had explored options for creating an airframe with a longer fuselage than the original Cherokee. Engineers had proposed either stretching the fuselage (four inches forward and 16 inches aft of the spar was proposed) or by designing a new fuselage with a door on each side. Eventually Piper decided to go forward with the stretched version and abandoned the double-door idea as too expensive.
The stretched Cherokee received a five inch increase between the front and rear seats at the forward wing attach point. A wider door was added which, along with the extra cabin space, provided for easier ingress and egress—a feature that surveys had shown Piper customers wanted.
Initially named the Cherokee Challenger, the airframe was certified on May 22, 1972 and sales began in September of that year at a price of $16,990.
The name was changed to Cherokee Archer for the 1974 model year. That year saw improvements in nosewheel steering, a new overhead vent system and new exterior paint.
Piper built 7,455 Archers through 1975 when it was replaced by the Archer II.
Archer II & III
Piper kept the Archer fuselage for the Cherokee Archer II (PA-28-181) but added semi-tapered Warrior wings and a Warrior tail. The Warrior wing was modified with hinged ailerons instead of aerodynamically balanced ones. It received a new engine—the Lycoming O-360-A4M—and had a three mph increase in speed and a 100-pound increase in gross weight.
The Cherokee was dropped from the name in model year 1978 and it became simply Archer II. New main and nosewheel fairings were added. Various paint, interior and avionics improvements were made in subsequent model years. In 1999 the King avionics were replaced with Garmin units.
The Archer III came to market in 1995 for $144,900. It featured an axisymmetric cowl with circular inlets, a new metal panel, 28 volt electrics and other improvements.
Archer LX & TX
Although its Cherokee siblings have fallen by the wayside, the Archer continues in production today. Piper’s new Archer LX comes standard with a Garmin G500 avionics suite, 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A4M and leather interior. Base price is $
The TX comes with a simulated leather interior and is directed at the flight training market.
Ready, Set, Fly
The Archer has always seen service as a dependable and sturdy training platform, and in 2012 Piper announced a new program to help aspiring pilots get their flight training and their new Piper in one neat package.
The idea behind “Ready, Set, Fly” is simple: buy a new Archer LX and receive your private pilot certificate for free through the program.
The program addresses obstacles that new pilots face as identified in a recent AOPA study. Those obstacles include time and scheduling issues, lack of quality instruction and concerns about the quality and condition of training aircraft. Those looking to buy a new plane with which to get their certificate should check into Ready, Set, Fly.
When asked at Sun ‘n Fun last year if there were plans for a new Piper trainer, Simon Caldecott, Piper CEO answered: “Why would I create something new when I already have the best single-engine trainer on the market—the Piper Archer.”
Piper has an affinity for getting the most out of its tried-and-true airframes, and the Archer is no exception.
Archer TX Specificiations
Powerplant
Engine Lycoming O-360-A4M
Horsepower 180 hp
Number of Cylinders 4
TBO 2,000 hours
Propeller Sensenich, 2 Blade, fixed-pitch
Dimensions
Wing Span 35.5 feet
Length 24.0 feet
Height 7.3 feet
Weights
Maximum Takeoff Weight 2,550 pounds
Maximum Ramp Weight 2,558 pounds
Standard Equipped Weight 1,688 pounds
Standard Useful Load 870 pounds
Fuel Capacity
Usable: 48 US gallons
Cruising Speed
75 Percent Power 128 ktas
Range with 45-Minute Reserve 522 nm
Service Ceiling 14,100 feet
Takeoff Distance
Ground Roll: 1,135 feet
Total Over 50-foot Obstacle: 1,608 feet
Landing Distance
Ground Roll: 920 feet
Total Over 50-foot Obstacle: 1,400 feet
Jennifer Dellenbusch is president of the Piper Flyer Association. Send questions or comments to editor@www.piperflyer.com.
