Piper Archer II

The Piper Archer II (PA-28-181) is the definitive step-up aircraft for pilots graduating from the Warrior or Cessna 172. Introduced in 1976, it combines the 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine with the refined semi-tapered wing, offering a significant boost in climb performance and useful load over the 150/160 hp variants. It is widely considered one of the best balanced ‘mission’ airplanes in General Aviation for small families.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• Reliable Powerplant: The Lycoming O-360-A4M is legendary for reaching its 2,000-hour TBO with minimal issues.
• Increased Payload: Unlike the Warrior, the Archer II can often carry four adults with a reasonable fuel load, thanks to its 2,550 lb MTOW.
• Tapered Wing: Provides smoother handling at low speeds and better glide characteristics than the earlier ‘Hershey Bar’ wings.
• Stable Platform: Its low-wing design and wide gear track make it exceptionally easy to land, even in gusty crosswinds.

Trade-offs

• Fixed Gear Drag: While simple and cheaper to insure, the fixed gear limits cruise speed to around 125 knots, making it slower than the retractable Arrow.
• Single Entry Door: Like most Cherokees, the single door on the co-pilot side can make cabin entry/exit a bit of a shuffle for the pilot.
• Climb at Gross: While better than the Warrior, climb performance can become marginal on ‘high, hot, and heavy’ days due to the lack of a constant-speed propeller.