Piper Cherokee Arrow

Single Piston· 2,499 globally registered

The Piper PA-28R Cherokee Arrow is a retractable-gear variant of Piper's ubiquitous Cherokee line, introduced in 1967 to offer pilots a step-up platform with better speed and efficiency than the fixed-gear PA-28. The retractable landing gear, constant-speed propeller, and fuel-injected Lycoming engine (typically 180 or 200 horsepower depending on variant) give the Arrow a 20-knot cruise advantage over its fixed-gear siblings while maintaining the Cherokee's forgiving handling and sturdy construction. The Arrow became a staple of flight training programs worldwide, particularly for commercial and instrument rating students transitioning to complex aircraft, and remains popular in the rental and club fleet today. Piper produced the Arrow in several iterations: the original Arrow 180, the Arrow II and III with the 200-hp engine and longer fuselage, and the turbocharged Arrow IV, spanning from the late 1960s through 2009, with brief production resumptions in recent years. The type's combination of 135-knot cruise speed, 700-nautical-mile range, and relatively modest operating costs made it a sweet spot for personal cross-country travel and time-building. While not breaking any records, the Arrow carved out a niche as the accessible complex single: easier to insure and maintain than a Mooney or Bonanza, yet offering retractable-gear experience that opened doors to higher-performance aircraft. The PA-28R remains a common sight at general aviation airports across North America and Australia, where it serves flying clubs, flight schools, and private owners who value its blend of performance and practicality. SkyMeter has tracked 2,797 flights across 804 airframes and 691 operators, with Waterloo-Wellington Flying Club the largest observed operator.