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1973 PA28-180 Challenger
180 HP
Serial Number: 28-7305211
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The initial PA-28-150 and PA-28-160 Cherokees
were introduced in 1961 as replacements for
Piper's PA-22 TriPacer and Colt.
Unlike the PA-22 series the new PA-28 was a
low wing design with metal construction. The
prototype Cherokee was powered by a 120kW
(160hp) engine, and flew for the first time on
January 14 1960. Production aircraft were
powered by either 110kW (150hp) or 120kW (160hp)
engines and were delivered from early 1961.
From 1962 a 135kW (180hp) version was added
to the lineup. The 127kW (235hp) flat six
Lycoming O-540 powered Cherokee 235 was
introduced in 1963, while the two seat trainer
optimized Colt replacement PA-28-140 entered the
marketplace in 1964. With these models the basic
PA-28 lineup was in place (the retractable
PA-28R and larger PA-32 are described
separately).
Subsequent variants include the Cherokee B
and Cherokee C, the 180D, 235C, 140 Flite Liner
two seat trainer PA-28-140, -180F, -235E,
PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger and PA-28-235
Cherokee Charger, the PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer
and PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder, PA-28-151
Cherokee Warrior which introduced the new
tapered wing that would become a feature of
subsequent PA-28s, PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II
and PA-28-236 Dakota (the Cherokee prefix was
later dropped for the Archer II and Warrior),
the PA-28-161 Warrior II, PA-28-201T Turbo
Dakota and PA-28-161 Cadet.
Small numbers of Warriors, Dakotas and
Archers were built in the early 1990s. The
PA-28-181 Archer III, which features a new,
streamlined cowling, was introduced in 1994. The
1999 models gained new paint, improved interior
and a new avionics package. The PA-28-161
Warrior III features a new instrument panel and
was introduced in late 1994. Since 1995 Piper
has had new owners, and the brand has enjoyed a
strong resurgence. |
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