TYPE: Four-seat lightplane.

PROGRAMME: As replacement for Cherokee 140 series, Piper redesigned airframe with several refinements, including fuselage stretch and new wing; first flight of prototype PA-28-151 17 October 1972; FAA certification 9 August 1973; PA-28-161 Warrior II first flown 27 August 1976; two/four-seat Cadet trainer version introduced April 1988, but no longer in production; Warrior III introduced late 1994.

CUSTOMERS: Five delivered in 1996, seven in 1997, 20 in 1998, 25 in 1999, 43 in 2000, 32 in 2001, 29 in 2002, and 22 in the first nine months of 2003. Piper has built some 30,000 of PA-28 series since prototype Cherokee flew on 10 January 1960. Recent customers include the University of North Dakota, which ordered eight in April 2003.

COSTS: Standard equipped price US$175,300 (2003).

DESIGN FEATURES: Classic tourer and trainer. Low, moderately tapered wing (with root glove) and low-set tailplane; sweptback fin.
NACA 652-415 wing section on inboard panels, Mod No. 5 of NACA TN 2228 on leading-edge of outboard panels; dihedral 7°, incidence 2° at root, -1° at tip; sweepback at quarter-chord 5°.

FLYING CONTROLS: Manual. Conventional ailerons and rudder, plus all-moving tailplane with combined anti-servo and trim tab. Four-position manually operated flaps.

STRUCTURE: Conventional light alloy, with semi-monocoque fuselage, single-spar wings and ribbed light alloy skins on fin and tailplane; glass fibre nose cowl and wing/tailplane/fintips.

LANDING GEAR: Non-retractable tricycle type. Steerable nosewheel. Piper oleo-pneumatic shock-absorbers; single wheel on each unit. Cleveland wheels with tyres size 6.00-6 (4 ply) on main units, pressure 1.65 bar (24 lb/sq in). Cleveland nosewheel and tyre size 5.00-5 (4 ply), pressure 2.06 bar (30 lb/sq in). Cleveland disc brakes. Parking brake. Glass fibre speed fairings standard.

POWER PLANT: One 119 kW (160 hp) Textron Lycoming O-320-D3G flat-four engine, driving a Sensenich 74DM6-0-60 two-blade fixed-pitch metal propeller. Fuel in two wing tanks, with total capacity of 189 litres (50.0 US gallons; 41.6 Imp gallons), of which 181.5 litres (48.0 US gallons; 40.0 Imp gallons) are usable. Refuelling point on upper surface of each wing. Oil capacity 7.5 litres (2.0 US gallons; 1.7 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION: Four persons in pairs in enclosed cabin. Individual horizontally adjustable front seats with seat belts and shoulder harnesses; bench-type rear seat with seat belts and shoulder harnesses. Dual controls standard. Large door on starboard side. Baggage compartment at rear of cabin, with external baggage door on starboard side. Heating, ventilation and windscreen defrosting standard.

SYSTEMS: Hydraulic system for brakes only. Electrical system powered by 28 V 60 A engine-driven alternator. 24 V 10 Ah battery standard.

AVIONICS: Standard and optional Advanced packages by Garmin/Meggitt, as described.
Comms: Standard: Garmin GNS-430 com/nav/IFR GPS; GMA-340 audio panel with marker beacon lights and four-position intercom; GTX-320 transponder; ELT; avionics master switch; cabin speaker; Telex 100T microphone and Airman 760 headset. Advanced Training Group: as above but with dual GNS-430.
Flight: Standard: GI-106A VOR/LOC/GS/GPS indicator; Narco AR-850 altitude reporter. Advanced package as above, plus dual GNS-430 and GI-106A and single RCR 650D ADF with IND 650A indicator.
Instrumentation: Piper true airspeed indicator, magnetic compass, sensitive altimeter, gyro horizon, directional gyro, rate of turn indicator, rate of climb indicator, OAT gauge, digital ammeter, electric clock, annunciator panel with push-to-test, recording tachometer, three-way oil temperature/pressure and fuel-pressure gauge, dual fuel quantity gauges and vacuum gauge.

EQUIPMENT: Standard equipment includes engine hour recorder, alternate static source, heated pitot head, colour co-ordinated control wheels, internally lit rocker switches, external power receptacle, electrical engine primer system, instrument panel lighting package, cabin dome light, navigation lights, landing/taxying light, wingtip Comet strobe lights, avionics dimming switch, pilot's and co-pilot's vertically adjustable seats in fabric and vinyl with magazine storage pockets on backs, rear bench seat, four floor-mounted cabin fresh-air vents, vinyl cabin side panels, wall-to-wall carpet and headliner, crew armrests, pilot's storm window, two sun visors, two map pockets, 'Quietised' soundproofing, carpeted baggage compartment with security straps, halon fire extinguisher, tiedown points, jack pads, static discharge wicks, and DuPont Imron polyurethane exterior paint in base colour with two contrasting trim stripes. Meggitt electric trim, carburettor ice director, second altimeter, two-tone base colour exterior paint and foreign certification gross weight kit optional.