Piper Arrow vs Piper Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee and PA-28R Arrow are, at heart, the same aircraft — same fuselage width, same Hershey-bar wing on earlier models, same Piper handling feel. The Cherokee keeps its gear fixed; the Arrow adds a retractable undercarriage, a constant-speed propeller, and a 200-hp engine in place of the Cherokee's 140–180 hp fixed-pitch setup. For decades, this was the step-up path in the PA-28 world: earn your private certificate in a Cherokee, build hours, then transition to the Arrow for complex and high-performance endorsements. The question today is whether that upgrade path remains the right one.
Live Market Snapshot
Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily
- For sale now
- 196
- Median asking
- $134,945
- Range
- $79,053–$243,250
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 71
- Source marketplaces
- 15
- Model years available
- 1967–2015
- For sale now
- 602
- Median asking
- $116,400
- Range
- $59,948–$277,250
- Listed on 2+ marketplaces
- 164
- Source marketplaces
- 23
- Model years available
- 1961–2026
Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.
Safety Record
Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.
| NTSB (1982–now) | Piper Arrow | Piper Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
| All events | — | 1 |
| Serious | — | 0 |
| Fatal | — | 0 |
| Fatalities | — | 0 |
| % Fatal | — | 0% |
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec / Model | Piper Arrow | Piper Cherokee |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| Price Range | $79,053 – $243,250 | $59,948 – $277,250 |
| Category | Single Engine Piston | Single Engine Piston |
| Model Specifications | ||
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Horsepower | 200 HP | 150 HP |
| Cruise Speed | 135 kts (250 km/h) | 117 kts (217 km/h) |
| Range | 720 nm (1,333 km) | 525 nm (972 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 15,400 ft (4,694 m) | 14,300 ft (4,359 m) |
| Max Gross Weight | 2,750 lbs (1,247 kg) | 2,150 lbs (975 kg) |
| Useful Load | 940 lbs (426 kg) | 850 lbs (386 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 72.0 gal (273 L) | 50.0 gal (189 L) |
| Fuel Burn | 10.5 GPH (40 L/h) | 8.0 GPH (30 L/h) |
| TBO | 2,000 hrs | 2,000 hrs |
| Overhaul Cost | $30,000 | $28,000 |
| Annual Fixed | $18,000 | $16,000 |
| Hourly Variable | $145 | $120 |
| Engines | 1 x Piston | 1 x Piston |
Cost of Ownership
EstimatePiper Arrow
Piper Cherokee
Which Should You Buy: Piper Arrow or Piper Cherokee?
Bottom line: Choose the Cherokee for training, rental, budget touring, and any mission where simplicity matters. A well-maintained PA-28-161 Warrior or PA-28-181 Archer offers comfortable four-seat touring at low cost with a nearly indestructible maintenance ecosystem. Fixed gear means no gear-up risk, simpler preflight, and fewer items on every checklist. Choose the Arrow when you're ready to add complexity — retractable gear, constant-speed prop, and the higher-performance ceiling it unlocks — with the endorsements and currency to back it up. Safety axis: the Cherokee's fixed gear removes the single biggest source of mechanical mishaps in low-wing piston singles — inadvertent gear-up landings. Approximately 1–2% of all complex-aircraft accidents involve gear-up landings, and the Cherokee's lack of retractable gear entirely eliminates that category. For a pilot who doesn't need retractable gear for any operational reason, the fixed-gear Cherokee is the lower-risk choice by design.
Pick the Arrow if…
- Faster cruise — 135 kts vs 117 kts.
- Longer range — 720 nm vs 525 nm.
- Newer design — production from 1967 vs 1961.
- More inventory — 224 listings vs 26.
Pick the Cherokee if…
- Budget matters — from $59,948 vs $79,053, you save ~$19,105.
- Lower operating cost — ~$120/hr vs $145/hr.
Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.