Piper PA-28R Arrow
Piper Aircraft · United States · first flew 1967 · light aircraft
The PA-28R Arrow is the retractable-gear member of the PA-28 family, offering 30 km/h more cruise than the fixed-gear Warrior on the same airframe and serving as the PPL/IR step-up aircraft at flying schools.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.52 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Retractable tricycle undercarriage — the single most decisive visual identifier; wheel-well doors and cutouts visible on wing undersurface, absent on fixed-gear Warrior and Archer
- Lycoming IO-360 fuel-injected engine with spinner of slightly larger diameter than Warrior's carburetted O-360
- Same tapered low-wing layout as Warrior/Archer but gear doors and wider nacelle behind spinner give distinct nose profile in flight
Retractable gear is the absolute identifier versus the Warrior and Archer; when gear is up the aircraft shows a smooth underside with faired wheel bays. The Arrow III variant's T-tail is an unusual secondary identifier. In flight with gear down the Arrow is nearly indistinguishable from the Warrior.
Specifications
- The Piper PA-28R Arrow has a length of 7.52 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 267 km/h (166 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 3 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Piper flew the prototype Arrow in January 1967, entering production the same year as the PA-28R-180; the Arrow II added the tapered wing in 1972 to align with the rest of the revised PA-28 family. The Arrow III (1976) brought a T-tail, later dropped on the Arrow IV (1979) which returned to the conventional tail and remains in production.
Variants
Arrow III (PA-28R-201T) introduced a T-tail, now considered a handling liability and rarely preferred; the Arrow IV (PA-28RT-201) reverted to conventional tail. The Turbo Arrow adds a turbocharged engine for altitude performance.
Where you'll see it
UK flying schools use the Arrow as the complex/retractable-gear rating aircraft for PPL holders working towards an instrument rating; it is common at clubs adjacent to busy airspace where speed and range matter.
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- Beagle Pup
- Bellanca Viking
- Cessna 401A
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