Piper PA-28-181 Archer
Target for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer
30 to 60fpm
Full marks for descent rate up to 60 fpm; under 30 fpm the coach says the touchdown was softer than this aircraft is normally flown.
- Vref reference
- 66ktat 1,157 kg
- Tail-strike limit
- 12°the category's
- Ideal touchdown zone
- 50 to 200mpast the threshold
- G-force
- 1.10Gfull marks, the category's curve
The Piper PA-28-181 Archer is the classic 4-seat low-wing trainer/tourer, the spiritual opposite of the high-wing Cessna 172. Low wings change ground effect characteristics: the Archer floats more aggressively than a 172 and rewards precise speed control on short final.
Landing technique.
Final approach: 75 KIAS, bleeding to 65 to 70 over the threshold (POH).
Round out at 10 to 15 ft AGL, slightly later than a 172 because of the low wing.
Expect more float than a Cessna; bleed the speed before flaring fully.
Land mains first; the nose wheel is well-forward and prefers settling onto, not flying onto, the runway.
Crosswind: wing-down + opposite rudder. The low wing gives generous tip clearance even at bigger bank angles.
Common mistakes.
Treating it like a 172 in the flare, the Archer floats more and lands faster.
Late round-out leading to firm touchdown.
Hard nose-wheel touchdowns from prematurely 'flying' it onto the runway.
How its touchdown is scored.
The score at each point of its curves. Between the points, scores fall in a straight line; the full method is in the scoring methodology.
No shared landings or board for this aircraft yet. Its figures appear once pilots with a public profile have shared 5 graded landings in it, and a board once at least 5 opted-in pilots have flown it 10 or more times each. See the boards there are.
For reference.
Aircraft data
- Manufacturer
- Piper
- Model
- PA-28-181
- Variant
- Archer
- FAA approach category
- A
- MTOW
- 1,157 kg (2,551 lbs)
- Vref in flight
- Adjusted to the weight you land at
- MSFS source
- Payware (Just Flight)
- Category
- Light Single-Engine GA
Roundout recognizes it in a title that contains
Piper PA-28-181 ArcherPA-28-181 ArcherPA-28-181Archer
The rest of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee/Warrior/Archer family
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Every landing in the Piper PA-28-181 Archer, graded against these numbers. Every update included, and tax or VAT in most countries.