Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee

Piper introduced the PA-28-140 in 1964 as a low-cost four-seat trainer with a Lycoming O-320 engine derated to 140 horsepower. The derating was a marketing decision to position the airplane as a trainer rather than a cruiser. In 1965 Piper removed the derating restriction, and the airplane became a full 150 hp single with the same O-320-E2A engine that powered other Cherokees in the era. The 140 designation stayed for the rest of production.

Production iterated through model years with steady refinements but no major engineering changes. The original 1964-1972 aircraft had the hershey-bar wing (constant chord, straight leading and trailing edges). Piper introduced the Cherokee Cruiser in 1973 (essentially a 140 with optional equipment packages) and continued the line through 1977. Total production was over 10,000 aircraft, making the 140 one of the highest-production GA airplanes ever built.

Piper replaced the 140 with the Warrior (PA-28-161) in 1977. The Warrior used a more refined tapered wing and slightly more horsepower. The Cherokee 140 became a used-market-only buy after 1977. The fleet that survives is large enough to support good parts and shop availability. Piper Owner Society and Piper Flyer Association both cover the 140.

The Cherokee 140 cruises at about 108 KTAS at 75% power, burning 7.5 gph of 100LL. At long-range cruise (65%), the airplane drops to about 100 KTAS on 6.5 gph. Performance is comparable to a Cessna 152 (slightly faster cruise, similar fuel burn) and slower than a Cessna 172 by roughly 12 to 15 knots. The hershey-bar wing is more drag-heavy than later tapered-wing PA-28 variants.

Useful load on a Cherokee 140 is about 850 to 900 pounds. Full fuel (50 gallons usable) leaves about 550 pounds for people and bags. Two adults plus modest luggage fits within gross. Four adults of typical weight requires partial fuel and minimal bags. The airplane's four-seat designation is technically accurate but practically tight. Range with reserves is about 500 nm at long-range cruise. Service ceiling is 14,300 ft on paper, but the 150 hp engine gets thin above 7,000 ft DA at gross weight.

The Lycoming O-320-E2A is the engine on every Cherokee 140 from 1965 onward. It's a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, direct-drive piston rated at 150 hp at 2,700 RPM. Lycoming's published TBO is 2,000 hours per Lycoming Service Instruction 1009 BE. The O-320-E2A is one of the most-produced Lycoming engines and has universal parts and shop support.

Field overhauls at Penn Yan, Gann Aviation, or other reputable Lycoming shops run $28,000 to $38,000 in 2026 prices. The O-320 is among the cheapest four-cylinder Lycomings to overhaul. The 1964 derated models used the same engine with installation differences. Conversion paperwork between the derated and full-power configurations is documented in the FAA records.

Oil consumption on a healthy O-320-E2A runs about 0.15 to 0.25 quarts per hour. The engine reaches TBO routinely when operated regularly. Cherokee 140s with engines past TBO running on-condition are common in the fleet. Carbureted (no fuel injection on the 140), simple ignition, and the proven O-320 architecture make the 140's engine economics among the most predictable in GA.

Plan on $95 to $135 per flight hour at 75 hours a year of utilization, all-in. The Cherokee 140 is among the cheapest certified airplanes to operate. Fuel and oil run about $42 to $56 per hour at 7.5 gph and $5.50 to $7 for 100LL. Engine overhaul reserve is $14 to $19 per hour based on a $28,000 to $38,000 overhaul amortized across the 2,000-hour TBO. Airframe maintenance reserve is $10 to $18 per hour.

Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add another $30 to $55 per hour at 75 hours a year of utilization. Insurance on the 140 is friendly. Hull values are low. First-time owners with private pilot certificates pay $1,500 to $3,000 a year typically. Partnership ownership works well. Two or three pilots sharing a 140 can put the per-hour cost into the $75 to $105 range at 100+ flight hours per year per pilot.

Acquisition cost in mid-2026 runs $30,000 to $65,000 for flyable Cherokee 140s. Earlier 1964-1967 aircraft with mid-time engines and steam-gauge panels trade $25,000 to $45,000. Later 1968-1977 aircraft with fresh engines and modern Garmin panel upgrades run $45,000 to $65,000. Project airplanes (not currently flying) trade as low as $15,000 to $25,000.

Piper Owner Society and Piper Flyer Association both cover the Cherokee 140. Combined annual membership runs about $130. The 140 has decades of accumulated type-club knowledge. Most maintenance questions and pre-buy decisions benefit from consulting the type-club community.