Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee (1963-75)

Piper introduced the PA-28-180 Cherokee in 1963 as the higher-power four-seat variant of the original PA-28-160. The 180 swapped the Lycoming O-320 for the larger Lycoming O-360-A4A at 180 hp, with corresponding increases in useful load and cruise performance. Same airframe, same panel, same hershey-bar wing as the smaller Cherokees. The 180 designation became Piper's main four-seat trainer and family-aircraft product for over a decade.

Production iterated through model years with steady refinements but no major engineering changes. Variants included the Cherokee Challenger (1973-1974) which added cabin and equipment refinements, and the Cherokee Archer (1974-1975) which introduced minor cosmetic updates. The 180 model designation continued through 1975 even as the airplane evolved slightly. Total PA-28-180 production was about 5,200 aircraft.

In 1976 Piper replaced the PA-28-180 with the PA-28-181 Archer II, which used a refined tapered wing for better cruise efficiency and slightly different cabin features. The PA-28-180 line ended after 1975 and the 180 model designation was retired. The Archer (PA-28-181) we cover separately. The PA-28-180 remains a popular used-market four-seat single, particularly for buyers who specifically want the hershey-bar wing or who can find a 180 at meaningful price discount to comparable Archers.

The Cherokee 180 cruises at about 117 KTAS at 75% power, burning 9.5 gph of 100LL. At long-range cruise (65%), the airplane drops to about 108 KTAS on 8 gph. The 180 is meaningfully faster than the 140 and 150 (about 5 to 8 knots) and slightly slower than the 1976+ Archer II (the tapered-wing Archer is about 5 knots faster on the same fuel burn). The hershey-bar wing is honest but inefficient at cruise.

Useful load on a Cherokee 180 is about 1,000 to 1,050 pounds. Full fuel (50 gallons usable) leaves about 700 to 750 pounds for people and bags. Four adults of typical weight plus light luggage fit comfortably within gross. The 180's useful load is meaningfully better than the 140 and 150/160 variants because of the larger engine producing more power for less weight differential. Range with reserves is about 550 nm at long-range cruise. Service ceiling is 14,150 ft on paper.

The Lycoming O-360-A4A is the engine on every PA-28-180 Cherokee. It's a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, direct-drive piston rated at 180 hp at 2,700 RPM. Lycoming's published TBO is 2,000 hours per Lycoming Service Instruction 1009 BE. The O-360 family is one of the most-produced four-cylinder Lycomings ever built. Parts and shop support are universal.

Field overhauls at Penn Yan, Gann Aviation, or other reputable Lycoming shops run $30,000 to $42,000 in 2026 prices. The O-360 is slightly more expensive to overhaul than the smaller O-320 but still among the cheapest four-cylinder Lycomings. Cherokee 180 owners benefit from the engine's high production volume and the universal shop expertise.

Oil consumption on a healthy O-360-A4A runs about 0.15 to 0.25 quarts per hour. The engine reaches TBO routinely when operated regularly. Many Cherokee 180s have engines past TBO running on-condition. The carbureted four-cylinder Lycoming has the predictable maintenance economics that the broader Lycoming O-series fleet enjoys.

Plan on $115 to $165 per flight hour at 100 hours a year of utilization, all-in. The Cherokee 180 sits between the Cherokee 140 and the Archer on operating economics. Fuel and oil run about $52 to $67 per hour at 9.5 gph and $5.50 to $7 for 100LL. Engine overhaul reserve is $15 to $21 per hour based on a $30,000 to $42,000 overhaul amortized across the 2,000-hour TBO. Airframe maintenance reserve is $12 to $20 per hour.

Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add another $35 to $65 per hour at 100 hours a year of utilization. Insurance is friendly. Hull values are moderate. First-time owners pay $1,800 to $3,500 a year typically. Partnership ownership is common and the airplane supports it well.

Acquisition cost in mid-2026: A Cherokee 180 with mid-time engine and steam-gauge panel runs $50,000 to $75,000. A 180 with fresh engine and modern Garmin panel runs $75,000 to $95,000. Late-production 1973-1975 Challenger and pre-Archer variants trade at the high end of the range. Aircraft with documented engine and panel work in the last 500 hours trade at premiums over high-time examples.

Piper Owner Society covers the Cherokee 180. Annual dues are about $80. The 180 has accumulated 60+ years of fleet-specific knowledge in the type-club community, with deep technical documentation for the O-360 engine, the hershey-bar wing, and the entire PA-28 airframe family.