The Piper Arrow, officially known as the Piper PA-28R Arrow, is a popular single-engine, four-seat light aircraft manufactured by Piper Aircraft. It’s part of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee series, which was initially introduced in 1961 as a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use.

Development and Introduction:

• 1967: The Piper Arrow was first introduced as a more advanced version of the PA-28 Cherokee with a retractable landing gear, which was a significant upgrade compared to the fixed-gear versions of the Cherokee. The original model was known as the PA-28R-180, powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming IO-360 engine.

Evolution and Variants:

• PA-28R-200 (1972): This variant introduced a more powerful 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360-C1C engine, providing better performance and payload capacity. This model became quite popular due to its improved speed and climb rate.
• Turbo Arrow (1977): Piper introduced turbocharged versions of the Arrow, known as the Turbo Arrow III (PA-28R-201T) and later the Turbo Arrow IV. These aircraft featured a turbocharged Continental TSIO-360-F or -FB engine, allowing for better performance at higher altitudes. The Turbo Arrow IV also introduced a T-tail design, which was a distinctive feature compared to the previous models.
• Arrow III (1977): The Arrow III (PA-28R-201) featured several improvements, including a longer fuselage, increased fuel capacity, and other aerodynamic enhancements. The non-turbocharged Arrow III maintained the 200-horsepower Lycoming engine and became the standard model for the Arrow series.
• Arrow IV (1979): The PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV introduced the T-tail design, which was a departure from the traditional tail design of previous models. This version aimed to improve handling characteristics, especially at low speeds.

Production and Legacy:

• The Piper Arrow series remained in production until 2009, with thousands of units produced over its multi-decade run. The aircraft is still popular among flight schools and private owners due to its balance of performance, reliability, and relatively low operating costs.

Use and Popularity:

• The Piper Arrow has been widely used for complex aircraft training, as it was often the first aircraft pilots would fly that featured retractable landing gear and a constant-speed propeller. This made it a valuable asset in pilot training programs.

The Piper Arrow is considered a versatile and reliable aircraft, making it a mainstay in general aviation and a preferred choice for many private pilots and flight schools around the world.