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The Piper PA-28-181 Archer II is a single engined, low wing, fixed
undercarriage, four-seater aircraft. In the early 1950’s Piper
began investigation a replacement for the ageing PA-22 Tri Pacer. In
1958 the decision was taken to design a completely new aircraft
designated as the PA-28. Designers John Thorpe and Fred Weick were hired
and a new factory was built at Vero Beach, Florida. The Piper PA-28
Cherokee single engined, low wing, fixed undercarriage, four-seater
aircraft was flown for the first time on 14 January 1960. The first
prototype, N9315R, was powered by a 112kW (150hp) engine. The
first production model, a Piper PA-28-150 with a 110kW (150hp) Lycoming
O-320-A2A engine flew on 10 February 1961. Initial production aircraft
were next to the PA-28-150, the PA-28-160 powered by a 120kW (160hp)
Lycoming O-320-D2A engine. The PA-28 Cherokees were introduced in
1961 as replacements for Piper's PA-22 TriPacer and Colt. Unlike the
PA-22 series the new PA-28 was a low wing design with metal
construction. From 1962 a 135kW (180hp) version was added to the lineup.
The 127kW (235hp) flat six Lycoming O-540 powered Cherokee 235 was
introduced in 1963. In February 1964, a further version of the Cherokee
was announced, the two seat PA-28-140. This PA-28-140 side-by-side
two-seater was intended primarily for the training role and was powered
by a 140 hp Lycoming O-360-E2A engine. Over the years, subsequent
variants entered the market, include the Cherokee B and Cherokee C, the
180D, 235C, 140 Flite Liner two seat trainer PA-28-140, -180F, -235E,
PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger and PA-28-235 Cherokee Charger, the
PA-28-180 Cherokee Archer and PA-28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder, PA-28-151
Cherokee Warrior which introduced the new tapered wing that would become
a feature of subsequent PA-28s, PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II and
PA-28-236 Dakota (the Cherokee prefix was later dropped for the Archer
II and Warrior), the PA-28-161 Warrior II, PA-28-201T Turbo Dakota and
PA-28-161 Cadet. Next to these the larger PA-32 and the retractable
undercarriage variant of the Cherokee, the PA-28R Arrow, entered
production. In 1991, the original Piper Aircraft company filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the early 1990s, small numbers of Warriors,
Dakotas and Archers were built. In 1995, the company emerged from
Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was renamed The New Piper Aircraft Company. As
part of the end of bankruptcy protection, the company was sold to Newco
Pac Inc., itself owned by Piper's creditors and a Philadelphia-based
investment firm. In 2006, the New Piper Aircraft Company was renamed
Piper Aircraft. The PA-28 Models in production are currently the Pilot 100i;
Archer DX and Archer TX. More than 30,000 PA-28’s have been built up to date. |
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The 1978-built Piper PA-28-181 Archer II s/n 28-7890268 was registered N2803M in the USA. On 27 July 1996,
registration N2803M was cancelled as exported to the Netherlands. On 29 July 1996, the Piper PA-28-181
Archer II was registered PH-VLK with KLM Luchtvaartschool BV, Eelde, and based at Groningen Airport Eelde.
On 13 August 2008, the PH-VLK was registered with Cirrus Europe, Eelde. On 17 February 2010, the PH-VLK was
registered with MSI Communication. Zwaag. On 18 May 2015, registration PH-VLK was cancelled as exported to
Finland, where the Archer II was registered OH-AMI with Ähtärin Ilmailijat ry.
On 27 August 2005, KLM
Luchtvaartschool' Piper PA-28-181 Archer II PH-VLK 'City of Eelde' was seen at Groningen Airport Eelde (GRQ/EHGG)
during Airshow Eelde 2005.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer II is P28A. |
