Aircraft overview

The Piper PA-28 Warrior is a fixed-gear, low-wing, four-seat piston aircraft from Piper Aircraft’s long-running PA-28 Cherokee family. The original PA-28-151 Warrior was introduced in the mid-1970s, with the PA-28-161 Warrior II following in 1977 and later Warrior III versions appearing in the 1990s. It was designed primarily for personal flying, instrument training and flight-school use, combining the PA-28’s simple metal airframe with a tapered wing and predictable handling. For buyers, the Warrior matters because it sits between basic two-seat trainers and higher-powered touring singles, offering genuine four-seat utility when payload and density altitude are managed carefully.

Performance & specifications

Typical cruise performance for a Piper PA-28 Warrior is about 105-115 knots, depending on variant, propeller, rigging and engine condition. The PA-28-151 uses a 150 hp Lycoming O-320 engine, while the PA-28-161 Warrior II and Warrior III use 160 hp Lycoming O-320 variants. Practical range is commonly around 450-520 nautical miles with reserves, subject to fuel capacity, power setting and load. Useful load often falls in the roughly 850-950 lb range on many examples, but individual aircraft equipment and empty weight are important. Published service ceilings vary by model, with later 160 hp Warriors typically listed around the low-to-mid 14,000 ft range.

Cabin & avionics

The Warrior has a four-place cabin with a single right-side entry door, a baggage area behind the rear seats and the familiar PA-28 seating position over a low wing. Cabin width and loading are modest by modern standards, but visibility, stable handling and straightforward systems are strong practical advantages for training and owner-flown IFR. Avionics vary widely across the fleet. Older aircraft may retain conventional analogue instruments and legacy nav/com radios, while upgraded examples often feature Garmin GNS 430/530, GTN navigators, Garmin G5 or GI 275 electronic instruments, ADS-B equipment and modern audio panels. Garmin Perspective is not a typical Warrior installation.

Buying & value

Condition, logbook continuity, corrosion history, engine time, propeller status and quality of avionics upgrades drive value more than model year alone. Buyers should distinguish carefully between the PA-28-151 Warrior, PA-28-161 Warrior II and Warrior III, as the 160 hp versions are generally more desirable for training and cross-country use. Common upgrades include panel modernization, ADS-B Out, engine monitors, interior refurbishment and paint. On the used market, the Warrior is usually positioned as an economical four-seat trainer and personal aircraft below faster PA-28 variants such as the Archer. Current PlaneFox listing data shows an average asking price around EUR 85,000, with advertised examples ranging from about EUR 26,000 to EUR 198,000.