The Piper PA-28-181 Archer is the classic 4-seat low-wing trainer/tourer — the spiritual opposite of the high-wing Cessna 172. Low wings change ground effect characteristics: the Archer floats more aggressively than a 172 and rewards precise speed control on short final.
Landing technique
- Final approach: 75 KIAS, bleeding to 65–70 over the threshold (POH).
- Round out at 10–15 ft AGL — slightly later than a 172 because of the low wing.
- Expect more float than a Cessna; bleed the speed before flaring fully.
- Land mains first; the nose wheel is well-forward and prefers settling onto, not flying onto, the runway.
- Crosswind: wing-down + opposite rudder. The low wing gives generous tip clearance even at bigger bank angles.
Common mistakes
- Treating it like a 172 in the flare — the Archer floats more and lands faster.
- Late round-out leading to firm touchdown.
- Hard nose-wheel touchdowns from prematurely 'flying' it onto the runway.
Aircraft data
- Manufacturer
- Piper
- Model
- PA-28-181
- Variant
- Archer
- FAA approach category
- A
- MTOW
- 1156 kg (2549 lbs)
- Vref reference
- 70 kt
- MSFS source
- Payware (Just Flight)
- FLARE matches
- Piper PA-28-181 Archer · PA-28-181 Archer · PA-28-181Archer
Related reading
- → How FLARE grades a landing — the composite formula behind every score
- → What "stabilized approach" actually means — the 1000-ft gate, four criteria, technique
- → Light Single-Engine GA scoring thresholds — per-category curves applied to this airframe
- → Full scoring methodology reference — complete breakdown in the help docs