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
- 1157 kg (2551 lbs)
- Vref reference
- 66 kt at 1,157 kg
- Vref in flight
- Adjusted to the weight you land at
- Tail-strike limit
- 12°
- Ideal touchdown zone
- 50–200 m
- G-force curve
- The category's
- 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 gates, the criteria, the technique
- → Light Single-Engine GA scoring thresholds · the category curves applied to this airframe
- → Full scoring methodology reference · the complete breakdown in the help docs