Piper · 1964–1977
Piper Cherokee 235 (1964-1977)
iSpecifications
Cruise
138KTAS
Range
920nm
Seats
4
Useful Load
1590lbs
Full-fuel payload
1,086lbs
Fuel Burn
13.5gph
Fuel Cap.
84gal
MPG
11.8mpg
Stall (Vs0)
51KIAS
T/O roll
800ft
Ldg roll
650ft
Power
235hp
Engine
piston single
Gear
Fixed
IFR
Yes
Category
certified
Pricing
Typical
$95k
Range
$65k – $145k
Annual all-in
~$13k/yr
All-in estimate at ~100 flying hours a year — fuel, annual inspection, engine reserve, insurance, and hangar. It scales with your actual hours, and insurance and hangar vary most by region and pilot.
Cost to own — estimate
Set your yearly hours and local fuel price. Fixed costs (insurance, hangar, annual inspection) don't change with hours; fuel and the engine reserve do.
- Fuel (13.5 gph)
- $8,775
- Engine reserve (toward overhaul)
- $1,750
- Fixed (insurance, hangar, annual, subscriptions)
- $2,475
- Total per year
- $13,000
- Per flight hour
- $130
- Miles flown / year (at cruise)
- 15,881 mi
- Cost per mile
- $0.82/mi
Estimate, not a quote — insurance and hangar (the fixed bucket) vary most by region and pilot. Anchored to our model figure at 100 hrs and $6.50/gal.
Strengths
- Highest useful load (1,590 lbs) of any PA-28 variant; genuine 4-adult hauler
- 138 KTAS cruise speed competitive with larger/more expensive Skylane
- Fixed-gear simplicity and proven Lycoming O-540 engine platform
- Stretched Pathfinder variant (1973–77) adds 10" cabin length for rear-seat comfort
Weaknesses
- Four-tank fuel system (2 main + 2 tip tanks) adds complexity; tip-tank operation and venting must be verified
- O-540 6-cylinder engines require careful borescope inspection; high-time examples show cylinder wear
- Fixed landing gear increases drag and fuel burn vs. retractable competitors
- Older airframes (1960s–70s) require structural AD compliance checks (spar, stabilator rigging, door operation)
Overview
The 1964-1977 Piper Cherokee 235 is the big-engine fixed-gear PA-28 -- a Cherokee 180 airframe with a Lycoming O-540 235 HP engine and larger 84 gallon fuel capacity. The 235 became Piper's answer to the Cessna 182 Skylane and Beechcraft Musketeer 235, targeting the utility/hauler mission that the lighter Cherokee 180 couldn't fulfill.
Approximately 2,800 Cherokee 235s were produced. Three marketing names spanned the run:
- Cherokee 235 (1964-1972): Original 235 HP, short-body
- Charger (1973-1976): Refined Cherokee 235
- Pathfinder (1973-1977): Stretched-cabin variant (10" longer)
The 235 line was succeeded in 1979 by the PA-28-236 Dakota (1979-1994), which combined the 235 HP engine with the tapered-wing Archer II airframe.
The 1,590 lb Useful Load
The Cherokee 235's 1,590 lb useful load at 3,000 lb gross weight is the highest useful load of any PA-28 variant. Combined with 84 gallons of fuel (504 lbs), the Cherokee 235 can carry:
- 4 adults + 84 gal fuel + 280 lbs bags
- 3 adults + 84 gal fuel + 480 lbs bags
- 4 adults + 60 gal fuel + 470 lbs bags
This load-carrying capacity makes the Cherokee 235 a viable mini-Skylane competitor at lower acquisition cost.
Variants & History
| Variant | Years | Body | Engine | HP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee 235 | 1964-1972 | Short | Lycoming O-540-B2B5 | 235 | Original 235 HP |
| Charger | 1973-1976 | Short | Lycoming O-540-B4B5 | 235 | Refinements |
| Pathfinder | 1973-1977 | Stretched (+10") | Lycoming O-540-B4B5 | 235 | Stretched fuselage, more cabin room |
The Pathfinder's stretched cabin is a meaningful upgrade over the standard Cherokee 235 -- 10 inches of added fuselage length significantly improves rear-seat space and baggage capacity.
1998 Piper Archer
Archer III · GNS 430W · Honest Trainer · Fresh Annual
Performance
- Cruise: 138 KTAS at 7,500 ft (75% power)
- Climb: 825 FPM at gross
- Fuel burn: 13.5 GPH cruise
- Range: 920 NM with reserves at 84 gal fuel
- Useful load: 1,590 lbs
The Cherokee 235's 138 KTAS cruise is 5-10 KTAS faster than equivalent Skylanes -- particularly relevant on longer trips.
2019 Cirrus SR22
One Owner · Platinum · FIKI · Low 690 Hours · Hangared
Valuation Factors
| Variant | Condition | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cherokee 235 (short body) | Flying but tired | $60,000-$85,000 |
| Cherokee 235 (short body) | Well-maintained | $80,000-$115,000 |
| Charger | Well-maintained | $80,000-$120,000 |
| Pathfinder (stretched) | Well-maintained | $95,000-$145,000 |
Pathfinder versions trade $15,000-$25,000 above short-body 235s due to the stretched cabin.
ADs & Common Problems
- Lycoming O-540 cylinder condition: Borescope all 6 cylinders.
- Fuel system inspection: 84 gal fuel capacity uses 4 fuel tanks (2 main + 2 tip); inspect all for corrosion and leaks.
- Tip tank operation: Tip tanks add 17 gal each side; verify proper fuel transfer and venting.
- Cherokee universal: Spar AD compliance, stabilator rigging, cabin door operation.
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