Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.
Today’s Top Pick is a 1964 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee/Archer.
Within the evolution of the Piper PA-28 series, the 180 hp variant has long been regarded as the sweet spot. Before the Archer name was officially adopted in the 1970s, the Cherokee 180 provided pilots with the perfect balance of simplicity and capability, offering a significant performance boost over the 140 and 150 hp models while maintaining the docile handling that made the line a flight school staple.
Located in Toledo, Washington, is a particularly attractive specimen for a buyer seeking an honest, well-maintained airframe with plenty of potential. With just 2,238 hours on the airframe since new, this aircraft has seen significantly less use than many of its contemporaries, which often carry double or triple that time.
Under the cowling sits the Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, a powerplant legendary for its reliability and 2,000-hour TBO. This specific engine is effectively just beginning its second life, with only 198 hours recorded since a major overhaul. To further optimize its performance, the aircraft is equipped with Metco wingtip extensions and a Stevens Aircraft gap seal kit, modifications designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency and low-speed handling.
One of the most compelling aspects of this Cherokee 180 is its utility. With a useful load of 1,080.6 pounds, it remains one of the few light singles that can truly be called a “four-adult airplane” with a reasonable fuel load.
Inside, the panel remains a classic, functional environment. It is equipped with dual King KX-170B Nav/Coms and a Garmin ADS-B Out transponder. While the avionics are straightforward and reliable for VFR or light IFR duty, the low entry price and fresh engine make the airplane an ideal blank canvas for an owner who wishes to eventually install a modern glass suite.
The aircraft comes with complete and consecutive logs and has been hangared. It is being sold with a fresh annual inspection completed in April 2026, ensuring it is ready for immediate service.
Listed at $89,900, this Cherokee 180 represents a high-value entry into aircraft ownership, offering a fresh engine and a low-time airframe that is increasingly difficult to find in today’s market.
If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: Piper Archer Through the Years
- FLYING Magazine: We Fly: Piper Archer DX
- FLYING Magazine: CAE and Piper Team Up to Electrify the Iconic Archer
- FLYING Magazine: Piper Delivers First Archer TXs to Flight School in Australia
- Plane + Pilot: First of 100 Piper Archers Delivered to UND
- Plane + Pilot: Piper Archer: 50 Years and Counting
- Plane + Pilot: Piper And Continental Obtain EASA STC for Diesel-Powered Archers
- The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Cherokee 235/Dakota