This 1965 Piper PA-28-180 Is an Economical, All-Around ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Many fans say the basic four-seat PA-28 and the 180 hp engine are a perfect marriage.

Jonathan Welsh

Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 02:32 PM ET

Verified

Fans of the Piper PA-28-180 consider it an ideal combination of power and economy. [Courtesy: Thomas Freiesleben]

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft For Sale's "Today's Top Pick" is a 1965 Piper PA-28-180, described as Piper's low-wing answer to the Cessna 172.
This model is celebrated for its stable, forgiving flight characteristics and significantly enhanced performance, especially in acceleration and climb, due to its 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine.
The featured aircraft boasts 2,490 hours on the airframe, 293 hours on the engine since overhaul, an updated avionics panel including ADS-B, and is available for $105,000.

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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1965 Piper PA-28-180.

The PA-28 was Piper’s answer to the Cessna 172, and for pilots on a budget who prefer a low wing, it was the answer for which they were waiting. The airplane had a sleeker, more modern look than the 172 but was still stable, forgiving and easy to fly. Still, some felt it lacked verve. That sentiment faded in 1963 when the PA-28 met the 180 hp Lycoming O-360. The extra 20 to 30 horsepower over O-320 powered PA-28s boosted the airplane’s performance but the biggest difference was in how it felt accelerating on the runway and climbing away from it.

Several years back my flying club had a PA-28-180 that I took on a few long trips including a flight from New Jersey to Rhode Island to pick one of our sons up from camp. After years of flying a 160 hp Cessna 172 I could appreciate the Piper’s added muscle.That airplane also sold me on the low-wing format, and I have rarely looked back.

This 1965 Piper PA-28-180 has 2,490 hours on the airframe and 293 hours on its Lycoming O-360-A3A engine since overhaul. The panel includes a King 97A com, AirGizmos iPad docking station, Narco VOR, Narco AT150 transponder, uAvionix ADS-B, Davtron digital clock, and an Electronics International EGT/CHT.

Pilots seeking a sharp-looking, straightforward personal aircraft with satisfying speed and carrying capacity thanks to its 180 hp engine should consider this 1965 Piper PA-28-180, which is available for $105,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.