Single propeller planes are generally good performers. After all, being considered as civil utility aircrafts, these are naturally expected to be hard workers in flight, whether these are carrying light cargo or actually ferrying passengers. It must be pointed out though that there really are planes that can be considered as much better than the others of its kind. When it comes to single-engine light utility aircrafts, there is no doubt that of those that can really perform well is the Piper Cherokee 235. This can certainly beat other planes in many departments. This is the reason why it has remained to be one of the best-selling aircrafts.
The Cherokee 235 has a powerful engine that could produce 235 hp. If compared to others, this power is already very admirable. There are still some variants of the Cherokee as well as models of rival brands that have single-pro that can only produce a little over than 150 hp. It is clear that the plane got its name from the horsepower that its engine can produce. With the said amount of horsepower, the top speed of the Cherokee 235 can reach as much as 144 knots while its cruise speed is 136 knots only. On the other hand, the stall speed can be as much as 52 knots only. Again, these factors are huge plus factors when gauging the performance of the plane.
The overall weight of the Cherokee 235 is 2900 lbs. However, when empty, the plane is much lighter at 1435 lbs only. Fuel capacity of the plane is 50 gallons. But despite this seemingly small fuel capacity, the plane can still cover a range of 408 nautical miles. Of course, if the plane carries more persons and the gross weight increases, the range to be covered would naturally become shorter. Even the most powerful aircrafts have their limitations too. The Piper Cherokee 235 certainly has some too. But when compared to other planes, it is obvious that this still has the edge in many respects.
The Cherokee 235 is also famous because of its stability while flying. According to pilots there is no other explainable reason for this but its low wing setup. This design is said to have made the plane very stable when flown. Landing is also not a problem because of the wing design. Even if there are strong upward winds, the Cherokee 235 has the capability of handling these because of its wings. There is no doubt that this plane is a great performer and this is the reason why it remains to be one of the most popular aircraft of its kind. Fortunately, this plane is not really that expensive too, especially if bought second-hand.