writes:

: I would think it's pretty much a legal issue.

: I don't think so. Two CFIs were killed near Solberg a few years
: ago when a spin went flat. I think they were flying a Cherokee.

The Normal category is much more aft CG, and was most likely the
cause. I know from flying mine that it's a whole different animal
in 'Utility' loading... extremely benign stall, etc. More aft it's
tricky. Aside from that, however, the airframes are identical.

The different engine weights (and accessory weights) will affect the
CG and the ability to recover, together with other small differences.
The later four-place Cherokees also have various combinations of a
longer fuselage and semi-tapered wings.

Either Piper spin-tested the other models and found them
unsatisfactory, or else the test pilots wouldn't even try spinning
them in the first place (because of engineering predictions). Neither
thought makes me too comfortable.


All the best,


David