It is a 2200HP Hershey bare wing and straight tail.

PA28/R-200

Thanks to everyone for your input and recommendations. The other pilot and I
will definitely make sure we both go through all checklists and CCGUMPS
independently to ensure we don't have to point broken fingers at each other
later.

The go/no go is now based on weather outlook. I am just starting to learn
IFR and will cancel our flight if there is even a hint of rain, clouds, or
thunderstorms during the 4 day trip on the entire route. I'll have plenty of
opportunities for future trips and already have tickets on Alaska Airlines
in case we do cancel.

Better to be safe than sorry.


Again, my deepest sympathies to those of you who knew the pilot in eastern
Washington.

"john smith" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"steve" wrote:

It is a piper Arrow with retractable gear and constant speed prop.

What year model is it?
Is it a 180 or 200 HP model?
Hershey bar or taper wing?
T-tail or straight tail?

Download the Piper Cherokee and Arrow document
http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/highlights.html

This is a good review document for the PA28 series

I have 4 hours as training for my complex rating, and will have an
additional 4-6 hours on Monday because I will be taking it out to
practice
most of the day.

Go to http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/
Source of lots of good refresher material

My total time flying is 120 hours, 100 of which happened 20 years ago.
The
good thing is that I am much more thorough and aware of my own mortality
than I was when younger.

Essentially, you are starting over and can be considered a low-time
pilot. Although you have over 100 hours, which is probably the minimum
required by insurance for checkout, all your experience is very recent,
by your own admission. The Arrow will take you more than 10 hours be
really comfortable with.
It has a high sink rate with the power off. The main landing gear is
six-inches shorter than a fixed gear Archer, meaning that you have to
manage your energy on short final to make a smooth arrival. You do not
want to drop it in.
There are two ways to look at your proposed trip.
One, you have to try new things to learn. There is nothing like flying
off to a new destination in a new/different airplane.
Two, what you don't know can kill you. Get some more time in the
airplane, then take your wife.
The checkout requirement for the Turbo Arrow IV belonging to the club I
am a member of has the following checkout minimum:

150+ hours total, 25+ hours retract, 10+ hours (or 5+ dual) make and
model and complex endorsement required.

Also, the other person going with me has his complex rating also, so we
will
have two pilots in the plane.

That can be both good and bad.
How much time in the Arrow does the other pilot have?
How much total complex time does the other pilot have?
Two pilots, no cockpit resource management training, right?
Prior to flight, be sure to define each persons roles and
responsibilities during the flight.