On Sep 3, 12:34*pm, Ralph Jones wrote:
On Thu, 3 Sep 2009 07:53:23 -0700 (PDT), bildan
wrote:
[snip]



Piper's PA-28 "Cherokee" series started out with the 120HP *PA-140

PA-28-150 and PA-28-160 in 1961, actually, both with two more seats
than they had any real business having.

over the years was up-engined in a series of steps to 235 HP

One step, actually...the 235 came only two years later. The 140 came
along in 1964, the 180 in '67.

The 140 was originally delivered with two seats, but I had a '69 model
with four for a few years. It was really a "two people and a big dog"
airplane...some years after I sold it, it met its end in a
high-density-altitude takeoff with three aboard.



It's also worth mentioning that the direct drive opposed engines used
in light aircraft have their roots in an era of wooden props. *Wood
props shatter without damaging the engine. *Metal props transfer
substantial force to the engine crank so prop strikes are much more
damaging.

I believe the first Spitfires were delivered with wood props for just
that reason -- to make the accidents cheaper until the RAF changed
from depression rules to war rules.

rj

You're right. I was thinking of a 120HP experimental "safety
aircraft" designed by Fred Weick that preceded the Cherokee. It
looked exactly like the later Pipers but had an interesting
modification to the horizontal tail - a spoiler on the under surface
that only effective when the airplane was out of ground effect. It
prevented stalls by sharply limiting up elevator authority when out of
ground effect but allowed it to become effective enough for a deep
flare when in ground effect.