Piper PA28-235

Cherokee 235 B

N9331W

• Power plant: Superior Air Parts Inc. "Millenium Engine" , Lycoming O-540-B4B5 rated at 235 HP Assembly
• Propeller: Hartzell HC-C2YK-1/8468A-4 Constant Speed Type
• more to come.
  

31-Whiskey has sent most of her life away from the corrosive environments. Out of Pipers Lock Haven Pennsylvania factory, Certified on November 2, 1967, she headed off to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix Arizona , then to Prescott Arizona were she acquired 3085 hours by November 1974. Were she returned to Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport, until she was relocated to the Midwest during the Fall 1988 (acquiring another 1679 hours in Phoenix), first Indiana, then Lima Ohio, then to Elkhart Indiana, were she stayed until she was bought from Dave Kreigel, on December 26, 1994 and flown to the Lawrence Airport (LWM) in Massachusetts. As long as she's home she's been hangared.

In 1999, she started to undergo a metamorphosis. Her Lycoming O-540-B4-B5 engine was removed. Given the options, I decided to take a step into the future. I had her engine shipped to Superior Air Part's Superior-Certified Engine Facility (Airmark Engines) in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her old O-540 was thoroughly inspected, extensively fitted with new parts including their Millennium Cylinders, and valves made by the same makers of the Lamborghini, and Ferrari, the crankshaft and rods balanced. The outcome is the Superior Air Parts Millennium Engine. Simply put,,, the finest pre-owned engine available plus a 5 year complete warranty..

Not yet finished, but getting there!

In 1995 her instrument console was updated with an ADF, a Marker Beacon Receiver, the heart of a four place intercom, and her instrument panel was re configured for the standard Instrument "T" Configuration, and relocated Nav-1 and Nav-2 OBSs to be consistent.

Looking at the center console, 31-Whiskey uses the NARCO CP-126 for her audio panel, a BENDIX/KING KR-87 system for her ADF (which has a very nice belly mounted loop/sense antenna), NARCO MK12-D system for Nav/Comm-1 and KING KX-145 for Nav/Comm-2, and as a backup VFR nav tool is the "IImorrow" Apollo II 612BC LORAN C receiver, finally to the top right of the center console is the KING KR-22 Marker Beacon Receiver . Off to the extreme right is her Transponder, a NARCO AT-50A

31-Whiskey (being a PA28-235) is a hauler, yet an elegant one. Normal cruising speeds of 135-140 knots can be increased to a "dash" speed of 180 knots when necessary. 31-Whiskey will fly comfortably at 140 knots for 6-7 hours. While the Big Boys normally have little problem with her, as she can shoot the final at 120 knots.

Although she has normally operated throughout the New England Area since I bought her, we set out in the Summer of 1995 to do "Oshkosh the Long Way". Flying IFR/VFR (I Follow Routes to Visit Friends and Relatives) { actually IFR stands for Instrument Flight Rules, and VFR - Visual Flight Rules,,, actually all flight plans were done IFR (just love those extra pair of eyes).

The PA28-235 has had an interesting life, starting off as a "Cherokee 235" (the 235 Horse Power version), she progressed to become known as the Pathfinder, then back to the Cherokee 235, then as all Piper aircraft did, the PA28-235 became the PA28-236, and became known as a Dakota. At first the 235 was one of few aircraft to be able to legally lift its own weight in cargo. In the late 60s this changed, although with beefier wings the Max Gross Weight was raised to 3000 pounds, however the Max Usable Weight went down into the 1200 pound area. Unfortunately since the New Piper Aircraft Company became a reality, the dreams of new Dakotas (PA28-236s) have vanished,,,, at least for now...