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Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide

Piper PA-28 Cadet · Model Guide

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Overview

The Piper PA-28 Cadet is a four-seat, single-engine piston trainer, listed for 1988 to 1992. The maintenance manual identifies it as the PA-28-161 Cadet, built by Piper at Vero Beach, Florida. The flight data supplied here comes from PA-28-161 Warrior checklists, so confirm every figure against the Cadet's own handbook before you rely on it.

  • Four-seat piston single, 1988-1992; the maintenance manual calls it the PA-28-161 Cadet.
  • Supplied Warrior checklists show 48 USG usable fuel and about 10 USG/hour burn without leaning.
  • Warrior II checklist lists max takeoff weight as 2325 lbs and says to check weight and balance with 3 on board.
  • An illustrated parts catalog (reissued August 1, 1999) and a maintenance manual exist for the Cadet.

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Reference only, not for flight. Use the current approved manual for your aircraft. See terms, section 5.

Document

Source

Copy found at sprinkle.com. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.

View original at sprinkle.com

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Document details

Type
·
Model Guide
Year
·
2026
File size
·
50 KB
Copy found at
·
sprinkle.com

Specifications & performance

Extracted from this document.

Specifications

Seats
·
4
Usable fuel (gal)
·
48
Production last year
·
1,992
Production first year
·
1,988
Max takeoff weight (lb)
·
2,325
Main gear strut extension (in)
·
4.5
Nose gear strut extension (in)
·
3.25

Performance

Fuel burn (gph)
·
10
Max demonstrated crosswind (kt)
·
17

V-speeds

BEST_GLIDE_KTS
·
73
NEVER_EXCEED_KTS
·
160
STALL_FLAPS_UP_KTS
·
50
BEST_RATE_CLIMB_KTS
·
79
BEST_ANGLE_CLIMB_KTS
·
63
MAX_FLAP_EXTENSION_KTS
·
103
STALL_LANDING_CONFIG_KTS
·
44
MAX_STRUCTURAL_CRUISING_KTS
·
126

Weight & balance

Usable fuel (gal)
·
48
Max takeoff weight (lb)
·
2,325
About this document
What is the Piper PA-28 Cadet?

The Piper PA-28 Cadet is a four-seat single-engine piston airplane, listed for 1988 to 1992. The Piper maintenance manual identifies it as the PA-28-161 Cadet.

How much fuel does the Piper PA-28 Cadet carry and burn?

The PA-28-161 Warrior II checklist gives 48 USG usable fuel and about 10 USG per hour without leaning. These are Warrior figures, so confirm them for a Piper PA-28 Cadet.

What are the key speeds for the Piper PA-28 Cadet?

The PA-28-161 checklists give Vy 79, Vx 63, Vfe 103, Vno 126, Vne 160 and best glide 73 knots. Stall is 50 knots flaps up and 44 with flaps down. Verify these in the Piper PA-28 Cadet's own handbook.

Is the load limited on the Piper PA-28 Cadet?

The PA-28-161 handbook says the airplane cannot carry full fuel, the maximum number of adult passengers and maximum baggage together. Compute weight and CG before each flight in a Piper PA-28 Cadet.

What is the Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide?

The Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide is a model guide for the Piper PA-28 Cadet, dated 2026.

What year was the Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide published?

The Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide — the Piper PA-28 Cadet model guide on file — is dated 2026.

Documentation completeness
5/7

Most owners only have the POH. Here's the essential set for the Piper PA-28 Cadet.

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In this document

What the documents cover

The Cadet-specific documents are the PA-28-161 Cadet maintenance manual and the parts catalog. The speeds, fuel and weight figures come from PA-28-161 Warrior checklists. They are a guide only. Verify them against the Cadet's approved flight manual.

Pre-buy checks from the checklists

Check engine oil (checklists give 6 qts minimum), alternator belt tension, fuel sumps and strainer drains, and fuel vents. Main gear strut extension should be about 4.5 in and nose strut about 3.25 in. At run-up, magneto drop should be no more than 175 RPM, with no more than 50 RPM difference between magnetos. Check carb heat gives an RPM drop.

Weight and balance records

The PA-28-161 handbook says the mechanic must compute a new basic empty weight and CG after any equipment addition or modification. They must record it in the log book and Weight and Balance Record. Ask to see the current figures. The airplane cannot carry full fuel, maximum passengers and maximum baggage together.

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Safety notes

  • Engine roughness: carb heat ON; if it persists after one minute, adjust mixture, fuel pump ON, switch tanks, check mags L, R, BOTH.
  • Aerobatics and spinning are prohibited per the Warrior II checklist. Spin recovery: throttle idle, ailerons neutral, full opposite rudder, wheel forward.
  • If the door opens in flight, slow to 89 KIAS, close cabin vents, open the storm window, then latch the side latch and the top latch.

Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.

Full document text

Piper PA-28 Cadet Model Guide The Piper PA-28 Cadet is a four-seat, single-engine piston trainer, listed for 1988 to 1992. The maintenance manual identifies it as the PA-28-161 Cadet, built by Piper at Vero Beach, Florida. The flight data supplied here comes from PA-28-161 Warrior checklists, so confirm every figure against the Cadet's own handbook before you rely on it. • Four-seat piston single, 1988-1992; the maintenance manual calls it the PA-28-161 Cadet. • Supplied Warrior checklists show 48 USG usable fuel and about 10 USG/hour burn without leaning. • Warrior II checklist lists max takeoff weight as 2325 lbs and says to check weight and balance with 3 on board. • An illustrated parts catalog (reissued August 1, 1999) and a maintenance manual exist for the Cadet. What the documents cover The Cadet-specific documents are the PA-28-161 Cadet maintenance manual and the parts catalog. The speeds, fuel and weight figures come from PA-28-161 Warrior checklists. They are a guide only. Verify them against the Cadet's approved flight manual. Pre-buy checks from the checklists Check engine oil (checklists give 6 qts minimum), alternator belt tension, fuel sumps and strainer drains, and fuel vents. Main gear strut extension should be about 4.5 in and nose strut about 3.25 in. At run-up, magneto drop should be no more than 175 RPM, with no more than 50 RPM difference between magnetos. Check carb heat gives an RPM drop. Weight and balance records The PA-28-161 handbook says the mechanic must compute a new basic empty weight and CG after any equipment addition or modification. They must record it in the log book and Weight and Balance Record. Ask to see the current figures. The airplane cannot carry full fuel, maximum passengers and maximum baggage together. Safety notes: • Engine roughness: carb heat ON; if it persists after one minute, adjust mixture, fuel pump ON, switch tanks, check mags L, R, BOTH. • Aerobatics and spinning are prohibited per the Warrior II checklist. Spin recovery: throttle idle, ailerons neutral, full opposite rudder, wheel forward. • If the door opens in flight, slow to 89 KIAS, close cabin vents, open the storm window, then latch the side latch and the top latch.

All Piper PA-28 Cadet model guide