Piper PA-28-181 Archer III weight and balance and performance calculator
Calculate the weight and balance of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III online: enter people, baggage and fuel and get the takeoff mass, the CG and whether both are within the limits of the POH – plus the takeoff and landing distance for your airfield, temperature and wind. Free, no sign-up. The Piper PA-28-181 Archer III is a model of the Piper PA-28 (Cherokee/Warrior/Archer); built 1995–2009.
* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C, no wind – BriefingPal result from the POH data
Calculate the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III weight, CG and takeoff distance
Your own empty mass (weighing report, optional)
The POH has no standard empty moment for this model – enter the empty mass CG from your weighing report to get the CG.
Leave empty to use the typical POH empty mass. Your aircraft's weighing report is what counts.
Calculated on the BriefingPal server from the POH data. Nothing is stored, no cookie. Planning aid only – the POH/AFM and your weighing report are authoritative.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III key figures
| Maximum takeoff mass (MTOW) | 1,157 kg (2,551 lb) |
|---|---|
| Typical empty mass (POH sample) | 794 kg (1,749 lb) |
| Usable fuel | 48 US gal (182 L) |
| Total fuel capacity | 50 US gal (189 L) |
| Fuel type | AVGAS |
| Useful load with full fuel | 233 kg (514 lb) |
| Maximum baggage | 91 kg (200 lb) |
| Demonstrated crosswind | 17 kt |
| Best rate of climb speed Vy | 76 KIAS |
| Service ceiling | 14,085 ft |
| Built | 1995–2009 |
| Loading stations | front seats, rear seats, baggage compartment, fuel |
Empty mass and useful load depend on your aircraft – its weighing report applies.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III takeoff and landing distance
BriefingPal result from the POH charts at MTOW, no wind, dry paved runway, normal procedure, default flap setting, without safety factor. Use the calculator above for your mass, airfield, temperature and wind.
| Conditions | Takeoff ground roll | Takeoff over 50 ft | Landing over 50 ft | Landing ground roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea level, 15 °C | 325 m (1,070 ft) | 610 m (2,010 ft) | 425 m (1,400 ft) | 280 m (910 ft) |
| 5,000 ft, 25 °C (density altitude ≈ 7,300 ft) | 560 m (1,840 ft) | 1,035 m (3,400 ft) | – | – |
Hot and high, the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III needs about 69 % more distance to clear 50 ft than at sea level. Calculate density altitude →
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III climb and cruise
| Rate of climb at sea level | Time / fuel to 6,500 ft | Cruise TAS at 6,500 ft | Fuel flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 690 fpm | 12 min / 1.8 US gal | 117 kt | 9.5 US gal/h (36 L/h) |
MTOW, ISA, default power setting of the POH cruise table (≈65 % power).
How to do the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III weight and balance
- Enter the loadingWeights of pilot, passengers and baggage per station, fuel in litres or US gallons. Each station limit and the MTOW are checked.
- Use your own empty massOptional: enter empty mass and empty CG from the weighing report of your Piper PA-28-181 Archer III. Without it the typical POH empty mass is used.
- Check CG and massThe traffic light shows whether the takeoff mass and the CG with and without fuel lie within the envelope of the POH.
- Takeoff and landingElevation, QNH, temperature, wind and runway give the takeoff and landing distance – compared with the runway length if you enter it.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III compared with the other Piper PA-28 models
| Model | MTOW | Usable fuel | Takeoff over 50 ft* | Cruise TAS* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II | 1,157 kg | 48 US gal | 560 m | 110 kt |
| Piper PA-28-181 Archer III | 1,157 kg | 48 US gal | 610 m | 117 kt |
| Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II | 1,055 kg | 48 US gal | 540 m | 110 kt |
| Piper PA-28-161 Warrior III | 1,107 kg | 48 US gal | 620 m | 110 kt |
| Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee Cruiser | 975 kg | 48 US gal | 515 m | 105 kt |
| Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger | 1,111 kg | 48 US gal | 495 m | 107 kt |
| Piper PA-28-180C Cherokee | 1,089 kg | 48 US gal | 490 m | 114 kt |
| Piper PA-28-180D Cherokee | 1,089 kg | 48 US gal | 495 m | 114 kt |
| Piper PA-28-161 Cadet | 1,055 kg | 48 US gal | 535 m | 103 kt |
* MTOW, sea level, 15 °C / 6,500 ft, ISA – BriefingPal result from the POH data.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer III – frequently asked questions
What is the MTOW of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
The maximum takeoff mass of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III is 1,157 kg (2,551 lb) according to the POH.
How much usable fuel does the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III carry?
48 US gal (182 L) usable (total capacity 50 US gal (189 L)). With the typical POH empty mass and full fuel, about 233 kg (514 lb) remain for people and baggage.
How long is the takeoff distance of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
At MTOW, sea level, 15 °C and no wind the ground roll is about 325 m (1,070 ft) and the distance over 50 ft about 610 m (2,010 ft). At 5,000 ft and 25 °C it grows to about 1,035 m (3,400 ft). The calculator above gives the value for your conditions.
How do I calculate the CG of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III?
Multiply each mass by its arm, add up the moments and divide by the total mass – the calculator above does this with the stations of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III POH (front seats, rear seats, baggage compartment, fuel) and checks the CG against the envelope.
How does the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III differ from other Piper PA-28 models?
BriefingPal has 9 Piper PA-28 models on file. Compared with them the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III has the highest MTOW (1,157 kg (2,551 lb)), 48 US gal (182 L) usable fuel and a takeoff distance over 50 ft of 610 m (2,010 ft) at MTOW.
Is the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III weight and balance calculator free?
Yes. The calculator on this page and the BriefingPal app are free and need no account. The app adds route planning, weather, NOTAM, fuel planning and a briefing PDF.
Data source
All figures come from the Pilot's Operating Handbook / Airplane Flight Manual of the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III (weight and balance and performance sections) and are computed with the BriefingPal engine – the same calculation as in the app. Planning aid only; the original POH/AFM and the weighing report of your aircraft remain authoritative.
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