sglynn
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The PA-28-236 Dakota traces its ancestry back to the original Cherokee of 1960 and the culmination of numerous upgrades from earlier Charger and Pathfinder models, but the timing of the Dakota was bad; it came to the market just as General Aviation began an historic downturn that would sitness an 87% drop in unit sales within the next five years.
The Cherokee line was Piper's attempt to catch up and cah in on the market momentum Cessna had creatd in the 1950s with the 180 and 182. The Cherokee 235 of 1963 was pwered by Lycoming's O-540 derated to 235 HP. In 1979 Piper redesigned the 235 to the 236 and Dakota was introduced. It's main claim to an expected popularity was Piper's new tapered wing that replaced the "HersheyBar" wing coupled with the 235HP engine.
The Dakota is the Best of the Bunch.
Credit to: Piper Flyer Magazine April 2010.
The Cherokee line was Piper's attempt to catch up and cah in on the market momentum Cessna had creatd in the 1950s with the 180 and 182. The Cherokee 235 of 1963 was pwered by Lycoming's O-540 derated to 235 HP. In 1979 Piper redesigned the 235 to the 236 and Dakota was introduced. It's main claim to an expected popularity was Piper's new tapered wing that replaced the "HersheyBar" wing coupled with the 235HP engine.
The Dakota is the Best of the Bunch.
Credit to: Piper Flyer Magazine April 2010.
