Four-seat training aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2013–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Piper Archer TX costs approximately $477k (€442k) to $570k (€528k) to buy at 2026 market values, and about $33k (€30k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $410 (€380) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 128 kt (147 mph) and has a published range of 522 nm (967 km), needing about 1,686 ft (514 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Archer TX is the current-production PA-28: an airframe essentially unchanged since 1972 fitted with a modern Garmin flight deck, sold almost entirely to flight academies. That is the case for it, a new aeroplane under warranty that every instructor already knows and every school can standardise on. It is a hard sell to a private buyer. The new price buys several good used Archers of identical performance, and the airframe still carries the PA-28 wing spar inspection regime once factored hours accumulate. Buy it for fleet economics, not for value.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,157 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 408 kg |
| Usable fuel | 182 L |
| Landing distance | 427 m |
| Service ceiling | 14,100 ft |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-360-B4A, 180 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 646 lb (293 kg) |
| Published planning range | 522 nm (967 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 350 nm (648 km) |
| Cruise speed | 128 kt (147 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,686 ft (514 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $19k (€18k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $167 (€155) |
A proven and modern trainer with broad support, but training utilization and modest useful load limit private-value comparisons.
Indicative cash costs at 2026 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $26k (€24k) | $653 (€605) | $649k (€601k) |
| 80 h / year | $33k (€30k) | $410 (€380) | $683k (€632k) |
| 120 h / year | $40k (€37k) | $329 (€305) | $716k (€663k) |
| 180 h / year | $50k (€46k) | $275 (€255) | $766k (€710k) |
Every figure above is built from a $19k (€18k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $167 (€155) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $39k (€36k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Piper Archer TX cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2026 market price for a Piper Archer TX is $477k (€442k) to $570k (€528k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Piper Archer TX works out at roughly $33k (€30k) annually, which is about $410 (€380) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $167 (€155).
Published range is 522 nm (967 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 350 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,686 ft (514 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.