Four-seat training and touring aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 1995–2017 · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A Piper Warrior III costs approximately $179k (€166k) to $214k (€198k) to buy at 2005 market values, and about $43k (€40k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $536 (€496) per flight hour all-in. It seats 4, cruises at 115 kt (132 mph) and has a published range of 513 nm (950 km), needing about 1,608 ft (490 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Warrior is the tapered-wing PA-28 and the III is the last and best-equipped of a trainer that has been in continuous service since 1974. Schools buy it because it is forgiving, cheap to run and instantly familiar to every instructor in the building. One item now dominates a purchase inspection. After a fatal in-flight wing separation on a training aircraft, the FAA requires a lower wing spar inspection once an airframe's factored service hours pass a threshold, and ex-school Warriors reach it fastest. Buy the spar history before you buy the aeroplane.
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 | 1,107 kg |
|---|---|
| Usable fuel | 182 L |
| Baggage weight | 91 kg |
| Engine | Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 hp at 2700 rpm |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 4 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 714 lb (324 kg) |
| Published planning range | 513 nm (950 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 344 nm (637 km) |
| Cruise speed | 115 kt (132 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,608 ft (490 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $17k (€16k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $157 (€145) |
Predictable and easy to support, but modest speed and heavy training utilization reduce private-touring value.
Indicative cash costs at 2005 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 | $37k (€34k) | $915 (€848) | $377k (€350k) |
| 80 h / year | $43k (€40k) | $536 (€496) | $409k (€379k) |
| 120 h / year | $49k (€46k) | $410 (€379) | $440k (€408k) |
| 180 h / year | $59k (€54k) | $325 (€301) | $487k (€451k) |
Every figure above is built from a $17k (€16k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $157 (€145) 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 $36k (€33k) 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 Warrior III 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 2005 market price for a Piper Warrior III is $179k (€166k) to $214k (€198k). 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 Warrior III works out at roughly $43k (€40k) annually, which is about $536 (€496) 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 $157 (€145).
Published range is 513 nm (950 km). With 4 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 344 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Plan on approximately 1,608 ft (490 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.