Piper Cadet Aircraft 1980s
1980s piston singles are pre-FADEC, pre-glass-cockpit airframes — Cessna 172/182, Piper PA-28 series, Bonanza V35/F33, Mooney M20J 201 from this period. Most have undergone at least one engine overhaul and avionics refresh (ADS-B Out retrofit, GPS upgrade). Pre-buy focus: airframe corrosion, AD compliance (especially recent wing-spar ADs on 210/PA-28), Lycoming or Continental engine condition, panel revision currency.
3 used Piper Cadet aircraft for sale 1980s · $68K – $93K · updated 6 hours ago
About the Piper Cadet
The Piper Cadet (PA-28-161 Cadet) is a stripped-down, two-seat training version of the Warrior II, introduced in 1988 to replace the PA-38 Tomahawk in flight schools. It uses the same tapered-wing PA-28 airframe and 160-hp Lycoming O-320, but with a basic interior, no rear seats and minimal equipment to keep purchase and operating costs low. Built mainly for high-utilisation training fleets, the Cadet is durable, docile and cheap to run, and many have since been converted back to four seats.
Piper Cadet Specifications
Model specThe Piper Cadet is a single engine piston with a cruise speed of 115 kt (213 km/h), a range of 525 nm (972 km).
3 Piper Cadet For Sale
There are currently 3 used Piper Cadet for sale, ranging from $68,000 to $93,831, with a median asking price of $80,915.
Compare Piper Cadet
See how the Piper Cadet stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
⏲ Compare Piper Cherokee generations →Piper Cadet Price & Cost
How much does a Piper Cadet cost? Used Cadet prices: $68K – $93K, average $80K (median $80K), across 2 priced of 3 active listings.
Based on 1 priced listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Piper Cadet Value by Model Year
Median asking price by year of manufacture. Newer airframes command a premium; value falls with age then plateaus on older models.
Lowest around $204,900 (2001 models) · highest around $491,000 (2023). Bars scaled across the range to show the depreciation curve; hover for exact medians.
Buying a Used Piper Cadet
When buying a Piper Cadet, the biggest value drivers are engine time since overhaul, maintenance-record completeness, damage history and avionics.
What to check before buying
- Engine time to overhaul — hours and years remaining drive price more than total airframe time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records protect value.
- Damage history — any prior accident or incident; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a modern glass panel vs legacy steam gauges materially changes price.
- Pre-buy inspection — always commission an independent inspection by a type-experienced mechanic before money changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions — Piper Cadet
What is the difference between a Piper Cadet and a Warrior?
How many seats does the Piper Cadet have?
What engine does the Cadet use?
Does the Piper Cadet have the wing-spar AD?
Piper Cadet Inventory by Country
| United States | 428 |
| United Kingdom | 37 |
| Germany | 20 |
| Canada | 16 |
| Australia | 12 |
| Switzerland | 10 |
Piper Cadet Inventory by State
| California | 54 |
| Texas | 46 |
| Florida | 45 |
| Kentucky | 19 |
| Illinois | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 11 |
| Georgia | 11 |
| Missouri | 11 |
| South Carolina | 10 |
| Arizona | 9 |
| Michigan | 9 |
| Louisiana | 8 |
Piper Cadet by Price
| Under $100k | 200 |
| Under $200k | 440 |
| Under $300k | 467 |
| Under $500k | 485 |
Recently Sold Piper Cadet
| 1977 Arrow | $115,000 |
| 1963 Cherokee 235 | $125,000 |
| 1977 Arrow | $134,196 |
| 1966 Cherokee 180 | $53,580 |
| 2005 Arrow | $300,552 |
| 1979 Archer | $190,000 |
Piper Cadet Safety Record
No NTSB events on record for the Piper Cadet. Individual aircraft safety records may be available on detail pages.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database