PA28 Performance is a free, open-source utility for Piper PA28 aircraft flight planning on iOS and Android.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Pilots use the tool to eliminate manual chart lookups, reducing pre-flight planning time and improving calculation accuracy.
For Pilots and flight planners operating Piper PA28 aircraft who require precise, pre-flight and in-flight performance calculations.
What does it look like?
Key features
Computes takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, and descent metrics for Piper PA28 models.
Includes interactive hold, risk analysis, and emergency glide distance calculators with wind adjustment.
Synchronizes flight planning profiles across mobile and desktop devices.
How much does it cost?
The app operates as a free, open-source project with no monetization, relying on community development.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentnew contentShow more...
The app maintains a maintenance-level cadence, with the latest release occurring 62 days ago. Development is currently limited to periodic airport database updates rather than functional feature enhancements or performance optimizations. This pattern of infrequent, content-only updates suggests a stable, low-activity lifecycle. No significant feature changes have been observed in the recent release history.
Who built it?
POH Performance L.L.C.
9 apps tracked · Utilities
C172 Performance
Bonanza Performance
Kodiak Performance
TBM Performance
Baron Performance
C182 Performance
Radar Performance
C310 PerformanceUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans thrilled. Users appreciate automated performance calculations replace manual chart lookups, saving significant time during pre-flight planning sessions and open source and ad-free utility provides a reliable tool for pilots without requiring paid subscriptions.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Automated performance calculations replace manual chart lookups, saving significant time during pre-flight planning sessions
- Open source and ad-free utility provides a reliable tool for pilots without requiring paid subscriptions
- Automated weather report integration provides essential density altitude data for performance-limited airport operations
- Fixed aircraft performance values prevent professional pilots from adjusting figures to match specific POH data
18 of 18 recent reviews analyzed · moderate confidence · Thrilled overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for PA28 Performance
How's the Utilities market?
PA28 Performance holds a 4.5-star rating across 45 total store ratings, serving as a specialized, free-to-use utility in the aviation category. Its lack of monetization differentiates it from paid aviation suites, though the maintenance-only release cadence limits its competitive agility.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for PA28 Performance
Where is it heading?
The aviation utility market is shifting toward integrated, subscription-based flight planning suites, leaving PA28 Performance in a stable but vulnerable position. Without a move to support user-defined profiles, the app risks losing its core professional base to more flexible, albeit paid, alternatives.
- The 62-day update gap suggests a maintenance-only posture, which limits the ability to respond to user requests for new aircraft models.
- UI regressions on foldable hardware erode the daily pre-flight habit, which compounds the frustration reported by professional instructors.
The SWOT
- Open-source model eliminates subscription barriers
- Automated METAR integration refines performance accuracy
- Enable user-defined aircraft profiles for POH calibration
- Expand model support to include Archer variants
Next best moves
Fix foldable-device UI crashes because they break field editing during pre-flight planning → improve stability
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The lack of monetization is a retention lever, not a weakness…
Read the full takeSince the last report: Development remains stagnant with no new features or performance improvements, leading to a more pessimistic outlook regarding the app's ability to retain users against commercial competitors.
Bottom line
Addressing the foldable-device UI crashes is the immediate priority to prevent churn among power users, while enabling user-defined aircraft profiles would unlock the professional instructor segment.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is PA28 Performance free to use?
Can I use PA28 Performance for professional flight instruction?
Does PA28 Performance work on all devices?
Sources
- [1] Play Store listing, source
Report last updated