| PA-20 Pacer & PA-22 Tri-Pacer Family | |
|---|---|
 Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacers. The red one is in original configuration, while the blue one has been converted toconventional landing gear | |
| General information | |
| Type | Civil utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft |
| Number built | 1,120 (PA-20) 9,490 (PA-22) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1950–1954 (PA-20) 1950–1964 (PA-22) |
| First flight | 1949 (PA-20) 1950 (PA-22) |
| Developed from | Piper PA-15 Vagabond |
| Variants | Javelin V6 STOL |
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ThePA-20 Pacer andPA-22 Tri-Pacer, Caribbean, and Colt are an American family oflight strut-bracedhigh-wing monoplane aircraft built byPiper Aircraft from 1949 to 1964.
The Pacer is essentially a four-place version of the two-placePA-17 Vagabond, withconventional landing gear, a steel tube fuselage and an aluminum frame wing covered with fabric, much like Piper's famousCub andSuper Cub. The Tri-Pacer is a development of the Pacer withtricycle landing gear, while the Colt is a two-seatflight training version of the Tri-Pacer. Prized for their ruggedness, spacious cabins, and, for the time, impressive speed, many of these aircraft continue to fly today.
Factory installed 108 hp (81 kW), 125 hp (93 kW), 135 hp (101 kW), 150 hp (110 kW), and 160 hp (120 kW) engine options were available, and 180 hp (130 kW) engine after-market conversions have been offered.
The Pacer and the Tri-Pacer were the first post-World War II Piper designs withflaps and acontrol yoke instead of acenter stick, and they belong to a sub-group of Piper aircraft popularly called "short wing Pipers," reflecting their shorter wingspans compared to the earlierJ-3 Cub andPA-18 Super Cub.[1] ThePA-20 Pacer is atailwheel aircraft and thus has somewhat limited forward visibility on the ground and relatively demanding ground-handling characteristics. To help introduce more pilots to easier, safer flying, from February 1951, Piper introduced thePA-22 Tri-Pacer with anosewheel instead of the tailwheel landing gear.[2] Additionally, the Tri-Pacer offered higher-powered engine options in the form of 150 hp (110 kW) and 160 hp (120 kW) engines, whereas the largest engine available to the original Pacer had an output of 135 hp (101 kW).[3][citation needed] At the time the tricycle undercarriage became a popular preference and 1953 saw the PA-22 Tri-Pacer outsell the Pacer by a ratio of six to one.[4] Due to the geometry of the nosewheel installation, the aircraft is sometimes called the "Flying Milk Stool."[5]
In 1959 and 1960 Piper offered a cheaper, less well-equipped version of the Tri-Pacer with a 150 hp (110 kW)Lycoming O-320 designated thePA-22-150 Caribbean.[6] Over 9400 Tri-Pacers were produced[3] between 1950 and 1964 when production ended, with 3280 stillregistered with the U.S.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in April 2018.[7]
An unusual feature of the Tri-Pacer isbungees linking theailerons andrudder to facilitatecoordinated flight. The system can be easily overcome by the pilot as needed and allowed the installation of a simple Mitchell Industries transistorisedautopilot marketed by Piper under the nameAuto-control. It has roll and yaw data derived from a modified AN5735-1 Direction Indicator and AN5736-1 Gyro Horizon, boosted by a piggyback amplifier on the direction indicator driving a Globe Motors bi-directional motor/servo clamped to the top of the control column via the aileron control chains.[8][9][citation needed]
A trainer version of the PA-22 Tri-Pacer, thePA-22-108 Colt, was introduced to compete directly with other popular trainers such as theCessna 150, and was powered by a 108 hp (81 kW)Lycoming O-235. Quickly designed in late 1960, the two-seat Colt was offered at a substantially lower price than the Tri-Pacer, and omitted the four-seat aircraft's flaps and second wing tank along with the rear side windows and door. The Colt otherwise closely resembles the Tri-Pacer, using the same front seats and door, landing gear, engine mounts, windshield, tail surfaces, struts and instrument panel. Over 2,000 Colts were manufactured and it was the last Pacer variant—and thus the last short wing Piper—to be dropped from production.[6][10]
The last batch of 12 PA-22-150s were built for theFrench Army in 1963 and the last of the family, a PA-22-108 Colt, was completed on 26 March 1964. The type was replaced on the Vero Beach production line by thePA-28 Cherokee 140.[citation needed]
Some PA-22s have been converted to a tailwheel configuration, resulting in an aircraft that is very similar to a PA-20 Pacer, but which retains the model refinements and features of the PA-22. These conversions are often referred to by owners asPA-22/20s and are often listed in classified aircraft ads as such, although officially such converted aircraft continue to be designated by the FAA as PA-22 Tri-Pacers. When this conversion is accomplished, disc brakes are usually installed in place of the originaldrum brakes, and the Lycoming O-360 180 HP engine is the preferred upgrade.[11]Some PA-22s have aHartzell constant-speed controllable propeller or Koppers Aeromatic propeller.[12] Each of these installations improves performance and economy at the sacrifice of payload. A few Colts have also been converted to tailwheel configuration, although this is not as popular as converting Tri-Pacers.[13][failed verification]
Between 1953 and 1955, theCuban Army Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ejército de Cuba, or FAEC) received 7 PA-20s, 4 PA-22-150s, and 3 PA-22-160s. During theCuban Revolution, PA-22s had their rear-doors removed and a .30 caliber machine gun installed in its place for use against insurgents, along with hand-dropped grenades.[14] A PA-22 providing ground support for the Cuban Army during theBattle of Guisa is believed to be the lone aircraft lost by the FAEC to enemy fire.[15]
During theCongo Crisis,Katangese separatists received five PA-22-150s from theSouth African Air Force for theForce aérienne katangaise which were deployed againstONUC forces between 1961 and 1963.[16]
Data from Piper PA-22-160 pilot's operating handbook, issued January 1960
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era