Piper PA-16 Clipper
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The Piper PA-16 Clipper is an extended fuselage model of the PA-15 Vagabond. Both models were designed in 1947 for the same reason - Piper Aircraft found itself in dire financial straits and needed to create new, competitive models using existing parts and tooling. The result was the Vagabond, essentially a side-by-side version of the tandem J-3 Cub that is credited with saving the company! [link]
The PA-16 Clipper is a stretched and refined version of the Vagabond intended to seat four people (or "two-and-a-half to three" as often told by Clipper pilots). It is equipped with an extra wing tank, added doors to accommodate the new seating, and a Lycoming O-235, the same engine that would later power the Cessna 152 and the PA-22-108 Colt, itself essentially a Vagabond with a nosewheel. The PA-16 Clipper retained the control sticks that had up to that point been common in aircraft derived from the "Cub" family.
In 1949, the Clipper sold for $2995. The average four place airplane on the market at that time cost over $5000. Fewer than 800 Clippers were built in the one year of production before Piper changed to the Piper PA-20 Pacer.
Pan Am Airlines, who traditionally called its famous luxury airliners "Clippers", took offense at Piper using the name for their light aircraft. As a result of this pressure Piper further refined the model, adding wing flaps, further fuel tanks and replaced the control sticks with yokes. A more powerful Lycoming O-320 150 hp engine was installed and this model became the Piper PA-20 Pacer.[link]
Aircraft Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 20 ft 1 in
- Wingspan: 29 ft 3 in
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
- Empty: 850 lb
- Maximum takeoff: 1,650 lb
- Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-235, 115 hp (108 hp with cruise pitch propellor)
- Fuel: 12 gal in cowl tank and 18 gal in wing tank (many converted to two 18 gal wing tanks)
Performance
- Maximum crusing speed: 117 mph
- Never exceed speed: 140 mph
- Cruise speed: 112 mph
- Stall speed: 50 mph
- Rate of climb: 580 ft/min
Related Content
Related Development
Similar Aircraft
Designation Sequence
PA-11 - PA-12 - PA-14 - PA-15 - PA-16 - PA-17 - PA-18 - PA-19 - PA20References
- http://www.flymuseum.dk/sprog/engelsk/UKfly/PA-16.html
- http://www.shortwing.org
- Piper's Golden Age by Alan Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and Paul Matt
- The Pilot's Guide to Affordable Classics by Bill Clarke
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