Piper PA-20 Pacer
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The PA-20 Pacer is a four-place, high-wing light aircraft that was built by Piper Aircraft in the post-World War II period.
The Pacer was essentially a four-place version of the two-place PA-17 Vagabond light aircraft. It features a steel tube fuselage and an aluminum frame wing, covered with fabric, much like Piper's most famous aircraft, the Cub and Super Cub. An aircraft prized for its ruggedness, spacious cabin, and, for its time, impressive speed, many Pacers continue to fly today. Factory installed 125-hp, 135 hp and 150-hp engine options were available and 160-hp as well as 180-hp engine after-market conversions are an option.
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer
The Pacer was designed as a tailwheel aircraft and thus had limited forward visibility on the ground and more demanding ground-handling characteristics than its main market competition, the Cessna 172. To compete, the PA-20 was redesigned and offered as the PA-22 Tri-Pacer with a nosewheel in place of the tailwheel landing gear. Additionally, the Tri-Pacer offered higher-powered engine options in the form of 150 and 160-HP engines, whereas the largest engine available to the original Pacer had an output of 135 HP.[link]In 1959 and 1960 Piper offered a cheaper, less well-equipped version of the Tri-Pacer with a 150 HP Lycoming O-320 designated the PA-22-150 Caribbean.
A small number of Tri-Pacers and Caribbeans have been converted to taildragger configuration, resulting in an aircraft that is very similar to a PA-20 Pacer. These are sometimes referred to as PA-22/20s although this is not an official Piper designation.
Aesthetics
While the original PA-20 Pacer is generally regarded as an aesthetically attractive aircraft, with classic, "traditional" lines, some pilots and aircraft enthusiasts find the PA-22 Tri-Pacer a less attractive-looking variant. Due to the geometry of the nosewheel installation it is sometimes referred as the "Flying Milk Stool". Both the PA-20 and PA-22s have their supporters and enthusiasts.Miss Pearl
Miss Pearl (N3383A) is a PA-22-135 taildragger which was converted and restored by its owner, Frank Sperandeo III. This aircraft is arguably the most well-known of its type and has won more than 50 awards. [link]. The aircraft was also featured in the May 2006 edition of General Aviation News.Piper PA-22-108 Colt
A trainer version of the PA-22 Tri-Pacer was designed and designated the PA-22-108 Colt. It was intended to compete directly with other popular trainers of the day, such as the Cessna 150 and was powered by a 108 hp Lycoming O-235.The Colt is essentially a PA-17 Vagabond with a nosewheel and consequently is easily visually confused with the Tri-Pacer. Like the Vagabond, the Colt featured side-by-side seating for two. A few Colts have also been converted to tailwheel configuration, although this is not as popular as converting Tri-Pacers.[link]
Production of the Vagabond, Pacer, Tri-Pacer and Colt was completed by the early 1960s and they were superseded by the PA-28 Cherokee line of aircraft.
Type Club Support
The Pacer, Tri-Pacer, Colt and their variants are supported by a very active aircraft type club, The Shortwing Piper Club.[link]Specifications (PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer)
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 20 ft 7 in (6.28 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 4 in (8.93 m)
- Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.53 m)
- Wing area: 148 ft² (13.7 m²)
- Empty: 1,100 lb (503 kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 2,000 lb (907 kg)
- Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-320-B, 160 hp (119 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 142 mph (227 km/h)
- Range: 540 miles (862 km)
- Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,030 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
- Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)
External links
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