The Piper PA-23, named Apache and later Aztec, is an American four- to six-seat twin-engined light aircraft aimed at the general aviation market. The United States Navy and military forces in other countries also used it in small numbers. Originally designed as the Twin Stinson in the 1950s by the Stinson Aircraft Company, Piper Aircraft manufactured the Apache and a more powerful version, the Aztec, in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The PA-23 was the first twin-engined Piper aircraft, and was developed from a proposed "Twin Stinson" design, inherited when Piper bought the Stinson Division of the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation.[1] The prototype PA-23 was a four-seat, low-wing, all-metal monoplane with a twin tail, powered by two 125 hp Lycoming O-290-D piston engines;[1] it first flew on March 2, 1952.[2] The aircraft performed badly, so it was redesigned with a single vertical stabilizer and an all-metal rear fuselage and more powerful 150 hp Lycoming O-320-A engines.[1]
Apache
(ICAO code: PA23)
Two new prototypes of the redesigned aircraft, now named Apache, were built in 1953[1] and entered production in 1954; 1,231 were built. In 1958, the Apache 160 was produced by upgrading the engines to 160 hp (119 kW); 816 were built.[citation needed] The Apache 160 was superseded in 1962 by the Aztec-derived Apache 235.[citation needed] With a 1962 price of $45,000, the Apache 235 featured the Aztec's 235 hp (175 kW) engines and swept tail surfaces[3] (119 built).
In 1959, Piper produced an upgraded version with 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming O-540 engines and a swept vertical tail as the PA-23-250, and named it Aztec.[1] The first models came in a five-seat configuration. In 1961, a longer-nosed variant, the Aztec B, entered production.[1] Later Aztecs were equipped with Lycoming IO-540 fuel-injected engines and six-seat capacity, and remained in production until 1982. Turbocharged versions of the later models could fly at higher altitudes.
The United States Navy acquired 20 Aztecs, designating them UO-1, which changed to U-11A when unified designations were adopted in 1962.
In 1974, Piper produced a single experimental PA-41P Pressurized Aztec concept. This concept was short-lived, however, as the aspects of the Aztec that made it so popular for its spacious interior and ability to haul large loads did not lend themselves well to supporting the sealed pressure vessel required for a pressurized aircraft. The project was scrapped, and the one pressurized Aztec produced, N9941P, was donated to Mississippi State University, where it was used for testing purposes. In 2000, N9941P was donated to the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on the condition that it never be flown again. It is now there on display.
Variants
Apache
PA-23 Apache in National Air and Space MuseumApache on amphibious floatsPA-23 Apache 235 fitted with the Aztec-style square fin and rudderAn Apache with Geronimo tail modificationPiper Aztec C with de-cowled Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 engines
PA-23 Twin-Stinson
Original designation of the Piper PA-23 Apache
PA-23 Apache
Initial production version, 2047 built (including the Apache E, G and H)
On 21 March 1964, a Piper PA-23-160 Apache (G-ASHC) crashed on its approach to the Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, killing all 5 on board. The flight had taken off from Luton Airport and included broadcaster Nancy Spain, who was covering the Grand National, and her friend Joan Werner Laurie, who was learning to fly. The CAA accident report stated that passenger interference could not be ruled out as a cause of the accident.[12][verification needed]
On 18 April 1974, Aztec G-AYDE collided with Court Line Flight 95, a BAC One-Eleven, at London Luton Airport after the pilot of the Aztec entered the active runway without clearance. He was killed and his passenger was injured. All 91 people on board the One-Eleven successfully evacuated after the takeoff was aborted.
On 15 April 1978, Hollywood stunt flyer Frank Tallman was ferrying a Piper Aztec from Santa Monica Airport, California, to Phoenix, Arizona under visual flight rules when he continued the flight into deteriorating weather, a lowering ceiling and rain. He struck the side of Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains near Trabuco Canyon at cruise altitude, dying in the ensuing crash.[17][18]
Specifications (PA-23-250F, normally aspirated)
3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-23-150 Apache
3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-23-250 Aztec
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77[19]
^Although marked with a United States registration and carrying the appropriate registration documentation the aircraft had been cancelled from the American register in 1974; the new owners had not re-registered the aircraft so was unregistered and stateless at the time of the accident
^"Piper Apache 235 (advertisement)". Flying. Vol. 71, no. 5. November 1962. pp. 10–11.
^Bill Cox (December 1, 2004). "Geronimo! For many light-twin owners, Piper's Apache is about as good as it gets". Plane & Pilot. Madavor Media. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
Bridgman, Leonard (1952). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1952–53. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
Fontanellaz, Adrien; Cooper, Tom; Matos, Jose Augusto (2020). War of Intervention in Angola, Volume 3: Angolan and Cuban Air Forces, 1975-1985. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. ISBN978-1-913118-61-7.
Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-210-6.
Peperell, Roger W; Smith, Colin M. (1987). Piper Aircraft and their Forerunners. Tonbridge, Kent, England: Air-Britain. ISBN0-85130-149-5.
Media related to Piper PA-23 Apache at Wikimedia Commons Media related to Piper PA-23-250 Aztec at Wikimedia Commons
Used Aircraft Guide: Piper Apache-Aztec by AVweb
August 18, 2023
piper, named, apache, later, aztec, american, four, seat, twin, engined, light, aircraft, aimed, general, aviation, market, united, states, navy, military, forces, other, countries, also, used, small, numbers, originally, designed, twin, stinson, 1950s, stinso. The Piper PA 23 named Apache and later Aztec is an American four to six seat twin engined light aircraft aimed at the general aviation market The United States Navy and military forces in other countries also used it in small numbers Originally designed as the Twin Stinson in the 1950s by the Stinson Aircraft Company Piper Aircraft manufactured the Apache and a more powerful version the Aztec in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s PA 23 Apache AztecPA 23 Aztec over Maho BeachRole Twin engined light piston utilityManufacturer Piper AircraftFirst flight 2 March 1952Introduction 1954Produced 1952 1981Number built 6 976 Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Apache 1 2 Aztec 2 Variants 2 1 Apache 2 2 Aztec 3 Operators 3 1 Military operators 4 Accidents and incidents 5 Specifications PA 23 250F normally aspirated 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development EditThe PA 23 was the first twin engined Piper aircraft and was developed from a proposed Twin Stinson design inherited when Piper bought the Stinson Division of the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation 1 The prototype PA 23 was a four seat low wing all metal monoplane with a twin tail powered by two 125 hp Lycoming O 290 D piston engines 1 it first flew on March 2 1952 2 The aircraft performed badly so it was redesigned with a single vertical stabilizer and an all metal rear fuselage and more powerful 150 hp Lycoming O 320 A engines 1 Apache Edit ICAO code PA23 Two new prototypes of the redesigned aircraft now named Apache were built in 1953 1 and entered production in 1954 1 231 were built In 1958 the Apache 160 was produced by upgrading the engines to 160 hp 119 kW 816 were built citation needed The Apache 160 was superseded in 1962 by the Aztec derived Apache 235 citation needed With a 1962 price of 45 000 the Apache 235 featured the Aztec s 235 hp 175 kW engines and swept tail surfaces 3 119 built Aztec Edit ICAO code PA27 An ex United States Navy U 11A on display at the Pima Air amp Space MuseumIn 1959 Piper produced an upgraded version with 250 hp 186 kW Lycoming O 540 engines and a swept vertical tail as the PA 23 250 and named it Aztec 1 The first models came in a five seat configuration In 1961 a longer nosed variant the Aztec B entered production 1 Later Aztecs were equipped with Lycoming IO 540 fuel injected engines and six seat capacity and remained in production until 1982 Turbocharged versions of the later models could fly at higher altitudes The United States Navy acquired 20 Aztecs designating them UO 1 which changed to U 11A when unified designations were adopted in 1962 In 1974 Piper produced a single experimental PA 41P Pressurized Aztec concept This concept was short lived however as the aspects of the Aztec that made it so popular for its spacious interior and ability to haul large loads did not lend themselves well to supporting the sealed pressure vessel required for a pressurized aircraft The project was scrapped and the one pressurized Aztec produced N9941P was donated to Mississippi State University where it was used for testing purposes In 2000 N9941P was donated to the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven Pennsylvania on the condition that it never be flown again It is now there on display Variants EditApache Edit PA 23 Apache in National Air and Space Museum Apache on amphibious floats PA 23 Apache 235 fitted with the Aztec style square fin and rudder An Apache with Geronimo tail modification Piper Aztec C with de cowled Lycoming IO 540 C4B5 enginesPA 23 Twin Stinson Original designation of the Piper PA 23 Apache PA 23 Apache Initial production version 2047 built including the Apache E G and H PA 23 150 Apache B 1955 variant with minor changes 1 PA 23 150 Apache C 1956 variant with minor changes 1 PA 23 150 Apache D 1957 variant with minor changes 1 PA 23 160 Apache E PA 23 powered by two 160 hp O 320 B engines PA 23 160 Apache G PA 23 with longer internal cabin and extra window PA 23 160 Apache H Apache G with O 320 B2B engines and minor changes PA 23 235 Apache 235 Apache with five seats and 235 hp O 540 engines 118 built PA 23 250 Aztec Apache G with modified rear fuselage new fin and rudder and 250hp Lycoming O 540 A1D engines 4811 built including subvariants Seguin Geronimo Apache with a series of modifications to the engines nose and tail 4 Aztec Edit 1960 PA 23 250PA 23 250 Aztec B 1962 1964 Aztec with longer nose for a baggage compartment six seats new instrument panel and changes to systems PA 23 250 Aztec C and Aztec C Turbo 1964 1968 Aztec B with either IO 540 C4B5 engines or turbocharged TIO 540 C1A as an option also modified engine nacelles and modified landing gear PA 23 250 Aztec D and Aztec D Turbo 1969 1970 Aztec C with revised instrument panel and controls PA 23 250 Aztec E and Aztec E Turbo 1971 1975 Aztec D with longer pointed nose and a single piece windshield PA 23 250 Aztec F and Aztec F Turbo 1976 1981 Aztec E with improved systems and cambered wingtips and tailplane tip extensions U 11A United States Navy designation formerly UO 1 UO 1 United States Navy designation for PA 23 250 Aztec with additional equipment 20 delivered later re designated U 11A PA 41P Pressurized Aztec Pressurized Aztec concept one built Operators EditMilitary operators Edit Angola 5 Argentina Bolivia Brazil Cameroon Colombia Costa RicaPublic Force of Costa Rica 6 CubaFuezas Aereas Ejercito de Cuba 7 El Salvador GuatemalaGuatemalan Air Force 8 HondurasHonduran Air Force 9 HaitiHaitian Air Force 10 Madagascar Mexico NicaraguaNicaraguan Air Force 11 SpainSpanish Air Force Escuadron 912 Escuadrilla de Enlace 905 ParaguayParaguayan Air Force Grupo Aereo de Transporte Especial GATE Papua New GuineaAir Operations Element Papua New Guinea Defence Force former operator Uganda United StatesUnited States Navy Venezuela UruguayUruguayan Air ForceAccidents and incidents EditOn 21 March 1964 a Piper PA 23 160 Apache G ASHC crashed on its approach to the Aintree racecourse near Liverpool killing all 5 on board The flight had taken off from Luton Airport and included broadcaster Nancy Spain who was covering the Grand National and her friend Joan Werner Laurie who was learning to fly The CAA accident report stated that passenger interference could not be ruled out as a cause of the accident 12 verification needed On 18 July 1967 Aztec C PP ETT was hit by a Lockheed T 33 of the Brazilian Air Force near Mondubim Brazil killing the former President of Brazil Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco 13 On 18 April 1974 Aztec G AYDE collided with Court Line Flight 95 a BAC One Eleven at London Luton Airport after the pilot of the Aztec entered the active runway without clearance He was killed and his passenger was injured All 91 people on board the One Eleven successfully evacuated after the takeoff was aborted On 29 November 1975 retired Formula One racing driver and Embassy Hill team owner Graham Hill was piloting a Piper PA 23 250 Turbo Aztec D marked as N6645Y a from Circuit Paul Ricard France to London United Kingdom 14 His passengers were Embassy Hill race driver Tony Brise team manager Ray Brimble designer Andy Smallman and mechanics Terry Richards and Tony Alcock While on approach to land at Elstree Airfield Hertfordshire shortly before 10 pm in thick fog the aircraft hit trees on a golf course at Arkley Hertfordshire The ensuing crash and explosion killed everyone on board 15 16 On 15 April 1978 Hollywood stunt flyer Frank Tallman was ferrying a Piper Aztec from Santa Monica Airport California to Phoenix Arizona under visual flight rules when he continued the flight into deteriorating weather a lowering ceiling and rain He struck the side of Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains near Trabuco Canyon at cruise altitude dying in the ensuing crash 17 18 Specifications PA 23 250F normally aspirated Edit 3 view line drawing of the Piper PA 23 150 Apache 3 view line drawing of the Piper PA 23 250 Aztec Data from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 19 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 5 passengers Length 31 ft 2 3 4 in 9 519 m Wingspan 37 ft 2 1 2 in 11 341 m Height 10 ft 4 in 3 15 m Wing area 207 56 sq ft 19 283 m2 Aspect ratio 6 8 1 Airfoil USA 35B modified Empty weight 3 180 lb 1 442 kg Max takeoff weight 5 200 lb 2 359 kg Fuel capacity 140 US gal 120 imp gal 530 L usable fuel normal optional extra tanks with 40 US gal 33 imp gal 150 L Powerplant 2 Lycoming IO 540 C4B5 normally aspirated air cooled flat six piston engines 250 hp 190 kW each Propellers 2 bladed Hartzell HC E2YK 2RB constant speed propellersPerformance Maximum speed 215 mph 346 km h 187 kn Cruise speed 172 mph 277 km h 149 kn at 10 200 ft 3 100 m long range cruise Stall speed 68 mph 109 km h 59 kn flaps down Never exceed speed 277 mph 446 km h 241 kn Range 1 519 mi 2 445 km 1 320 nmi at long range cruise Service ceiling 18 950 ft 5 780 m absolute ceiling Rate of climb 1 400 ft min 7 1 m s Takeoff distance to 50 ft 15 m 1 695 ft 517 m Landing distance from 50 ft 15 m 1 695 ft 517 m See also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Beagle B 206 Beechcraft Baron Beechcraft Travel Air Beechcraft Twin Bonanza Cessna 310 Helio Twin Courier Let L 200 Morava Partenavia P 68 Piper PA 34 SenecaReferences EditNotes Edit Although marked with a United States registration and carrying the appropriate registration documentation the aircraft had been cancelled from the American register in 1974 the new owners had not re registered the aircraft so was unregistered and stateless at the time of the accident a b c d e f g h i Peperell amp Smith 1987 pp 91 104 Bridgman 1952 p 238 Piper Apache 235 advertisement Flying Vol 71 no 5 November 1962 pp 10 11 Bill Cox December 1 2004 Geronimo For many light twin owners Piper s Apache is about as good as it gets Plane amp Pilot Madavor Media Retrieved 13 January 2017 Fontanellaz Cooper amp Matos 2020 pp 9 10 Hagedorn 1993 p 128 Hagedorn 1993 p 18 Hagedorn 1993 p 55 Hagedorn 1993 p 72 Hagedorn 1993 p 134 Hagedorn 1993 p 42 ASN Wikibase Occurrence 66552 Accident Piper PA 23 160 Apache G ASHC 21 Mar 1964 Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 25 February 2019 The second death of Castello Branco Aircraft Accident Report 14 76 PDF Accidents Investigation Board 29 September 1976 Retrieved 25 November 2011 BBC This day in history 1975 Graham Hill killed in air crash Graham Hill 46 Retired Racer In Fatal Crash Piloting His Plane UPI News Service December 1 1975 Monday New York Times archive NTSB Identification LAX78FA043 National Transportation Safety Board Retrieved July 27 2017 The Reaper Catches Up In Trabuco Canyon California April 15 1978 Check Six com Retrieved July 8 2016 Taylor 1976 pp 348 349 Bibliography Edit Bridgman Leonard 1952 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1952 53 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd Fontanellaz Adrien Cooper Tom Matos Jose Augusto 2020 War of Intervention in Angola Volume 3 Angolan and Cuban Air Forces 1975 1985 Warwick UK Helion amp Company Publishing ISBN 978 1 913118 61 7 Hagedorn Daniel P 1993 Central American and Caribbean Air Forces Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 210 6 Peperell Roger W Smith Colin M 1987 Piper Aircraft and their Forerunners Tonbridge Kent England Air Britain ISBN 0 85130 149 5 Taylor John W R 1976 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1976 77 London Jane s Yearbooks ISBN 0 354 00538 3 External links Edit Media related to Piper PA 23 Apache at Wikimedia Commons Media related to Piper PA 23 250 Aztec at Wikimedia Commons Used Aircraft Guide Piper Apache Aztec by AVweb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piper PA 23 amp oldid 1164936466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
