The PA-20 Pacer and PA-22 Tri-Pacer, Caribbean, and Colt are an American family of light strut-braced high-wing monoplane aircraft built by Piper Aircraft from 1949 to 1964.
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 to conventional landing gear
The Pacer is essentially a four-place version of the two-place PA-17 Vagabond, with conventional landing gear, a steel tube fuselage and an aluminum frame wing covered with fabric, much like Piper's famous Cub and Super Cub. The Tri-Pacer is a development of the Pacer with tricycle landing gear, while the Colt is a two-seat flight 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 with flaps and a control yoke instead of a center stick, and they belong to a sub-group of Piper aircraft popularly called "short wing Pipers," reflecting their shorter wingspans compared to the earlier J-3 Cub and PA-18 Super Cub.[1] The PA-20 Pacer is a tailwheel 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 the PA-22 Tri-Pacer with a nosewheel 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 the PA-22-150 Caribbean.[6] Over 9400 Tri-Pacers were produced[3] between 1950 and 1964 when production ended, with 3280 still registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in April 2018.[7]
An unusual feature of the Tri-Pacer is bungees linking the ailerons and rudder to facilitate coordinated flight. The system can be easily overcome by the pilot as needed and allowed the installation of a simple autopilot marketed by Piper under the name Auto-control.[8][citation needed]
A trainer version of the PA-22 Tri-Pacer, the PA-22-108 Colt, was introduced to compete directly with other popular trainers such as the Cessna 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][9]
The last batch of 12 PA-22-150s were built for the French 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 the PA-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 as PA-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, a disc brake conversion is usually installed in place of the original drum brakes, and the Lycoming O-360 180 HP engine is the preferred upgrade.[10] Some PA-22s have a Hartzell constant-speed controllable propeller or Koppers Aeromatic propeller.[11] 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.[12][failed verification]
Operational history
Cuba
Between 1953 and 1955, the Cuban Army Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ejército de Cuba, or FAEC) received 7 PA-20s, 4 PA-22-150s, and 3 PA-22-160s. During the Cuban 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.[13] A PA-22 providing ground support for the Cuban Army during the Battle of Guisa is believed to be the lone aircraft lost by the FAEC to enemy fire.[14]
Three seats, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290-D engine. Certified 18 May 1950.[16]
PA-20 115
Four seats, conventional landing gear, 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming O-235-C1 engine. Certified 22 March 1950.[16]
PA-20S 115
Three-seat, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, 115 hp (86 kW) Lycoming O-235-C1 engine. Certified 18 May 1950.[16]
PA-20 135
Four seats, conventional landing gear, 135 hp (101 kW) Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 5 May 1952.[16]
PA-20S 135
Three seats, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, 135 hp (101 kW) Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 15 May 1952.[16]
PA-22
Four seats, tricycle landing gear, 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290-D engine. Certified 20 December 1950.[17]
PA-22-108 Colt
Two seats, tricycle landing gear, 108 hp (81 kW) Lycoming O-235-C1 or C1B engine. Certified 21 October 1960.[17]
PA-22-135
Four seats, tricycle landing gear, 135 hp (101 kW) Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 5 May 1952.[17]
PA-22S-135
Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, 135 hp (101 kW) Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 14 May 1954.[17]
1959 PA-22-150 landing
PA-22-150
Two or four seats, tricycle landing gear, 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320-A2A or A2B engine. Certified 3 September 1952 as a four place in the normal category and 24 May 1957 as a two place in the utility category.[17]
PA-22-150 Caribbean
The Caribbean model was a 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320-A2A equipped model that remained in production after the 160 hp (120 kW) was introduced, to differentiate it.[6]
PA-22S-150
Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, 150 hp (110 kW) Lycoming O-320-A2A or A2B engine. Certified 3 September 1954.[17]
PA-22-160
Two or four seats, tricycle landing gear, 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320-B2A or B2B engine. Certified 3 September 1952 as a four place in the normal category and as a two place in the utility category.[17]
PA-22S-160
Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, 160 hp (120 kW) Lycoming O-320-B2A or B2B engine. Certified 25 October 1957.[17]
Specifications (1958 PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer)
Piper PA-20 Colt three view drawing
Data from Piper PA-22-160 pilot's operating handbook, issued January 1960
The Aerospace Year Book. Manufacturers Aircraft Association. 1962. p. 57.
Bridgman, Leonard (1951). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
Hagedorn, Dan (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent: Air Britain Historians. p. 18. ISBN978-0851302102.
Mejdrich, Terry (1961). Flight: London. Iliffe Transport Pubs. p. 49.
Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory. Santa Monica CA: Werner & Werner. 1977. pp. 60–61. ISBN978-0918312006.
Twombly, Mark R. (September 1990). "Aircraft Fact Sheet – Piper Tri-Pacer". aopa.org. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
March 03, 2023
piper, pacer, pacer, pacer, caribbean, colt, american, family, light, strut, braced, high, wing, monoplane, aircraft, built, piper, aircraft, from, 1949, 1964, pacer, pacerfamilypiper, pacers, original, configuration, while, blue, been, converted, conventional. The PA 20 Pacer and PA 22 Tri Pacer Caribbean and Colt are an American family of light strut braced high wing monoplane aircraft built by Piper Aircraft from 1949 to 1964 PA 20 Pacer amp PA 22 Tri PacerFamilyPiper PA 22 150 Tri Pacers The red one is in original configuration while the blue one has been converted to conventional landing gearRole Civil utility aircraftManufacturer Piper AircraftFirst flight 1949 PA 20 1950 PA 22 Produced 1950 1954 PA 20 1950 1964 PA 22 Number built 1 120 PA 20 9 490 PA 22 Developed from Piper PA 15 VagabondVariants Javelin V6 STOLPiper PA 20 115 Pacer Ski equipped PA 20 Pacer Piper PA 22 135 Tri Pacer Piper PA 22 150 Tri Pacer converted to conventional landing gear Piper PA 22 Colt Piper PA 22 150 Caribbean The Pacer is essentially a four place version of the two place PA 17 Vagabond with conventional landing gear a steel tube fuselage and an aluminum frame wing covered with fabric much like Piper s famous Cub and Super Cub The Tri Pacer is a development of the Pacer with tricycle landing gear while the Colt is a two seat flight 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 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 2 1 Cuba 2 2 Katanga 3 Variants 4 Specifications 1958 PA 22 160 Tri Pacer 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 BibliographyDevelopment EditThe Pacer and the Tri Pacer were the first post World War II Piper designs with flaps and a control yoke instead of a center stick and they belong to a sub group of Piper aircraft popularly called short wing Pipers reflecting their shorter wingspans compared to the earlier J 3 Cub and PA 18 Super Cub 1 The PA 20 Pacer is a tailwheel 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 the PA 22 Tri Pacer with a nosewheel 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 the PA 22 150 Caribbean 6 Over 9400 Tri Pacers were produced 3 between 1950 and 1964 when production ended with 3280 still registered with the U S Federal Aviation Administration FAA in April 2018 7 An unusual feature of the Tri Pacer is bungees linking the ailerons and rudder to facilitate coordinated flight The system can be easily overcome by the pilot as needed and allowed the installation of a simple autopilot marketed by Piper under the name Auto control 8 citation needed A trainer version of the PA 22 Tri Pacer the PA 22 108 Colt was introduced to compete directly with other popular trainers such as the Cessna 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 9 The last batch of 12 PA 22 150s were built for the French 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 the PA 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 as PA 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 a disc brake conversion is usually installed in place of the original drum brakes and the Lycoming O 360 180 HP engine is the preferred upgrade 10 Some PA 22s have a Hartzell constant speed controllable propeller or Koppers Aeromatic propeller 11 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 12 failed verification Operational history EditCuba Edit Between 1953 and 1955 the Cuban Army Air Force Fuerza Aerea Ejercito de Cuba or FAEC received 7 PA 20s 4 PA 22 150s and 3 PA 22 160s During the Cuban 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 13 A PA 22 providing ground support for the Cuban Army during the Battle of Guisa is believed to be the lone aircraft lost by the FAEC to enemy fire 14 Katanga Edit During the Congo Crisis Katangese separatists received five PA 22 150s from the South African Air Force for the Force aerienne katangaise which were deployed against ONUC forces between 1961 and 1963 15 Variants EditPA 20 Four seats conventional landing gear 125 hp 93 kW Lycoming O 290 D engine Certified 21 December 1949 16 PA 20S Three seats conventional landing gear optional float installation 125 hp 93 kW Lycoming O 290 D engine Certified 18 May 1950 16 PA 20 115 Four seats conventional landing gear 115 hp 86 kW Lycoming O 235 C1 engine Certified 22 March 1950 16 PA 20S 115 Three seat conventional landing gear optional float installation 115 hp 86 kW Lycoming O 235 C1 engine Certified 18 May 1950 16 PA 20 135 Four seats conventional landing gear 135 hp 101 kW Lycoming O 290 D2 engine Certified 5 May 1952 16 PA 20S 135 Three seats conventional landing gear optional float installation 135 hp 101 kW Lycoming O 290 D2 engine Certified 15 May 1952 16 PA 22 Four seats tricycle landing gear 125 hp 93 kW Lycoming O 290 D engine Certified 20 December 1950 17 PA 22 108 Colt Two seats tricycle landing gear 108 hp 81 kW Lycoming O 235 C1 or C1B engine Certified 21 October 1960 17 PA 22 135 Four seats tricycle landing gear 135 hp 101 kW Lycoming O 290 D2 engine Certified 5 May 1952 17 PA 22S 135 Three seats tricycle landing gear optional float installation 135 hp 101 kW Lycoming O 290 D2 engine Certified 14 May 1954 17 1959 PA 22 150 landing PA 22 150 Two or four seats tricycle landing gear 150 hp 110 kW Lycoming O 320 A2A or A2B engine Certified 3 September 1952 as a four place in the normal category and 24 May 1957 as a two place in the utility category 17 PA 22 150 Caribbean The Caribbean model was a 150 hp 110 kW Lycoming O 320 A2A equipped model that remained in production after the 160 hp 120 kW was introduced to differentiate it 6 PA 22S 150 Three seats tricycle landing gear optional float installation 150 hp 110 kW Lycoming O 320 A2A or A2B engine Certified 3 September 1954 17 PA 22 160 Two or four seats tricycle landing gear 160 hp 120 kW Lycoming O 320 B2A or B2B engine Certified 3 September 1952 as a four place in the normal category and as a two place in the utility category 17 PA 22S 160 Three seats tricycle landing gear optional float installation 160 hp 120 kW Lycoming O 320 B2A or B2B engine Certified 25 October 1957 17 Specifications 1958 PA 22 160 Tri Pacer Edit Piper PA 20 Colt three view drawing Data from Piper PA 22 160 pilot s operating handbook issued January 1960General characteristicsCrew one Capacity three passengers Length 20 ft 6 in 6 25 m Wingspan 29 ft 3 in 8 92 m Height 8 ft 4 in 2 54 m Wing area 147 5 sq ft 13 70 m2 Empty weight 1 110 lb 503 kg Gross weight 2 000 lb 907 kg Fuel capacity 36 US gal 140 l 30 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 320 B four cylinder four stroke air cooled horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine 160 hp 120 kW Propellers 2 bladed metal fixed pitchPerformance Maximum speed 141 mph 227 km h 123 kn Cruise speed 134 mph 216 km h 116 kn 75 power 7000ft Stall speed 49 mph 79 km h 43 kn Range 500 mi 800 km 430 nmi with reserves 610 with optional tank Endurance 3 30 at 65 power with one hour reserve Service ceiling 16 500 ft 5 000 m Rate of climb 800 ft min 4 1 m s Wing loading 13 5 lb sq ft 66 kg m2 See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to wbr Piper PA 20 Pacer and wbr Piper PA 22 1949 in aviationRelated development PA 15 17 Vagabond Piper PA 16 ClipperAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Stinson 108 Cessna 170 Cessna 172 Partenavia FachiroReferences EditCitations Edit Twombly 1990 Bridgman 1951 p 281c a b Airliners com Retrieved 2007 07 20 Aerospace Year Book 1962 p 57 Mejdrich 1961 p 49 a b c Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory pages 60 61 Werner amp Werner Corp Santa Monica CA 1977 ISBN 0 918312 00 0 Federal Aviation Administration FAA ed 21 April 2018 FAA Registry Piper PA 22 Archived from the original on 5 May 2016 Retrieved 21 April 2018 Flight McFadden Business Publications Inc 1972 p 25 Piper Colt AOPA aopa org Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 23 September 2009 Retrieved 26 January 2021 Univair Aircraft Corporation General catalogue Piper STCs Piper Parts Manual 752 450 Figure 50 amp 51 airliners net Retrieved 2007 07 20 Hagedorn 1993 p 18 Dabrowski Krzysztof Air War over Cuba 1956 1959 ACIG org Retrieved 19 January 2013 Congo Part 1 1960 1963 ACIG 2003 Archived from the original on 7 June 2007 Retrieved 2013 08 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b c d e f Federal Aviation Administration August 2006 AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO 1A4 Revision 24 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 06 08 Retrieved 2010 02 18 a b c d e f g h Federal Aviation Administration August 2006 AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO 1A6 Revision 34 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 06 08 Retrieved 2010 02 18 Bibliography Edit The Aerospace Year Book Manufacturers Aircraft Association 1962 p 57 Bridgman Leonard 1951 Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1951 52 London Sampson Low Marston amp Company Ltd Hagedorn Dan 1993 Central American and Caribbean Air Forces Tonbridge Kent Air Britain Historians p 18 ISBN 978 0851302102 Mejdrich Terry 1961 Flight London Iliffe Transport Pubs p 49 Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory Santa Monica CA Werner amp Werner 1977 pp 60 61 ISBN 978 0918312006 Twombly Mark R September 1990 Aircraft Fact Sheet Piper Tri Pacer aopa org Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Retrieved 28 January 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piper PA 20 Pacer amp oldid 1141915406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
