Piper PA-20 Pacer

{{short description|1950s American light aircraft}} {{Use American English|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = PA-20 Pacer & PA-22 Tri-Pacer Family |image = Piper PA-22-150TD Tri-Pacer Kyabram Vabre.jpg |caption = Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacers. The red one is in original configuration, while the blue one has been converted to conventional landing gear |type = Civil utility aircraft |manufacturer = Piper Aircraft |first_flight = 1949 (PA-20) 1950 (PA-22) |primary_user =  |produced = 1950–1954 (PA-20) 1950–1964 (PA-22) |number_built = 1,120 (PA-20) 9,490 (PA-22) |developed_from = Piper PA-15 Vagabond |variants = Javelin V6 STOL }} thumb|Piper PA-20-115 Pacer thumb|Ski-equipped PA-20 Pacer[[File:PiperPA-22-150PacerConversion06.jpg|thumb|Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer converted to conventional landing gear]] thumb|Piper PA-22 Colt thumb|Piper PA-22-150 Caribbean 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.

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.

Factory installed {{cvt|108|hp}}, {{cvt|125|hp}}, {{cvt|135|hp}}, {{cvt|150|hp}}, and {{cvt|160|hp}} engine options were available, and {{cvt|180|hp}} engine after-market conversions have been offered.

==Development== 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.<ref name=AOPA>Twombly, 1990</ref> 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.<ref name="jawa51 p281c">Bridgman 1951, p. 281c.</ref> Additionally, the Tri-Pacer offered higher-powered engine options in the form of {{cvt|150|hp}} and {{cvt|160|hp}}, whereas the largest engine available to the original Pacer had an output of {{cvt|135|hp}}.<ref name=airliners>{{cite web|url= http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=300|title= Airliners.com|access-date=2007-07-20}}</ref>{{cn|date=March 2021|reason=Source not authoritative for general model information}} At that time the tricycle undercarriage became popular and 1953 saw the PA-22 Tri-Pacer outsell the Pacer by six to one.<ref name=aeroyb>Aerospace Year Book, 1962, p.57</ref> Due to the geometry of the nosewheel, the aircraft is sometimes called the "Flying Milk Stool."<ref name=Mejdrich>Mejdrich, 1961, p.49</ref>

In 1959 and 1960, Piper offered a cheaper, less well-equipped version of the Tri-Pacer with a {{cvt|150|hp}} Lycoming O-320 designated the '''PA-22-150 Caribbean'''.<ref name="Plane and Pilot">Plane and Pilot: ''1978 Aircraft Directory'', pages 60–61. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. {{ISBN|0-918312-00-0}}</ref> Over 9400 Tri-Pacers were produced<ref name="airliners" /> between 1950 and 1964 when production ended, with 3280 still registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018.<ref name=FAA>{{Cite web |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=PIPER&Modeltxt=PA-22&PageNo=1 |title=FAA Registry - Piper PA-22 |date=21 April 2018 |editor=Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |access-date=21 April 2018 |archive-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505060116/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=PIPER&Modeltxt=PA-22&PageNo=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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 Mitchell Industries transistorized autopilot marketed by Piper under the name ''Auto-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.<ref>Mitchell Transistorised Automatic Pilots Service instructions issue 1/59 PT 68A12</ref><ref name=flight>{{cite book|title=Flight|publisher=McFadden Business Publications Inc.|year=1972|page=25}}</ref>{{cn|date=March 2021|reason=insufficient info to identify "source"}}

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 {{cvt|108|hp}} 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.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/aircraft-fact-sheets/piper-colt |author= |title=Piper Colt – AOPA |publisher=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association |website=aopa.org |date=23 September 2009 |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref>

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|date=June 2012}}

Some PA-22s have been converted to a tailwheel configuration, resulting in an aircraft very similar to a PA-20 Pacer, but retaining the refinements and features of the PA-22. These conversions are often referred to by owners as '''PA-22/20'''s 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 made, disc brakes are usually installed in place of the original drum brakes, and the Lycoming O-360 180 HP engine is the preferred upgrade.<ref>Univair Aircraft Corporation, General catalogue, Piper STCs</ref> Some PA-22s have a Hartzell constant-speed controllable propeller or Koppers Aeromatic propeller.<ref>Piper Parts Manual 752 450 Figure 50 & 51</ref> These installations improve performance and economy at the sacrifice of payload. A few Colts have also been converted to tailwheel configuration, although this is not as popular.<ref name=arliner2> {{cite web |url= http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=915549&WxsIERv=Cvcre%20CN-22-108%20Pbyg&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Hagvgyrq&QtODMg=Jbbqpuhepu%20-%20Xrag&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Ratynaq&ktODMp=Nhthfg%207%2C%202005&BP=1&WNEb25u=Wraal%20Pbssrl&xsIERvdWdsY=T-NEAX&MgTUQtODMgKE=&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=124&NEb25uZWxs=2005-09-06%2006%3A31%3A58&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=&static=yes&width=1280&height=908&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Cvcre%20CN-20%20Cnpre%27%20BE%20nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Cvcre%20CN-22%20Gev-Cnpre%2FPnevoorna%2FPbyg%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=21&prev_id=917758&next_id=915187 |title= airliners.net |access-date=2007-07-20 }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2021}}

==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.<ref name=AirBritain>Hagedorn, 1993, p.18</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dabrowski|first=Krzysztof|title=Air War over Cuba 1956–1959|url=http://www.acig.info/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=259&Itemid=47|publisher=ACIG.org|access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref>

===France=== A total of 24 PA-22s were acquired by the French Army, the first delivered in 1956 and the last decommissioned in 1975. A total of 14 were delivered to the Army Light Aviation: 3 with a 160 hp engine (2 of which were delivered in May 1957) and 11 with a 150 hp engine, delivered in February and March 1963. To these must be added 10 aircraft for the Marine Troops, delivered in 1957. They were primarily deployed in West Africa<ref>https://www.alat.fr/aeronefs-avions-avions-en-service-piper-pa-22-tripacer-presentation.html</ref>.

They were deployed to Chad from April 1969 against the FROLINAT as part of Operation Limousin in the Chadian Civil War (1965–1979)<ref>https://www.alat.fr/historiques-operations-exterieures-limousin-tchad.html?</ref>. Six PA-22s were deployed in 1971 by the French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) Squadron of the French Marine Troops to Chad. One Tripacer was destroyed on February 18, 1972, during the fighting at Am Dagachi, resulting in the deaths of the three French soldiers on board<ref>https://www.alat.fr/historiques-outre-mer-etranger-1-galtdm.html?</ref>.

===Katanga=== During the Congo Crisis, Katangese separatists received five PA-22-150s from the South African Air Force for the ''Force aérienne katangaise'' which were deployed against ONUC forces between 1961 and 1963.<ref name=Katanga>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_182.shtml |title=Congo, Part 1; 1960–1963 |publisher=ACIG |year=2003 |access-date=2013-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607152333/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_182.shtml=|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 June 2007}}</ref>

==Variants== ;PA-20 :Four seats, conventional landing gear, {{cvt|125|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D engine. Certified 21 December 1949.<ref name="1A4">{{cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/d0e86e7d5c4d63018625720900739da8/$FILE/1A4.pdf|title = AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO. 1A4 Revision 24|access-date = 2010-02-18|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = August 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608055039/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/d0e86e7d5c4d63018625720900739da8/$FILE/1A4.pdf|archive-date = 2011-06-08|url-status = dead}}</ref> ;PA-20S :Three seats, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|125|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D engine. Certified 18 May 1950.<ref name="1A4" /> ;PA-20 115 :Four seats, conventional landing gear, {{cvt|115|hp}} Lycoming O-235-C1 engine. Certified 22 March 1950.<ref name="1A4" /> ;PA-20S 115 :Three-seat, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|115|hp}} Lycoming O-235-C1 engine. Certified 18 May 1950.<ref name="1A4" /> ;PA-20 135 :Four seats, conventional landing gear, {{cvt|135|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 5 May 1952.<ref name="1A4" /> ;PA-20S 135 :Three seats, conventional landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|135|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 15 May 1952.<ref name="1A4" /> ;PA-22 :Four seats, tricycle landing gear, {{cvt|125|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D engine. Certified 20 December 1950.<ref name="1A6">{{cite web|url = http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/ff3667736263dceb862572090073cf58/$FILE/1A6.pdf|title = AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATION NO. 1A6 Revision 34|access-date = 2010-02-18|last = Federal Aviation Administration|date = August 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608055050/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/ff3667736263dceb862572090073cf58/$FILE/1A6.pdf|archive-date = 2011-06-08|url-status = dead}}</ref> ;PA-22-108 Colt :Two seats, tricycle landing gear, {{cvt|108|hp}} Lycoming O-235-C1 or C1B engine. Certified 21 October 1960.<ref name="1A6" /> ;PA-22-135 :Four seats, tricycle landing gear, {{cvt|135|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 5 May 1952.<ref name="1A6" /> ;PA-22S-135 :Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|135|hp}} Lycoming O-290-D2 engine. Certified 14 May 1954.<ref name="1A6" /> thumb|1959 PA-22-150 landing ;PA-22-150 :Two or four seats, tricycle landing gear, {{cvt|150|hp}} 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.<ref name="1A6" /> ;PA-22-150 Caribbean :The Caribbean model was a {{cvt|150|hp}} Lycoming O-320-A2A equipped model that remained in production after the {{cvt|160|hp}} was introduced, to differentiate it.<ref name="Plane and Pilot"/> ;PA-22S-150 :Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|150|hp}} Lycoming O-320-A2A or A2B engine. Certified 3 September 1954.<ref name="1A6" /> ;PA-22-160 :Two or four seats, tricycle landing gear, {{cvt|160|hp}} 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.<ref name="1A6" /> ;PA-22S-160 :Three seats, tricycle landing gear, optional float installation, {{cvt|160|hp}} Lycoming O-320-B2A or B2B engine. Certified 25 October 1957.<ref name="1A6" />

==Specifications (1958 PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer)== {{multiple image |total_width = 500 | image1 = Dreiseitenansicht Piper PA-20.svg | alt1 = 3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-20 Pacer | caption1 = 3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-20 Pacer | image2 = Piper PA-22-108 Colt 3-view line drawing.png | alt2 = 3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-22-108 Colt | caption2 = 3-view line drawing of the Piper PA-22-108 Colt }}

{{Aircraft specs |ref= Piper PA-22-160 pilot's operating handbook, issued January 1960 |prime units?=imp  |crew=one |capacity=three passengers |length ft=20||length in=6 |span ft=29||span in=3 |height ft=8||height in=4 |wing area sqft=147.5 |airfoil= |empty weight lb=1110 |gross weight lb=2000 |fuel capacity={{cvt|36|usgal}}  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Lycoming O-320-B |eng1 type=four cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled, horizontally opposed, piston aircraft engine |eng1 hp=160 |prop blade number=2 |prop name=metal, fixed pitch |prop dia ft=||prop dia in=  |max speed mph=141 |cruise speed mph=134 |cruise speed note= 75% power, 7000ft |stall speed mph=49 |range miles=500 |range note=with reserves, 610 with optional tank |endurance=3:30 at 65% power with one hour reserve |ceiling ft=16500 |climb rate ftmin=800 |wing loading lb/sqft=13.5 }}

==See also== {{Commons category multi|Piper PA-20 Pacer|Piper PA-22}} {{aircontent |related= *PA-15/17 Vagabond *Piper PA-16 Clipper |similar aircraft= *Stinson 108 *Cessna 170 *Cessna 172 *Partenavia Fachiro |lists= |see also= *1949 in aviation }}

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist|30em}} ===Bibliography=== *{{cite book|author=|title=The Aerospace Year Book|publisher=Manufacturers Aircraft Association|year=1962|page=57}} *{{cite book|last=Bridgman|first=Leonard|title=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52|year=1951|location=London|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd}} *{{cite book|last=Hagedorn|first=Dan|title=Central American and Caribbean Air Forces|publisher=Air Britain Historians|location=Tonbridge, Kent|year=1993|isbn=978-0851302102|page=18}} *{{cite book|last=Mejdrich|first=Terry|title=Flight: London|publisher=Iliffe Transport Pubs|year=1961|pages=49}} *{{cite book|author=|title=Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory|publisher=Werner & Werner|location=Santa Monica CA|year=1977|isbn=978-0918312006|pages=60–61}} *{{cite web|last=Twombly|first=Mark R.|title=Aircraft Fact Sheet – Piper Tri-Pacer|url=https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/aircraft-and-ownership/aircraft-fact-sheets/piper-tri-pacer|date=September 1990|publisher=Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association|website=aopa.org|access-date=28 January 2021}}

==External links== * [http://www.pipermuseum.com/portfolio-1/tripacer Tri Pacer Information – Piper Aviation Museum]

Category:High-wing aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Pacer Category:1940s United States civil utility aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1949 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear