Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Buy an O-290 and Tripacer is free

Well not really but.... I have been working with an A&P to log some time. He has an older Tripacer that he wants to sell "as is" or part out. The plane was totally striped and recover with poly fiber in 2003. The engine (O-290, 135 HP) was field overhauled to specs at the same time. He has the original log book on the engine but the airframe was started at the point of the rebuild. Unfortunately, the owner did not keep the plane in good condition. It sat out since June 2003 and has been flown only about 10 hours since all of the work. She is not airworthy right now but could be with a little effort. He is going to let it go for 10K or part it out as needed. I thought that I'd let y'all know about it prior to it going out "public". If you want more data, PM me.

Is the TriPacer still available?

Back in the late 1970's, I owned a 1957 PA22-150, a 1957 model. It had the 150 hp engine, and I loved it. It was cheap to own and fly, looked good in an old fashioned sort of way, and the climb, cruise speed and fuel consumption was roughtly comparable to a C-172. The thing glided like a flat rock, however. Also, the Tripacer had an aileron/rudder control inerlock that claimed to provide "coordinated flight" using only the control yoke with no rudder input required. The mechanism was spring loaded so you could override it to do slips, etc. In my opinion this was not a good system, and the airplane would have been better without it. I never did research the legality and desirability of disconnecting the flight control interlock system.

The Tripacer was a great little airplane, and I wish I still owned my old one.

The tripacer did have a few issues with the struts and with corrosion by the seats. I have flown in them and think they are one of the best bargain with 4 seats. I seriously considered a Colt, also a good deal, before I got my 150.

I have owned both a Colt and a TriPacer. They are great values. As with all fabric covered aircraft, they will deteriorate if kept outside . Covered in Ceconite/the like and inside a hanger, they'll last 25+ years. And everyone I know disconnects the interconnect. Mike.

John McQuire was a good friend of mine and used to let me fly his Colt around Memphis, in the late '70's. I had recovered his wings for him, under my A&P instructor's supervision. I loved that plane, and looked for a Colt or Tri-Pacer before I got into 150's. We lost John to a heart attack in the mid '80's, but his wife kept the Colt, as their teenage daughter wanted to learn to fly it when she became old enough. They had moved to Kansas before John's death, and the Colt was tied down outside. It was destroyed by hail and wind damage, just as the daughter was coming of age to fly it. It was like losing John all over again for all of us.

Back when we were looking at upgrading from our 100HP 150, the Tripacer was rapidly becoming our only option in our price range. The O-300 equipped 172's were within our price range. But were only marginally better in performance then our 150. Lycoming equipped 172's were much too pricy. I really had my eye on the 170. Really liking it's sleek lines. And it would have to be the "B" model with the Fowler Flaps. But that put the 170 well out of our price range also. I even looked at the Aero Commander Darter and Lark. But they apparently lacked the low speed handling characteristics that I was searching for.

So, it was down to the Tripacer. And it would have been a compromise on our part. I was not particularly enamoured with the single door and short wing. Especially with that short wing. Having the reputation of having a glide angle just a wee bit better then a rock. But, it did have the useful load we needed. And lots of room with the back seat removed. Plus, with the "back door" would make for easier loading and unloading. And the option of the back seat if we did choose to fly as more then two. So, I had committed myself to going with the Tripacer.

Then came this email offering Mr. Ed for sale..................


Note: It is my understanding that there are now parts availability issues with the O-290??

My mind occassionally plays with the idea of acquiring a Pacer, but I can't seem to find anyone who really knows the flying qualities.

Reg

Reg,

Contact Steve Pankonin here at Steve's aircraft [stevesaircraft.com]. He is "the authority" when it comes to the short winged Pipers. He can answer any and all questions you may have about the TriPacer. If you would like, fly on down here and I, Dan, or Bill W. would gladly take you out and introduce you to him in person!

I've got a little time in Pacers and TriPacers. The Pacer is just like the TriPacer; flies just the same.

Geo.

Phillip, yes it is still available. Sorry for the late reply. I am in Washington DC for the holidays and have to "snipe" off of any available wireless. I took pictures just prior to the holidays and was going to upload them but left the camera cable at home. The plane is in good shape but is not flyable. It is out of annual and has a few things in need of repair. We took the wings off to move it to another airfield and I'd recommend that whoever buys her trailers her home. Brad, the A&P, selling her could deliver if it is not too far. He is asking 10K but will negotiate. I do not know his bottom price. The airframe and engine were rebuilt in 2002 but has been neglected (tied down outside) since then. PM me or call Brad Roberts at 601-917-2720 for more details.