I messed up and somehow called the Tri-Pacer the wrong model. The Tri-Pacer is a PA-22, not a PA-20 as I said in the video. I don't know what I was thinking. Thank you for watching!
My first plane was a Tri-Pacer I bought in 1975 with only 14 hrs of flying time. I had so much fun in that plane with a few scares that taught me lessons that kept me safe
Most of the haters have never flown one. Put most of my time in one, and yea, throw a rock out where you chop it and that's where you land, but it also means it goes where you fly it. As a young pilot, I always was trying to fly it smooth, all relaxed and working toward that grease landing. I got my eyes opened real quick when dad and I came across the road landing at our farm, yea, I was already anticipating the grease, and the wind tunnel upset the hell out of her. Dad had to have been anticipating my screw up, because in a split second he rammed the throttle, added aileron and rudder and set her down dead in the middle with just a bot of a bump. I will never forget him looking at me and saying " you fly it to the ground ". God I wish we still had her.......
When I was 19, (I’m nearly 63 now) I owned a Colt, PA-22-108. 108 hp, 2 seat Tri-Pace with no flaps and the back windows were painted on. I remember I bought it for $4,800.00. I actually flew it more after I sold it than I did when I owned it. It was a great airplane.
@@MyTimeToFly I sold it to a young couple who were both pre-solo students, and by then I was a brand new CFI, so, not only did I fly it more after I sold than I did when I owned it, but they were paying me to fly it.😉😝
Have had one for thirty years. I love it. Been all over the country. And since I live in Wisconsin, Oshkosh is a local fly in. Flew it to every one since 1992 except 2001 and 1999. I even landed in 2020, just because.
My first airplane was a PA-22-150 twenty five or more years ago. It was a great introduction to aircraft ownership. In fact I still have it, but it is disassembled in my boathouse. It was a fine flying little plane with two things I really didn't like, the single lever (Johnson Bar) brakes and its lack of performance in mountain flying. Neither were game enders, but both required awareness and planing.
@@MyTimeToFly It was the lower tube rust AD, plus the tail cluster was pretty badly rusted as well. It did not seem like an economically viable repair. I had bought a Cessna 180 already anyway so it wasn't getting flown much. It might still be a good candidate for a PA-22/20 conversion at some point since you need to get into all of the areas that are rusty anyway. A 180hp PA-22/20 is a VERY good performer!
I was giving myself a headache trying to find a decent airplane that wouldn't bankrupt me until a PA-22-150 popped up at my local airport. A lot more capable than a Cessna 150 and cheaper than most of them! Something I learned during the pre-buy: if you're starting one up for the first time and are confused about where the master and starter switches are, check under the left seat! 😉
I fly the heck out of my TriPacer bought Jan of '20 and have about 200 hours in it. Love the plane and was at Oshkosh with it this year. I have a the trip on my channel and it's a great plane to train in. My GF got her PPL in July in my plane. Great video. Just subbed to your channel nice vids. Thanks for sharing.
Most of my friends that have owned Tri-Pacers, have been very careful about observing "Weight and Balance" restrictions. And four, full grown Adults are a bit much to load. But Mom, Dad and two kids works out just fine! Cruise speeds vary according to the engine installed. The 150 or 160 hp versions can cruise at up to 135 mph. To cut noise and extend range, most cruise at 125 or even 120. Happy Flying!
I loved your video because you are completely right about prices going up in a crazy way. Looks like only the very rich will be capable to own a four seater or so. Last week I was browsing "just in case" I could/would buy a 172 Cessna and I got aback about prices. In fact 182 is cheaper. Surprisingly, 150/152 prices are also sky rocketing. I think this option you're presenting now is great. I owned an Aeronca Champion around 19 years ago and believe me, was a wonder so much that I didn't face up a trouble to wash it away from my hands. An all fabric airplane, slow and underpowered but a nice one to fly. Looks like the tripacer is the same kind of airplane but a bit faster, though I like much more the pacer. Thank you for sharing this interesting video of yours. Definitively, I'm subscribing your channel. Greetings from Mexico.
The Tri Pacer is a wonderful airplane! I flew one round trip from Fayetteville, North Carolina, (Ft. Bragg), to E. St. Louis and return in 1962 when I was 19 years old. Great trip.
Flew one out of Yomitan air base on Okinawa in 1967. It was limited to 3 passengers due to its age. It was a “Power Plane” that has the gliding angle of a brick with no power.
I loved ours. 1957 pa22 150. Somewhere about 1750-1800 tt. That was 1993-95 as I recall. Best of all the aircraft I've ever flown. Gave 12k flew couple 3 yrs and it's still flying somewhere south of here last I checked. Fast fun, short field, sinks like a rock but a treat to fly. Miss it and flying.
I flew one from Miami to Panama (the long way) It’s a great plane Even landed off airports and in bad weather on the Pan American highway and on a mountain road in 1964 lol
I owned a PA22 1957 N7615D rolled tip wing. It had been modified with a extra notch of flaps (3 positions) . Loved this bird. Wish I still had her.. Put a lot of hours on it and had very little problems.. Not expensive to maintain either. She would do a full slip to a short runway with ease.. I kept her at Tucson and they often asked me to do a short field landing for Runway 11. She had a DF (not ADF) lol.. Really miss her!!
I've never seen a Tri-pacer in my country, but I do have time on a Colt, and I loved it. The side slips were out of this world. I loved my Mooney time too, but found it hard to drain condensation out of the tanks in a dirt field in rain and still look presentable for the flight ...
I picked my 1959 150hp Tri Pacer in July 2019 for $15k, it was a bit clapped out and spare in the cockpit, but also mechanically sound with fresh Stitts. I trained in a 1965 Cherokee 160 for about a year… and it’s very comparable to flying a Tri Pacer… except the Tri Pacer has a bit of an agricultural feel to it.. but speed, controls, and performance are very close.
I added lights to the panel and reupholstered the interior including adding some light weight carpet. I would be flying it a lot more if my medical certificate would only be approved.
What a cool video! I found my 1960 Piper Comanche 250 after looking at the usuals. Just like you point out here: it’s good to look outside your zone and see other options!
I bought my 1957 TriPacer with 150 HP many years ago for $7500. I sold it two years after many hours for $7500. Great airplane. It would be worth much more now obviously.
Prospective airplane buyer - finally an affordable and good value airplane! Tri Pacer seller - I saw a video about the value of my Tri Pacer and well I thought it was only going to be worth 20-25k but that video says I should be able to get 40-45k for it, I'm delighted!
Great video. I do not yet have my PPL but this was a great video as I was looking at a reasonable plane to us e and it get my hours in. It looks like these would be a keeper too if found and purchased.
Unreal prices..Like everything. I was 11 yrs. old when I started taking flying lessons in my dads Tri-Pacer out of Long Beach. Last time I checked the plane was still in service somewhere up in Montana.
My first (annnnd only, life got in the way so training has been postponed) 15 hours of training were in a Tri-Pacer and a Bearhawk. Genuinely enjoyed my time in then, even if I don't have much experience for comparison lol
I had two Tri-Pacers, one each 150 & 160. The 160 was all metal. Bought them back in 69 (the 160-metal) and 73--the 150 and I think Ipaid around 4500 +/- for each. My first airplane was an Erco Aircoupe bought 1967 for $2250. I'm 85 now and still flying....a Grumman AA1B which I have owned for 43 years.
The PA-20 is the Pacer, the Tri-Pacer is a PA-22. They are the same airplane except the Pacer is a tail dragger and the Tri-Pacer has tricycle landing gear. A couple of things about these airplanes: there are corrosion problems around the door frames. This is expensive to just doe the inspection and if corrosion is found then the longerons must be replaced. $$$ The other thing is the Pacer is not an easy airplane to handle. The tail and airfoil come from the Cub. Upon flair the sort coupled fuselage will blanket the airflow over the vertical stabilizer making control difficult. This makes the Pacer prone to ground loops. Piper fixed this by adding the nose gear. There is an STC to convert the PA-22 to a tail dragger. These are known as PA-22/20. The STC gear is wider than the PA-20. These are a little better landing than the stock PA-20. Other than these issues, they are great airplanes. Good luck
My first airplane ride--ever--was in either a Colt or a TriPacer. A birthday present from my dad (in the late 50's). I see the 2021 Cessna 172 costs almost $500,000! Yikes!!
It is sooo frustrating to see prices skyrocket like that. I remember when a '60s M20C would cost 30k and a clapped out 172 would almost be given away, they were even cheaper than 152s. A Tri Pacer? Nobody wanting to get anywhere would even consider the obese ahem, sorry "overgrown" Cub. Well, at least you're making money while flying at the same time. Honest congratulations for the great timing and thanks for sharing your experience with us through your YT content. It is really appreciated!
Mine out flies the much nicer 172 that the airport rents out here. 😁 people can talk smack all they want but mine is the better choice in almost every reasonable way.
Easily cruises at 130mph and climbs out at over a thousand feet per minute at 95mph in the summer from our 4,000 foot airport. I'm glad enough people didn't realize how nice of an airplane this really is. Now I got one cheap before the price went up. Same engine as the 172 with only four hundred hours and I got it for twenty grand.
Second plane I ever flew in way back in the ‘60’s. Been a favorite ever since. How do I send you a pic of it. I fly rc a lot nowadays but very hard to get a good model of it. Great vid brings back lots of memories. Chow from Australia.
Great video. What are you thoughts on the current fleet of Tri Pacer 135s with the o-290 engines and the inability to replace the engines as they are out of production?
I had issue with the PA-20 comment as well, but I see that's been brought up already. This leave me wondering about the comment regarding the rudder being coupled to the ailerons via bungees? I did a ground up restoration on a 1951 0290 powered Tri-Pacer (ser #180) and remember nothing of the sort. Is there a possibility this was a "feature" added at a later date?
I believe they all came with what's called a rudder interconnect spring which moves the rudder with aileron movement making coordinated flight/turns easier for beginners. Some people opt to remove it for a more conventional flying airplane. Mine still has the spring installed. They do have bungees for the main landing gear suspension. I own a 1960 PA-22-160 and love it! It out hauls, out climbs, and out cruises a 172 for a lot less money. Alot more rugged too with 600X6 nose wheel and mains allowing it to "taxi over a stump." Dubbed the flying milkstool because of the way the rugged gear looks. Great short/rough field performer for tricycle gear where most would need a tail dragger (PA-20). Keep it in a hangar to prevent corrosion on the tubing and the upgraded Ceconite fabric will last a very long time.
Awesome video man, I think you missed one really BA thing about the short wing line up. And thats the availability of crazy cheap project planes, The availability of spare parts, And really good support from univair, wag aero, and others on new parts. Over 9,400 of them were built and it seems like alot of them were stuffed in old hangars and barns. Pretty much every eaa chapter has some cool retired IA to help with the certified part. They really are a good option for someone who wants to build there own airplane.
My father crashed not one but two tri-pacers and walked away from both. He never flew again. He said, "three strikes and I'm out." Neither crash was due to pilot error.
@@MyTimeToFly Urge you to do so and to others. With the inventory rapidly shrinking and the costs rising, the future of GA lies in ESLA and EAB category aircraft. Standard category is passe for the masses in my humble opinion.
I don't disagree, this makes partnerships that much more important. I do believe that the increasing movement to experimental airplanes could bring costs down in the world, and make flying somewhat more affordable across the baord.
Hi from Ireland, I'm of a certain age now and have the urge to fly I found a 1961 pacer colt for sale about 30mls from me asking price in euros is 24k a 152 of similar age is 54k , I think it's my time to fly 😎👍 happy Christmas from Ireland 🇮🇪
How about a 1959 Cessna 175 Skylark with 2200 TTAF for $119,000. Better still, a 2008 Mooney Ovation 3 GX wih 970 TTAF for a cheap $ 499,000, haha I bet you would like to own that one. These are the asking prices where i come from. Thanks for the upload.
That is a crazy price for the 175 in my opinion. I don’t stay up to date on the newer Mooney’s, as I simply can’t afford them. I do believe these prices will send more pilots down the experimental route.
I've got two sad Tri-Pacer stories, you could say. My dad's first plane was a 1953 PA-22-135 Tri-Pacer, it was a project, when he got it, working as an A&P in California back in the 90s. He struggled to keep it and he split the tie down cost with a buddy. That Buddy stopped paying his half and my dad was forced to sell it. I tried finding the plane, I contacted the last owner, and he said that he doesn't remember who he sold it to. To simplify the 2nd story, I wright it like this. 1. It's 2019, me and my dad get a hangar in West Texas 2. The very next day after getting the hangar a Lil red 1957 PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer pops up for sale not far from the airport. 3. We buy the plane for $20k and my dad gets an instructor and starts learning to fly. 4. COVID hits and they separate 5. It's December of 2020 and the Tri-Pacer is out of annual. 6. My dad starts doing work to it for a annual and finds a hairline crack in one of the cylinder heads. 7. We visit a cylinder shop and are told to check the cam. 8. We get back and find that the cam is toast and the motor is pulled and torn down. 9. We send the case out for machining and find out that the crank is toast. 10. My dad's medical expires and now his qualification is hung up in the system Long story short, parts availability has become bleak and parts prices skyrocketed. My dad can't get his medical and the plane rots in the hangar with dust all over it. We are looking at selling the plane and hangar and giving it all up. But, we still hold on to hope, as there is a motor for sale with missing logs that will work but is not guaranteed to have good parts.
@@MyTimeToFly Thanks, I figured the timing and subject was right to tell my story. It shows how you can get into a mess with planes, unfortunately you can't just take a cylinder off and look inside before buying a a plane lol. Logs said the last overhaul was 1980 but the shop I took it to said that everything inside the motor was original and that if it was overhauled it would of been in the 60s. Basically a worn out barn find, it's amazing how it didn't blow up and kill us lol.
Well there’s something to be thankful for! It is unfortunate that most engines can’t be deeply inspected during a prebuy. I actually backed out on a deal once because the seller wouldn’t let me pull a jug. There were too many cards stacked up making me think cam issues could be present…so I had no choice but to pass. I appreciate you sharing your story!
Couldn’t you say that about most 4 seat airplanes? I know my Mooney doesn’t carry 4 adults and full fuel anyway. I guess you have to move up to a 182 or larger to consider it “true”?
And my 1961 Cessna 150A fastback is literally a 1 seater 😎 with its useful load diminished over a 61 year lifespan of adding additional updates despite throwing the Narco coffee grinders and ADF's into the Avionics Shop dumpsters.
@@MyTimeToFly Yes, funny that you mention that because I do exactly that ( carry about 12 gallons of fuel onboard instead of the full fuel load of 26 gallons ( 22.5 useable) if I am going to carry a pax that must weigh less than approximately 180 pounds. The early straight tail C-150's have a gross weight of 1500 lbs. compared to post 1966 models with a gross weight of 1600 pounds. My useful load is only 484 pounds. So that gives me an option of about a 180 lb. to 212 lb. pax as long as one only loads up with 12 gallons of fuel or less; enough for about 1.5 hours of cruise with taxi out, runup and take-off and climb fuel consumption and reserves.
@@MyTimeToFly And in that same vein, my mechanic that I had from about 1995 to 2008 restored a 1961 Piper Colt PA-22-108 which he would allow me to fly solo and the Colt did much better than the 1961 Cessna 150A regarding useful loads and ROC. It was a joy to fly. And yes, he used to mention that the Tri-Pacers had a bungee cross control system linking ailerons to rudder.
@@MyTimeToFly the same…massive inflation, high interest rates, reduction in jobs and then too many planes, boats and luxury cars. Also I think a whole new breed of plane is coming on board to emulate the sling tsi with the rotax 915. The faa is going to make changes sometime between now and 2023 and it will also invite more competition. I would look into the benefits of motor gliders and if you have to buy a plane buy a motor glider with glass panel and parachute. Any pipistrel can be registered as a motor glider. They can be moved into experimental if you don’t want to use it for commercial purposes then you can start adding speed and more. I’m a real estate investor and I’ve seen 3 great buying opportunities in my life and that’s when I bought the most real estate. The economy is false from a low interest rate and massive money printing. We went from 19 trillion to 27 trillion since the idiots took office. Source….18 million net worth from idiotic democrat policy
It will be interesting to see what happens. I sure hope if Rotax goes into production airplanes, the cost starts to come down. The 915is is something like $45K currently.
I messed up and somehow called the Tri-Pacer the wrong model. The Tri-Pacer is a PA-22, not a PA-20 as I said in the video. I don't know what I was thinking. Thank you for watching!
No crime no foul...😎
My first plane was a Tri-Pacer I bought in 1975 with only 14 hrs of flying time. I had so much fun in that plane with a few scares that taught me lessons that kept me safe
Very cool. My first lesson was in a Tri-Pacer, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for them.
The first airplane I had ever flown on. In 1972 at age 5½. I'll never forget 😊
Most of the haters have never flown one. Put most of my time in one, and yea, throw a rock out where you chop it and that's where you land, but it also means it goes where you fly it. As a young pilot, I always was trying to fly it smooth, all relaxed and working toward that grease landing. I got my eyes opened real quick when dad and I came across the road landing at our farm, yea, I was already anticipating the grease, and the wind tunnel upset the hell out of her. Dad had to have been anticipating my screw up, because in a split second he rammed the throttle, added aileron and rudder and set her down dead in the middle with just a bot of a bump. I will never forget him looking at me and saying " you fly it to the ground ". God I wish we still had her.......
Great story Pat, thanks so much for sharing. Dads wisdom…pretty cool!
When I was 19, (I’m nearly 63 now) I owned a Colt, PA-22-108. 108 hp, 2 seat Tri-Pace with no flaps and the back windows were painted on. I remember I bought it for $4,800.00. I actually flew it more after I sold it than I did when I owned it. It was a great airplane.
Sounds like you sold it to a fantastic person, allowing you to continue to fly it after the sale.
@@MyTimeToFly I sold it to a young couple who were both pre-solo students, and by then I was a brand new CFI, so, not only did I fly it more after I sold than I did when I owned it, but they were paying me to fly it.😉😝
Hahaha, so great!!!
I just bought a 1955 Tri with my dad! We love it!
That’s fantastic! What’s your main mission with it?
Have had one for thirty years. I love it. Been all over the country. And since I live in Wisconsin, Oshkosh is a local fly in. Flew it to every one since 1992 except 2001 and 1999. I even landed in 2020, just because.
So awesome! It sure seems once somebody has a Tri-Pacer, they tend to keep it!
I owned and flew a 1960 PA22 150 for 10 years until 2014, a fantastic lifetime experience.
Very cool. Did you do much cross country with it, or mostly local flying?
My first airplane was a PA-22-150 twenty five or more years ago. It was a great introduction to aircraft ownership. In fact I still have it, but it is disassembled in my boathouse. It was a fine flying little plane with two things I really didn't like, the single lever (Johnson Bar) brakes and its lack of performance in mountain flying. Neither were game enders, but both required awareness and planing.
Thank you so much for sharing. Out of curiosity, what grounded your Tri-Pacer? Do you have any plans to get it airworthy again?
@@MyTimeToFly It was the lower tube rust AD, plus the tail cluster was pretty badly rusted as well. It did not seem like an economically viable repair. I had bought a Cessna 180 already anyway so it wasn't getting flown much. It might still be a good candidate for a PA-22/20 conversion at some point since you need to get into all of the areas that are rusty anyway. A 180hp PA-22/20 is a VERY good performer!
I’m sure somebody out there would love to take on a project like that!!! I wish I had time.
I was giving myself a headache trying to find a decent airplane that wouldn't bankrupt me until a PA-22-150 popped up at my local airport. A lot more capable than a Cessna 150 and cheaper than most of them! Something I learned during the pre-buy: if you're starting one up for the first time and are confused about where the master and starter switches are, check under the left seat! 😉
I fly the heck out of my TriPacer bought Jan of '20 and have about 200 hours in it. Love the plane and was at Oshkosh with it this year. I have a the trip on my channel and it's a great plane to train in. My GF got her PPL in July in my plane. Great video. Just subbed to your channel nice vids. Thanks for sharing.
Right on Glenn, I’m glad to hear your getting good use out of your Tri-Pacer, sounds like some great adventures! Thanks for being here my friend.
Most of my friends that have owned Tri-Pacers, have been very careful about observing "Weight and Balance" restrictions. And four, full grown Adults are a bit much to load. But Mom, Dad and two kids works out just fine!
Cruise speeds vary according to the engine installed. The 150 or 160 hp versions can cruise at up to 135 mph. To cut noise and extend range, most cruise at 125 or even 120.
Happy Flying!
Thanks for all of the info! My first lesson ever was in a Tri, I agree that 4 adults is a no go, but that's also true with most 4 seat airplanes.
@@MyTimeToFly Four adults in 1953 when the average male weighed 135 pounds !
The wing loading is a bit high, but it's a great airplane.
I loved your video because you are completely right about prices going up in a crazy way. Looks like only the very rich will be capable to own a four seater or so. Last week I was browsing "just in case" I could/would buy a 172 Cessna and I got aback about prices. In fact 182 is cheaper. Surprisingly, 150/152 prices are also sky rocketing. I think this option you're presenting now is great. I owned an Aeronca Champion around 19 years ago and believe me, was a wonder so much that I didn't face up a trouble to wash it away from my hands. An all fabric airplane, slow and underpowered but a nice one to fly. Looks like the tripacer is the same kind of airplane but a bit faster, though I like much more the pacer. Thank you for sharing this interesting video of yours. Definitively, I'm subscribing your channel. Greetings from Mexico.
You’re too kind Charlie. It’s a crazy time in general aviation right now. You have to work very hard to find a good deal!
The Tri Pacer is a wonderful airplane!
I flew one round trip from Fayetteville, North Carolina, (Ft. Bragg), to E. St. Louis and return in 1962 when I was 19 years old.
Great trip.
Good video. I have a lot of time in those models including the first Tri Pacer you showed KTF. Great airplane
Danny
Thanks so much Danny! It’s my pleasure to showcase such a beautiful bird!
Flew one out of Yomitan air base on Okinawa in 1967. It was limited to 3 passengers due to its age. It was a “Power Plane” that has the gliding angle of a brick with no power.
I loved ours. 1957 pa22 150. Somewhere about 1750-1800 tt. That was 1993-95 as I recall.
Best of all the aircraft I've ever flown. Gave 12k flew couple 3 yrs and it's still flying somewhere south of here last I checked. Fast fun, short field, sinks like a rock but a treat to fly. Miss it and flying.
I flew one from Miami to Panama (the long way) It’s a great plane Even landed off airports and in bad weather on the Pan American highway and on a mountain road in 1964 lol
That's very cool! Must have been a great adventure!!!
I used to own the pa22 in the picture , a great , reliable airplane and my wife’s favorite of all the aircraft we have owned over the years
Very cool Dan! As the Tri-Pacer is considered relatively slow...what's the fastest airplane you've owned? Just curious!
My first airplane was a 1954 PA22 150 that I bought bought in 1976 for $6,000. I loved that plane.
Very cool! How many have you had since?
I owned a PA22 1957 N7615D rolled tip wing. It had been modified with a extra notch of flaps (3 positions) . Loved this bird. Wish I still had her.. Put a lot of hours on it and had very little problems.. Not expensive to maintain either. She would do a full slip to a short runway with ease.. I kept her at Tucson and they often asked me to do a short field landing for Runway 11. She had a DF (not ADF) lol.. Really miss her!!
Sounds like a sweet bird. I love the idea of adding that 3rd notch!
I've never seen a Tri-pacer in my country, but I do have time on a Colt, and I loved it. The side slips were out of this world. I loved my Mooney time too, but found it hard to drain condensation out of the tanks in a dirt field in rain and still look presentable for the flight ...
I picked my 1959 150hp Tri Pacer in July 2019 for $15k, it was a bit clapped out and spare in the cockpit, but also mechanically sound with fresh Stitts.
I trained in a 1965 Cherokee 160 for about a year… and it’s very comparable to flying a Tri Pacer… except the Tri Pacer has a bit of an agricultural feel to it.. but speed, controls, and performance are very close.
Sounds like you got a great deal Alana! Have you completed any upgrades to the plane since your purchase?
I added lights to the panel and reupholstered the interior including adding some light weight carpet. I would be flying it a lot more if my medical certificate would only be approved.
Oh bummer, I’m sorry to hear that! Best of luck getting back in the air!
I learned to fly in the late 60s I put most of my time in a piper colt, nice airplane.
My wife and I are both pilots We have a PA22-160. We adore our bird. N1646P :)
Awesome! I’ve tried to get my wife more involved…no dice just yet.
What a cool video! I found my 1960 Piper Comanche 250 after looking at the usuals. Just like you point out here: it’s good to look outside your zone and see other options!
Thank you man! The Comanche is a sweet bird too! I just don’t understand the 400hp version. That’s a lot of fuel to burn!
@@MyTimeToFly ha yeah it is!!! The 400 definitely has its own cult following within the Comanche community
I bet, what do they call themselves…the fuel chuggers?
I bought my 1957 TriPacer with 150 HP many years ago for $7500. I sold it two years after many hours for $7500. Great airplane. It would be worth much more now obviously.
So cool man! Probably way more $$$ now!
The Tripacer is the PA22, the PA20 is the Pacer, a tail wheel version of the airplane that preceded the Tripacer
Yea, I messed that one up bad. I had pinned my comment correcting it, but must have unpinned it. Thanks for the correction!
Prospective airplane buyer - finally an affordable and good value airplane!
Tri Pacer seller - I saw a video about the value of my Tri Pacer and well I thought it was only going to be worth 20-25k but that video says I should be able to get 40-45k for it, I'm delighted!
Haha, nice. I guess I should go back to influencing the prices of my Mooney! Time to make some money.
@@MyTimeToFly I'd be more than happy to help you realize a negative equity situation in that sale of your mooney haha. Keep up the good work!
Hahaha, I bet you would. That would be like giving it away as cheap as I bought it.
Tri Pacers are awesome aircraft! I’ve flown many in the sixties and seventies. Fabric is not what to worry about. Check the tubing on bottom sides!
Great video. I do not yet have my PPL but this was a great video as I was looking at a reasonable plane to us e and it get my hours in. It looks like these would be a keeper too if found and purchased.
Very cool, I'm glad I could help. My first lesson was in a Tri-Pacer, they are fun airplanes as long as you're okay with a slower ground speed.
Unreal prices..Like everything. I was 11 yrs. old when I started taking flying lessons in my dads Tri-Pacer out of Long Beach. Last time I checked the plane was still in service somewhere up in Montana.
Very true, prices are incredible currently. What an awesome opportunity to start flying at 11!
My first (annnnd only, life got in the way so training has been postponed) 15 hours of training were in a Tri-Pacer and a Bearhawk. Genuinely enjoyed my time in then, even if I don't have much experience for comparison lol
I own N1646P. Funnest airplane i've ever flown. I'll never sell her.
Very cool! Looks like a very well equipped PA-22
It was neat to see my TriPacer on there, not sure how you got the pic though because I took it and don’t remember sharing it anywhere
So fab thanks.
My pleasure!
I had two Tri-Pacers, one each 150 & 160. The 160 was all metal. Bought them back in 69 (the 160-metal) and 73--the 150 and I think Ipaid around 4500 +/- for each. My first airplane was an Erco Aircoupe bought 1967 for $2250. I'm 85 now and still flying....a Grumman AA1B which I have owned for 43 years.
The PA-20 is the Pacer, the Tri-Pacer is a PA-22. They are the same airplane except the Pacer is a tail dragger and the Tri-Pacer has tricycle landing gear. A couple of things about these airplanes: there are corrosion problems around the door frames. This is expensive to just doe the inspection and if corrosion is found then the longerons must be replaced. $$$ The other thing is the Pacer is not an easy airplane to handle. The tail and airfoil come from the Cub. Upon flair the sort coupled fuselage will blanket the airflow over the vertical stabilizer making control difficult. This makes the Pacer prone to ground loops. Piper fixed this by adding the nose gear. There is an STC to convert the PA-22 to a tail dragger. These are known as PA-22/20. The STC gear is wider than the PA-20. These are a little better landing than the stock PA-20. Other than these issues, they are great airplanes. Good luck
Thanks for all the great info Jim, I can’t believe I misspoke of the darn model number!
My first airplane ride--ever--was in either a Colt or a TriPacer. A birthday present from my dad (in the late 50's).
I see the 2021 Cessna 172 costs almost $500,000! Yikes!!
It’s crazy!!! It’s amazing how many people first experienced flight in a tri-pacer…it was my first real lesson!
It is sooo frustrating to see prices skyrocket like that. I remember when a '60s M20C would cost 30k and a clapped out 172 would almost be given away, they were even cheaper than 152s. A Tri Pacer? Nobody wanting to get anywhere would even consider the obese ahem, sorry "overgrown" Cub.
Well, at least you're making money while flying at the same time. Honest congratulations for the great timing and thanks for sharing your experience with us through your YT content. It is really appreciated!
Thank you kindly sir. I agree they aren't the fastest bird on the market, but everybody's mission is a little different.
Mine out flies the much nicer 172 that the airport rents out here. 😁 people can talk smack all they want but mine is the better choice in almost every reasonable way.
So awesome man! 160hp?
Easily cruises at 130mph and climbs out at over a thousand feet per minute at 95mph in the summer from our 4,000 foot airport. I'm glad enough people didn't realize how nice of an airplane this really is. Now I got one cheap before the price went up. Same engine as the 172 with only four hundred hours and I got it for twenty grand.
@@MyTimeToFly 150 hp
Second plane I ever flew in way back in the ‘60’s. Been a favorite ever since. How do I send you a pic of it. I fly rc a lot nowadays but very hard to get a good model of it. Great vid brings back lots of memories. Chow from Australia.
Hey man, you can hit me up on Facebook or email. Highflying121@gmail.com
I appreciate hearing from you all the way across the globe!
Great video. What are you thoughts on the current fleet of Tri Pacer 135s with the o-290 engines and the inability to replace the engines as they are out of production?
Converting them to the very common 150 hp seems like the best overall option. It would certainly make for better performance.
The Milk Stool is a great little plane. Just don't forget that it's fabric, and that won't last forever.
Definitely, and there are fewer people working on fabric these days.
A different style of video, but I enjoyed it!
Thanks a bunch!!!
I had issue with the PA-20 comment as well, but I see that's been brought up already. This leave me wondering about the comment regarding the rudder being coupled to the ailerons via bungees? I did a ground up restoration on a 1951 0290 powered Tri-Pacer (ser #180) and remember nothing of the sort. Is there a possibility this was a "feature" added at a later date?
I’m all the reading I’ve done on the Tri-Pacer, I’ve not found a “start year” for the bungee system. Sorry I couldn’t be of better help.
I believe they all came with what's called a rudder interconnect spring which moves the rudder with aileron movement making coordinated flight/turns easier for beginners. Some people opt to remove it for a more conventional flying airplane. Mine still has the spring installed. They do have bungees for the main landing gear suspension. I own a 1960 PA-22-160 and love it! It out hauls, out climbs, and out cruises a 172 for a lot less money. Alot more rugged too with 600X6 nose wheel and mains allowing it to "taxi over a stump." Dubbed the flying milkstool because of the way the rugged gear looks. Great short/rough field performer for tricycle gear where most would need a tail dragger (PA-20). Keep it in a hangar to prevent corrosion on the tubing and the upgraded Ceconite fabric will last a very long time.
I know what you were thinking… 20…. Like in M20…. Or really M20C…. 😃. It happens to Mooney guys all the time…. Great video! - a -
Hahaha...must have been it! Thank you kindly.
Awesome video man, I think you missed one really BA thing about the short wing line up. And thats the availability of crazy cheap project planes, The availability of spare parts, And really good support from univair, wag aero, and others on new parts. Over 9,400 of them were built and it seems like alot of them were stuffed in old hangars and barns. Pretty much every eaa chapter has some cool retired IA to help with the certified part. They really are a good option for someone who wants to build there own airplane.
Amazing point here! Thanks so much for bringing it to the community!!!
I always loved the PA-22 never flew one but maybe someday I will. I'll trade a flight in my C177RG.
Sounds perfectly fair! The cardinal is a sweet bird too!
My father crashed not one but two tri-pacers and walked away from both. He never flew again. He said, "three strikes and I'm out." Neither crash was due to pilot error.
I'm sorry to hear that, but so glad he made it out safe!
Would you be able to do a video like this of a BD4c?
I sure can, I’ll start my research now. Thanks for watching!
@@MyTimeToFly Urge you to do so and to others. With the inventory rapidly shrinking and the costs rising, the future of GA lies in ESLA and EAB category aircraft. Standard category is passe for the masses in my humble opinion.
For average Joe, there really aren't any truly affordable airplanes. However, that doesn't stop folks from diving in.
I don't disagree, this makes partnerships that much more important. I do believe that the increasing movement to experimental airplanes could bring costs down in the world, and make flying somewhat more affordable across the baord.
Flying Rock! Don't hate me, comparing side by side with my Ercoupe.
Now an Ercoupe is a neat airplane. I’ve never been in one, but they do intrigue me!
funny!--i could skip a rock farther than anybody,they would always say "how do you do that?"
Hi from Ireland, I'm of a certain age now and have the urge to fly I found a 1961 pacer colt for sale about 30mls from me asking price in euros is 24k a 152 of similar age is 54k , I think it's my time to fly 😎👍 happy Christmas from Ireland 🇮🇪
Sorry for the slow response. Have you found you way into the sky?
How about a 1959 Cessna 175 Skylark with 2200 TTAF for $119,000. Better still, a 2008 Mooney Ovation 3 GX wih 970 TTAF for a cheap $ 499,000, haha I bet you would like to own that one. These are the asking prices where i come from. Thanks for the upload.
That is a crazy price for the 175 in my opinion. I don’t stay up to date on the newer Mooney’s, as I simply can’t afford them. I do believe these prices will send more pilots down the experimental route.
Funny, If I sold all the SHIB I had when it reached ATH I probably could have bought a TRIPACER LMFAO. Now I can't even buy the powerplant
Seems like the nature of that game!
I've got two sad Tri-Pacer stories, you could say.
My dad's first plane was a 1953 PA-22-135 Tri-Pacer, it was a project, when he got it, working as an A&P in California back in the 90s. He struggled to keep it and he split the tie down cost with a buddy. That Buddy stopped paying his half and my dad was forced to sell it. I tried finding the plane, I contacted the last owner, and he said that he doesn't remember who he sold it to.
To simplify the 2nd story, I wright it like this.
1. It's 2019, me and my dad get a hangar in West Texas
2. The very next day after getting the hangar a Lil red 1957 PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer pops up for sale not far from the airport.
3. We buy the plane for $20k and my dad gets an instructor and starts learning to fly.
4. COVID hits and they separate
5. It's December of 2020 and the Tri-Pacer is out of annual.
6. My dad starts doing work to it for a annual and finds a hairline crack in one of the cylinder heads.
7. We visit a cylinder shop and are told to check the cam.
8. We get back and find that the cam is toast and the motor is pulled and torn down.
9. We send the case out for machining and find out that the crank is toast.
10. My dad's medical expires and now his qualification is hung up in the system
Long story short, parts availability has become bleak and parts prices skyrocketed. My dad can't get his medical and the plane rots in the hangar with dust all over it. We are looking at selling the plane and hangar and giving it all up. But, we still hold on to hope, as there is a motor for sale with missing logs that will work but is not guaranteed to have good parts.
I’m certainly sorry for your (and your fathers) string of bad luck! Hang in there, it’s got to get better!!!
There are engines out there for sale, you just have to look hard. Join the short wing piper club, I am sure someone there could help you out.
@@MyTimeToFly Thanks, I figured the timing and subject was right to tell my story. It shows how you can get into a mess with planes, unfortunately you can't just take a cylinder off and look inside before buying a a plane lol.
Logs said the last overhaul was 1980 but the shop I took it to said that everything inside the motor was original and that if it was overhauled it would of been in the 60s. Basically a worn out barn find, it's amazing how it didn't blow up and kill us lol.
Great idea John!
Well there’s something to be thankful for! It is unfortunate that most engines can’t be deeply inspected during a prebuy. I actually backed out on a deal once because the seller wouldn’t let me pull a jug. There were too many cards stacked up making me think cam issues could be present…so I had no choice but to pass. I appreciate you sharing your story!
yes good plane BUT you ned the 160 HP esp for Hot & high density like in AZ the 160 are RARE and big $ !
I think with the economy going into recession prices will start getting better.
I tend to agree as well.
but there are thousands of once great GA planes of all sized rotting away in barns, fields and hangars! It's insanity.
its a PA 22 not a 20 which is the pacer
Thank you for catching that, I just re pinned my comment correcting my stupid mistake!
They have always been a bargain with great performance.
For sure, I hope they stay reasonably priced…but what is any more?
PA22
The tri pacer is not a solid or true 4 seater. Its a great 2 seater with a lot of cargo room
Couldn’t you say that about most 4 seat airplanes? I know my Mooney doesn’t carry 4 adults and full fuel anyway. I guess you have to move up to a 182 or larger to consider it “true”?
And my 1961 Cessna 150A fastback is literally a 1 seater 😎 with its useful load diminished over a 61 year lifespan of adding additional updates despite throwing the Narco coffee grinders and ADF's into the Avionics Shop dumpsters.
Half fuel to carry another human?
@@MyTimeToFly Yes, funny that you mention that because I do exactly that ( carry about 12 gallons of fuel onboard instead of the full fuel load of 26 gallons ( 22.5 useable) if I am going to carry a pax that must weigh less than approximately 180 pounds. The early straight tail C-150's have a gross weight of 1500 lbs. compared to post 1966 models with a gross weight of 1600 pounds. My useful load is only 484 pounds. So that gives me an option of about a 180 lb. to 212 lb. pax as long as one only loads up with 12 gallons of fuel or less; enough for about 1.5 hours of cruise with taxi out, runup and take-off and climb fuel consumption and reserves.
@@MyTimeToFly And in that same vein, my mechanic that I had from about 1995 to 2008 restored a 1961 Piper Colt PA-22-108 which he would allow me to fly solo and the Colt did much better than the 1961 Cessna 150A regarding useful loads and ROC. It was a joy to fly. And yes, he used to mention that the Tri-Pacers had a bungee cross control system linking ailerons to rudder.
You definitely have to do your homework when purchasing an aircraft.
No doubt there…and then it’s still rolling the dice a little!
Tri-Pacer = PA22
I just pinned a comment to correct this mistake. I don't know what I was thinking. Thanks for pointing it out quickly!
@@MyTimeToFly I appreciate your content and will be selling my Tri-Pacer soon. Looking to own a Mooney as my next aircraft. Mission change…
I understand how that can happen! Thanks for the kind words.
4:36 LOL A shibarmy plane. That's silly.
I had to go back and look, and now I see it's not even airworthy.
I’d bail on buying right now. Airplanes will fall off the cliff just like they did from 2008 to 2015
I'm definitely interested in seeing what happens. What factors do you think will change to drop prices?
@@MyTimeToFly the same…massive inflation, high interest rates, reduction in jobs and then too many planes, boats and luxury cars. Also I think a whole new breed of plane is coming on board to emulate the sling tsi with the rotax 915. The faa is going to make changes sometime between now and 2023 and it will also invite more competition. I would look into the benefits of motor gliders and if you have to buy a plane buy a motor glider with glass panel and parachute. Any pipistrel can be registered as a motor glider. They can be moved into experimental if you don’t want to use it for commercial purposes then you can start adding speed and more. I’m a real estate investor and I’ve seen 3 great buying opportunities in my life and that’s when I bought the most real estate. The economy is false from a low interest rate and massive money printing. We went from 19 trillion to 27 trillion since the idiots took office. Source….18 million net worth from idiotic democrat policy
It will be interesting to see what happens. I sure hope if Rotax goes into production airplanes, the cost starts to come down. The 915is is something like $45K currently.