Piper Tri-Pacer - The Ultimate Affordable Plane

Airplane prices are on the rise! All while the fleet is getting smaller. While affordable 4 seat airplanes used to be common, the rise in prices on 172's and Cherokee's has changed the dynamic. Now you'll have to look beyond the "typical" fleet of trainers to find something to fit your mission.

I believe one of the best value for money 4 place airplanes currently available on the market is the Piper Tri-Pacer. There are many things about this plane that aren't typical. Once you truly understand it's capability, you might be surprised just how great of an airplane it is.

#mytimetofly #Generalaviation #shortwingpiper

0:00 - The Problem
1:37 - Meet The Tri-Pacer
4:49 - Compare It To The Fleet
7:05 - Wrap It Up
7:36 - Owner Feedback

[MyTimeToFly]

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!

[michaelgill]

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

[SteveD]

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.

[airplane]

I just bought a 1955 Tri with my dad! We love it!

[richardjohnson]

I'm a 72 year old airplane geek, with a grand total of 1/2 hour at the controls of any airplane during a Cessna promotion many years ago. The Tri-Pacer has been of of my favorite planes of it's class, based on a model I built as a kid. That model was one of the best I ever did, and the lines of the Tri-Pacer have stayed in my mind over the years. Thanks for a great video.

[patdaly]

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

[tinymotogarage]

I owned that first Tri KTF for 10 years. Flew it from Toronto to Whitehorse Yukon in 2010. Awesome aircraft.

[thomaslubben]

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.

[patriciosilva]

I owned and flew a 1960 PA22 150 for 10 years until 2014, a fantastic lifetime experience.

[charliebowman]

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.

[JohnMoore-xfwy]

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.

[stickman]

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.

[GlennWhitcomb]

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.

[Videolinquency]

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 ...

[toivotorvinen]

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.

[mortdk]

The first airplane I had ever flown with. In 1972 at age 5½. I'll never forget 😊

[hcr-motorworks]

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!

[dannymattice]

Good video. I have a lot of time in those models including the first Tri Pacer you showed KTF. Great airplane
Danny

[robinj.]

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!

[dancottle]

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