Photo ID: 1011261
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Model: PA-22/20 Pacer |
Registration: N9697D |
| Year: 1959 |
Serial Number: 22-6607 |
| Engine(s): Lycoming O-320, 160-HP |
Owner: Melvin Reed
Lewisburg, PA |
Location: Mel Reed’s airstrip
Lewisburg, PA |
Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
| Date: 2003, November |
Present Registration: Same |
Present Owner (FAA info): |
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Notes: 11/19/03 - This little beauty was a 1959, Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer with the 160-HP, Lycoming O-320-B2A or B2B. It was converted to the PA-20, Pacer configuration, making it a PA-22/20. The end result is a very practical, four-place, modestly priced, sporty aircraft with a useful load of about 900#. They cruise at about 120-MPH and have a 36-gallon fuel capacity, which is enough to get many of us between potty breaks.
About 7800 Tri-Pacers were built between 1951 and 1960, with Lycoming O-290 and O-320 engines from 125 to 160-HP. A good web site on short wing Pipers |
Photo ID: 1011262
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Notes: Pacers and Tri-Pacers have an entrance door on the right side for front-seat passengers. They’re a little tighter to get into than some aircraft. N9697D has a nice sized baggage door, but I’m not sure if that was standard equipment or an option.
This is one pristine little Pacer! |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011263
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Notes: That’s a nice panel for a light aircraft like this. It has two control wheels but does not have dual brakes. Giving someone a taildragger checkout in an aircraft like this can be a bit tacky.
Mel has shoulder harness in the aircraft, which paid big dividends for Donna and him when the engine quit on landing in October, 2000. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011264
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Notes: The manually operated flaps help Mel get into and out of his little airstrip with its rolling and sloped 1275 and 1400’ runways.
In the conversion to conventional gear, the former front gear attach point becomes the rear attach point. A new lug is welded on for the front attach point. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011265
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Notes: The Pacer has a door on the left side for rear-seat passengers.
Piper also certificated the Tri-Pacer as a PA-22-160S, seaplane. Interestingly, the FAA specs list it as a three-place aircraft. I’d love to have some good photos of a current one. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011266
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Notes: “I’m ready - - are you?”
About 30-years ago I flew a PA-20 Pacer that had been converted to a 150-HP, O-320, and it was a real kick. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
Photo ID: 1011267
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Notes: Mel and Donna Reed with “Niner-Seven-Delta. Mel built a KitFox and enjoys it a lot, but often finds himself drawn to the Pacer when it’s time to play.
Some folks become friends easily. We met the Reeds at the International Seaplane Fly-In in September 2003 and have enjoyed learning to know them. Mel collects photos of DC-3’s, Beech 18’s, and Stearmans - - which just happen to be the three aircraft my spraying career was built around. |
| Photographer: Stoltzfus, Ken |
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