Quantcast

Piper's early development: From tailwheel Pacer to tricycle Tri-Pacer

Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
Passenger Stows Away on Delta Flight from New York to Paris
Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Ryanair forecasts fare rebound as consumers recover from interest-rate hit
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
Qatar Airways places record $96 billion Boeing order amid Trump visit
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Piper's early development: From tailwheel Pacer to tricycle Tri-Pacer
Policy
Webp 9d8e4n9zvnq6npvse1f7c4oouh5n
Airbus A380 | Airbus

The PA-20 Pacer, developed by Piper Aircraft, was introduced in 1949 as an early model aimed at reducing costs. Over 1,100 units were sold between 1950 and 1954. The PA-22 Tri-Pacer followed, featuring a shift to tricycle landing gear that facilitated easier and safer flying. This model saw greater success, with over 9,400 units produced until 1964.

Piper Aircraft Company began as Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company in 1927. William Piper took control in the 1930s and reorganized it to produce low-cost aircraft like the E-2 Cub. The company continued developing new models using existing designs to remain competitive post-WWII.

The PA-20 Pacer derived from earlier models such as the PA-15, PA-16 Clipper, and PA-17 Vagabond. It retained a steel fuselage and high wings while offering increased fuel capacity and revised control elements. It included flaps and a control yoke instead of center sticks found in previous models.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The specifications for the PA-20 include a height of 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m), wingspan of 32 ft 10 in (10 m), length of 27 ft 9 in (8.5 m), capacity for four people, and maximum take-off weight of 1,950 lb. Its performance features are a maximum speed of 121 knots (224 km/h), cruise speed of 109 knots (202 km/h), range of 470 nautical miles (870 km), and service ceiling of up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters).

Several variants were produced with differences mainly in engine type:

PA-20 with a Lycoming O-290-D engine;

PA-20S offered optional float installation;

and other versions featured various engine power ratings.

The transition from tailwheel to tricycle landing gear marked a significant change with the introduction of the PA-22 Tri-Pacer model. This redesign maintained much of the original structure but provided improved ground handling and visibility.

Despite its initial popularity among pilots for flight training and private use, the PA-20 was eventually outshone by its successor due to these advancements in design.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines is expanding its flight offerings for the 2025 pro football season, introducing new routes and increasing capacity to accommodate fans traveling to major games.

Jun 6, 2025

Last month, over 130 volunteers from Delta Air Lines and several partner organizations collaborated to construct a new playground in College Park, Georgia.

Jun 6, 2025

Walking together on Omaha Beach, 19-year-old college student Caleb Walker and 101-year-old WWII veteran Jack Myers reflected on the sacrifices made during the D-Day invasion.

Jun 6, 2025

British Airways is the leading foreign long-haul airline serving the United States.

Jun 5, 2025

United Airlines has completed a deal with the Chicago Department of Aviation to acquire five additional gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Jun 5, 2025

Boeing has reached a production milestone, achieving a monthly output of 38 737 MAX aircraft for the first time since 2020.

Jun 5, 2025