I had short ownership of a colt once. Super simple machine that flew okay but defintely inferior to other similar airplanes of the time.

Does the new piper tail AD effect the colt/tri-pacer? There are some nice ones out there but there are also some basket cases

Now you’ve done it Eric, reminded me of another war story.

A few years ago, I had a student who purchased a TriPacer to finish his private pilot training. I had never flown one, so my boss checked me out, and I have to say it was a lot of fun to fly.

I probably have less than 20 hours in it, but it changed my opinion. Before, I always thought they looked funny, but after flying in it, I didn't care what it looked like.

It is hard to be high if flying a Colt or Tripacer! (They are really good at descending)

Low is where the good stuff is. My wife had a cousin paint this for a Christmas present.

It's a unique airplane in that it is so ugly it's cute in a way. But with a few tweaks - move the little wheel to the back, lengthen the fuselage and each wing - it transforms into something legitimately beautiful.

One other perk of PA-22’s - the wings are several inches higher than Cessna’s. Makes parking boats, cars, and walking underneath noticeably easier.

Love my Tri Pacer! Bought it at age 17 for 4K instead of a car (drove my dads old one borrowed instead). Finished my private license in it and sold it. 46 years later I tracked it down, bought it (it actually had the same N number!) and restored it. Won Oshkosh Grand Champion in it in 2017. My son took up flying and got HIS private license in the exact same airplane 48 years after his dad. It occupies at place of honor in my hangar.. a true family heirloom. I believe it is the finest Piper Tri Pacer in existence in the world.

That's really, really nice.

They are an incredible amount of airplane for the money. Converted to conventional gear and with a big motor, they can be a beast.

My hangar buddies have Tri-Pacers and they get all kinds of utility and fun out of them. They go into lots of back country strips in Oregon, Washington and Idaho including, Tokatee, McKenzie Bridge, Red's Horse Ranch, Johnson Creek, etc.

For the money, they offer a lot. If you want to doll them up with IFR equipment, no problem. If you want to put on the macho you can swap the 150hp O-320 for a 180hp O-360; you can swap the nosewheel for a tailwheel and put huge tires on the mains for extra backcountry cred.

Back when it was still a wagon wheel.... Could be a zoo at times.

The O-290-D2 I put in the lancair that I built originally came from a Tri-Pacer, I think.

I do not recall the O-290 ever being a Colt/Tri-Pacer engine. Perhaps a Pacer?

I have had a couple over the years and now by coincidence I have two of them. One I bought at a storage auction. I had no intention of buying it and was there for another plane but it went so cheap I bought it too. It flies nice and is growing on me. The other is a bit of a project and also was sold for storage. So I bought a third basket case for parts.

The green Caribbean has a 150HP and the other is a 160HP. I am picking up a storm damaged Apache Tuesday with low time 160s so I may install one of them on the Caribbean.

It is a very capable little plane and will out run a 172 and will operate out of a shorter field

The first models had the 0-290. The colt had the O235. I had a Colt once too and it performed surprisingly well. I have also owned a couple of Pacers and once you get past the “flying milk stool” look I prefer the Tricycle gear. I am getting ready to install a Vortex generator kit on the orange one along with a set of Cleveland wheels/brakes with larger tires. Maybe I will put the wheel pants on the Caribbean. I am going to operate them with the back seat removed.

Mark, Thats an awesome Photo of your Son, Beautiful Tri-Pacer, I was hoping You would Post, sorry I missed this earlier