PA-16 Clipper
Piper PA-16 Clipper at the Short Wing Piper Convention in Kingston, Ontario on 06 July 2006
Role	PA-16 Clipper
Manufacturer	Piper Aircraft
First flight	1947
Introduction	1949
Produced	only in 1949
Number built	<800
Unit cost	USD$2995 (in 1949)
Variants	Piper PA-20 Pacer

A Piper PA-16 Clipper seen at Sun 'n Fun 2006

The Piper PA-16 Clipper is an extended fuselage model of the PA-15 Vagabond.^[1] Both models were designed in 1947 for the same reason - Piper Aircraft found itself in dire financial straits and needed to create new, competitive models using existing parts and tooling. The result was the Vagabond, essentially a side-by-side version of the tandem J-3 Cub credited with saving the company.^[2]

[edit] Development

The PA-16 Clipper is a stretched and refined version of the Vagabond intended to seat four people^[1] (or "two-and-a-half to three" as often told by Clipper pilots). It is equipped with an extra wing tank, added doors to accommodate the new seating, and a Lycoming O-235, the same engine that would later power the Cessna 152 and the PA-22-108 Colt, itself essentially a Vagabond with a nosewheel. The PA-16 Clipper retained the control sticks that had up to that point been common in aircraft derived from the "Cub" family.

[edit] Cost

In 1949, the Clipper sold for $2995. The average four place airplane on the market at that time cost over $5000. Fewer than 800 Clippers were built in the one year of production before Piper changed to the Piper PA-20 Pacer.

[edit] Nomenclature

Pan Am Airlines, who traditionally called its famous luxury airliners "Clippers", took offense at Piper using the name for their light aircraft. As a result of this pressure Piper further refined the model, adding wing flaps, further fuel tanks and replaced the control sticks with yokes. A more powerful Lycoming O-290 125 hp engine was installed and this model became the Piper PA-20 Pacer.^[2][1]

[edit] Aircraft type club

The PA-16 is supported by an active aircraft type club, the Short Wing Piper Club.^[3]

[edit] Specifications (PA-16)

Data from Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory^[1] & Fonden Danmarks Flymuseum^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three passengers
• Length: 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m)
• Wingspan: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
• Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
• Empty weight: 850 lb (385 kg)
• Loaded weight: 1,650 lb (750 kg)
• Useful load: 800 lb (362 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-235 with cruise pitch propeller, 115 hp (86 kW)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 122 knots (140 mph, 225 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 109 knots (125 mph, 203 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 102 knots (117 mph, 188 km/h)
• Stall speed: 43 knots (50 mph, 80 km/h)
• Range: 417 nmi (480 mi, 778 km)
• Service ceiling: 11,000 feet (3385 m)
• Rate of climb: 580 ft/min (177 m/min)
• Power/mass: 14.34 lb/hp (0.115 kW/kg)

Avionics
Originally none were fitted. Many now have VHF Nav-com radios, GPS and transponders installed.

[edit] Related Content

[edit] Related Development

• PA-15/17 Vagabond
• PA-20 Pacer, PA-22 Tri-Pacer/Caribbean, PA-22-108 Colt

[edit] Similar Aircraft

• Cessna 170

[edit] References

• Piper's Golden Age by Alan Abel, Drina Welch Abel, and Paul Matt
• The Pilot's Guide to Affordable Classics by Bill Clarke

[edit] External links

• Short Wing Piper Club aircraft type club