Photograph:
Piper PA-22-108 Colt VH-PKP (c/ 22-9534) at Moorabbin, VIC in May 1973 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Two-seat light cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 81 kw (108 hp) Lycoming O-235-C1B four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 9.14 m (30 ft)
- Length: 6.1 m (20 ft)
- Height: 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 13.66 m² (147 sq ft)
- Max speed at sea level: 193 km/h (120 mph)
- Max cruising speed at 75% power at 2,135 m (7,000 ft): 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed: 87 km/h (54 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 186 m/min (610 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,660 m (12,000 ft)
- Range at 2,135 m (7,000 ft) with 136-litres (30 Imp gals) fuel: 1,110 km (690 miles)
- Take-off roll: 290 m (950 ft)
- Landing roll: 152 m (500 ft)
- Standard fuel capacity: 68 litres (15 Imp gals)
- Optional: 136 litres (30 Imp gals)
- Empty weight: 426 kg (940 lb)
- Useful load: 322 kg (710 lb)
- Loaded weight: 748 kg (1,650 lb)
History:
The Piper Colt was designed by the Piper Aircraft Corporation as a cheap “everyman’s aeroplane” to sell in the United States for below $5,000 in the early 1960s. At that time about 8,000 Piper Tri-Pacer four-seat high-wing monoplanes had been built, and it was decided, following cessation of production of that type, to use tooling for the Tri-Pacer to produce a new model based on that design. To power the new two-seater, Lycoming re-commenced production of its 81 kw (108 hp) O-235 engine following an order for 500 units from Piper. The new engine was designated O-235-C1B.
The fuselage was of welded steel-tube construction with fabric covering, closely resembling the Tri-Pacer but 17.78 cm (7 in) shorter in length. The wing was similar but had no flaps, being built in two sections of riveted aluminium ribs mounted on extruded aluminium spars with tubular drag and compression struts, and fabric covered. A tricycle undercarriage was fitted, with hydraulic brakes and nosewheel steering through an arc of 40 degrees. Dual control was standard.
The first of the type seen in Australia was VH-CIL (c/n 22-8026) first registered in November 1960. This was the distributor’s aircraft brought to Australia for a demonstration tour. Shortly after it became VH-PIA. The type was reasonably popular, with more than 30 registered over the years, with a number being used by aero clubs for training purposes, until the advent of the Piper Cherokee 140.