Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Piper Model: PA-22 Nickname: Pacer
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: piston single

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/4/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 3
> Number of Times Flown: 3
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 154
> Date First Flown: 3/22/2006
> Location First Flown: Beagle Airpark, OR
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Steve Pankonin of “Steve’s Aircraft”

Recollections: My first (and only) exposure to date with the PA-22 Pacer was while serving at a Test Pilot for the FAA.  Steve Pankonin, owner of “Steve’s Aircraft” had applied for an Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Pacer with a 180 HP engine with a constant speed propeller.  The Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) test program called for conducting flight tests as part of the approval process.  The flights were flown out of Steve’s home airfield, Beagle Airpark, an unusual “one way in, one way out” airfield.

I flew one flight with Steve, and then two solo flights to complete the test plan.  The solo flights were required due to test-specific weight and balance requirements.  My flights included  the following:

–forward/heavy flight; cooling climb, heat rise, stall speed, static long stab and misc.

–most aft cg, longitudinal control, static lat/dir (failed directional stability test), stall char’s

–repeat of N-beta (static directional stability) test, with cg shifted forward and using rudder trim; still unsat

In the end, Steve made changes to the rudder system to pass the directional stability test and he received his Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). I was very impressed by Steve’s small, but professional, operation. He does a LOT of parts manufacturing, (In FAA parlance: PMA–Parts Manufacturing Authority) and is well known for quality products.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: American Champion Model: 7/8KCAB Nickname: Citabria or Decathalon
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 6/25/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 15
> Number of Times Flown: 11
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 164
> Date First Flown: 8/13/2009
> Location First Flown: Skagit Regional Airport, WA (KBVS)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Rich Stowell

Recollections: This venerable design escaped my gaze until 2009 when–as part of an FAA training program–our local Flight Test office decided to hire the famous instructor Rich Stowell to fly his Decathlon to our area and administer tailwheel and aerobatic refresher training.  I fell in love with the design’s light and responsive controls and its relatively well-behaved ground-handling characteristics.

I went on to get checked out in a Citabria at Fox Field, near Lancaster, CA (nearby Edwards AFB, where I spent quite a bit of time doing Boeing testing) and I’d take it to my brother’s place in central California during weekends off.  Both models are wonderful taildraggers.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Columbia (later Cessna) Model: LC41 Nickname: Columbia 400
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 6/25/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 19
> Number of Times Flown: 11
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: LC42, Columbia 350, Cessna 350 & 400

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 156
> Date First Flown: 6/21/2006
> Location First Flown: Salem, OR airport (KSLE)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Paul Damschen & Stacy Miller, Garmin flight test

Recollections: This aircraft started out life as a homebuilt (by Lancair), was later certified by “Columbia Aircraft” (with what I believe were fairly substantial changes to the wing and flight controls) and later the design was purchased by Cessna/Textron.  

I first flew an LC42 as part of my job as an FAA Test Pilot (the project was an autopilot certification of the new-ish Garmin GFC-700 Autopilot, installed in the Columbia 350; my first flight involved insertion of pitch malfunctions caused by the Attitude Heading Reference System and Flight Director), was FAST!  It didn’t fly all that great (side-stick with manual controls; heavy forces and disharmony, made more challenging by relatively high approach speeds for landing) but the speed for cross-country flights made it a winner.  Combined with the excellent Garmin G1000 system and GFC autopilot, this airplane was the perfect single-engine A-to-B airplane.

I flew 7 flights for the autopilot certification and later was checked out in a 400 at a local FBO (Galvin Training at Boeing Field).  Never flew it after the sale to Cessna.