Piper PA-22 Pacer

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.