COMMON
PA22
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer
The Milk Stool
“Short legs, big heart, fabric wings.”
Piper · private
NO PHOTO
Length
20 ft 7 in
Wingspan
29 ft 4 in
Max speed
114 kts
Range
460 nmi
Ceiling
16,500 ft
Engines
1x Lycoming O-320 (150-160 hp)
Crew
1
Max passengers
3
Typical config
1 pilot + 3 passengers
Built
9,400+
The Tri-Pacer was Piper's bet that ordinary families would fly, and nearly 10,000 sold. Its stubby fuselage and tall nosewheel earned it the affectionate nickname 'the flying milk stool' — but it hauled four people on 150 horsepower and helped build postwar general aviation.
Fun fact
Its tricycle gear was a big selling point in the 1950s — most light planes were still tailwheels that were tricky to land.
How to spot one
High wing with struts, fabric covering, short rounded fuselage, and a distinctly tall, stalky tricycle gear. Looks like it's standing on tiptoes at the ramp.
Crews call it
The Tri-Pacer
Sounds like
Classic Lycoming four-cylinder drone, usually cruising unhurried
Related
One might be overhead right now.
Bogey turns the The Milk Stool from a dot in the sky into a card in your logbook. Coming to iOS and Android.
Get Bogey