Detailed Description
Fighting Tri Pacer Story
I'm going to guess that most of you reading this never thought of a Piper PA22 as a Warbird. Well, a few of them were. In the USA the PA22 lost out to the L-19 in the military competition for a light observation plane. However, the French, Cubans, Israelis, South Africans, and Kenyans all used the PA22 for military proposes.
This airplane we're selling was restored to the configuration of the French Marines Pa-22s. It was used for light ground support. Armed with a 50 caliber WW2 US surplus machine gun, small hand dropped bombs, and hand grenades in glass jars filled with 3/8" steel ball bearing that could be dropped on the enemy. Besides these armaments there was a 30-caliber carbine mounted on the r/h cabin wall. All this equipment is now de-milled. It does come with the airplane as shown in the photos.
Backing up 40 years the Tri Pacer was purchased in the early 1980's by a father and son as a project. The airplane was restored and maintained by them until 2019 when it was purchased by Doug Kulick, a retired USMC Captain and restorer. Doug is an avid fisherman and liked the idea of the Tri Pacers useful load. His original intent was to use the airplane to haul himself and his camping and fishing gear into some of the back country strips in the are around his home base in Reno, NV. Some of you may recognize Doug's name he has been custom making fishing poles for many years in Reno.
As Doug learned more about Fighting Tri Pacers, he became intrigued with the idea of creating a Fighting Tri Pacer. To do that correctly he added front observation doors, a 50 Cal machine gun mounted in the rear door of the passenger compartment, Ammo cans for the belt feed 50 Cal machine gun. A 30ca M1l Carbine mounted on the left side of the rear compartment, Hand grenades, glass jars, small bombs. All the armament and tools the rear gunner would have use to defend the airplane and attack ground troops.
The restoration didn't stop there. Doug is a firm believer in instrument flying. The airplane is IFR certified. It has a full panel duplicating the French Marine IFR lay out. Avionics consist of: Garmin GNC 355 GA Nav Com GPS, Garmin GTR 205X Com radio, Garmin GMA Audio Panel intercom and blue tooth, Stratus Appareo Mode S Transponder, ADSB in and out, KX99 Backup radio hard wired to the external antenna, JPI Fuel Scan 450 Fuel flow Indicator AV30 multi-function indicator including Voltmeter and Artificial Horizon.
The Seats are covered in genuine leather; windshield was replaced with a new one. Observation door Plexiglas is new. The observation doors are STC'd. The airplane is certified for flight with the passenger door removed and Para cargo and parachute jumpers.
No detail was overlooked in the restoration of the airplane. Calling it a restoration is kind of a misnomer. The plane was very clean when Doug purchased it from the previous owners. Basically, what Doug did was toughly inspect the airplane mechanically. Then with the assistance of Stitts materials, he repainted the airplane in the French Marine paint scheme. The details inside and outside of the airplane are meticulous. That's not just talk in 2021 the airplane won the award for Best Ground Attack Airplane at Oshkosh. Also, in 2021 the airplane won best all-around airplane at the Piper Factory's Sentimental Journy Fly in. Doug has a website Fighting Tri Pacers.com that goes into more detail on the airplane. That website will go with the airplane to the new owner.
Avionics / Equipment
. Avionics consist of: Garmin GNC 355 GA Nav Com GPS, Garmin GTR 205X Com radio, Garmin GMA Audio Panel intercom and blue tooth, Stratus Appareo Mode S Transponder, ADSB in and out, KX99 Backup radio hard wired to the external antenna, JPI Fuel Scan 450 Fuel flow Indicator AV30 multi-function indicator including Volt Meter and Artificial Horizon.
Airframe
Unique Tri Pacer restored in the livery of the French Marines Corps Ground support armed Tri Pacer Warbird This is an Oshkosh and Piper Sentimential Journy award winner. IFR equipted PA22. The aircraft is equipted withn a 50 CAL maching gun replica, bombs, hand granades, 30 M1 Carbine. Restored in exacting detail . The airplane has flown across the country. No detail was overlooked during the restoration. Read the story of Fighting Tri Pacers online. AFTT:4046 Engine: Lyc O320 160HP 462 SMOH.
Fighting Tri Pacer Story
