Piper Pacer Aircraft 1950s

Pre-1980 piston singles are heritage airframes that have typically been rebuilt and refurbished multiple times — original avionics replaced with modern Garmin or Avidyne panels, engines on at least one mid-time overhaul cycle, interiors refreshed once or twice. Pre-buy focus: airframe corrosion (especially wing carry-through, tail, gear), AD compliance history, log-book continuity, engine cylinder borescope. Heritage value can be meaningful for original aircraft in restored condition.

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The Piper Pacer family (PA-22) is the short-wing Piper of the 1950s — the Pacer is the taildragger version, the Tri-Pacer the nosewheel version (Piper's first nosewheel), and the Colt the two-seat trainer derivative. All share a tube-and-fabric construction and a Lycoming O-320 (135-150 hp). A characterful 1950s family with a small devoted following; the Tri-Pacer in particular is one of the cheapest four-seat aircraft on the market.

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· 4-seat · Reference price ~$60,000 ($35,000–$95,000) · updated 2026-07-06

The Piper Pacer is a 4-seat single engine piston with a cruise speed of 109 kt (202 km/h), a range of 504 nm (933 km), and a useful load of 800 lbs (363 kg).

Compare Piper Pacer

See how the Piper Pacer stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.

Piper Pacer Price & Cost

Buying a Used Piper Pacer

Buying a Piper Pacer comes down to a focused pre-purchase checklist — here is what matters most on this model:

What to check before buying

Frequently Asked Questions — Piper Pacer

Piper Pacer Safety Record