This 1960 Piper PA-22-160 Is an Endearing, Easy-Flying ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Today’s Top Pick is a 1960 Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer.

While Cessna is famous for promoting the use of tricycle landing gear on GA aircraft with its 172 Skyhawk, rival Piper Aircraft rather quietly beat it to market by several years. Indeed, strong sales of Piper’s Tri-Pacer helped convince Cessna that the time was right for the 172.

While the 172 eventually outsold the Tri-Pacer and every other four-seat personal aircraft and remains in production, the Tri-Pacer is at best a faded memory for many pilots.

Interestingly the Tri-Pacer and Skyhawk had similar starts. Each resulted from altering an existing tail wheel model to use a nose wheel instead. The mod worked better for the 172, which evolved from the 170, and sales took off quickly.

But the Tri-Pacer maintained a devoted, affectionate following that has begun to grow again in recent years.

Today, Tri-Pacers like this 1960 model can offer a lot of utility at an economical cost. They also exude a vintage vibe that appeals to younger pilots who appreciate the aircraft’s combination of practicality and style.

This Tri-Pacer has 4,500 hours on the airframe and 1,999 hours on its Lycoming O-320 engine since overhaul. The aircraft’s interior was refurbished in 2022, and the metalized exterior was last repainted in 1970.

The VFR panel includes a Garmin GNC 300XL com radio, Val Avionics 760 TSO com, dual AV-30C flight instruments, Garmin GTX 327 transponder, King KI 34A audio panel, ADS-B In and Out, and single-cylinder CHT and EGT instrument.

Pilots looking for a compact, capable antique aircraft for travel and recreation should consider this 1960 Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer, which is available for  $38,500 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.