When it comes to PA-22 rebuilds, there are good Tri-Pacers and there are great Tri-Pacers. This is the story of an exceptional “truly better than the day it was built” Tri-Pacer. The one thing I

Photos by Mike Maez Ever since I was a kid I’ve always been obsessed with anything fast. Anytime a plane would fly overhead, I was—and still am—the boy that would stop everything to look up and

    Upsizing your vintage Piper wheels and tires.  A cub is a young bear as well as the mascot for early Piper airplanes. Today, up to 79 years from their birth, many of these once-youthful Cubs

Fabric-covered planes in good condition are available, but you need to know what to look for. Aircraft have been covered in cloth since the Wright Brothers took flight, and the material had to be

Remembering why we fly. “I’ve owned 41 airplanes. A few of them would talk with me. This little seaplane, though, we’ve had long conversations in flight. There’s a spirit in anything, I think, into

Florida is filled with fun, bright, beachy places—but there is nowhere quite like Sanibel Island on the state’s Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island might be small, but it packs a lot into its 17 square

  Fall is the best time of the year on the coast, and you have plenty of airports to pick from.  Welcome to the (Oregon) coast.  First things first: if you want to try to blend in, even as a

  With the help of Lassie, a faithful Piper Saratoga, Matt Kiener and FlyPups, Inc. transport at-risk dogs to animal shelters where they can be adopted into permanent homes.    How many dogs

A “new-from-the-wheels-up” Premier Edition Dakota from Premier Aircraft Sales is a leading example of Piper’s legendary PA-28 series.  Like many of you, I learned to fly in what is now described in

  Wise owners (and mechanics) know that a successful overhaul starts with careful engine removal. The overhaul process isn’t finished until after the engine has been reinstalled and the break-in

Michael Leighton compares two popular portable units that can receive in-flight weather and more.  Perhaps the most significant safety improvement in aviation in the last 20 years is the

After a 30-year gap, the author gets a chance to fly another Twin Comanche and realizes he rather likes it. Its name rather gives the game away with this iconic light twin. The Piper PA-30 Twin

Feeling a bit shaky when you’re flying (and tired when you land)? It might not be your nerves; but rather the side effects of excessive vibration. Vibration can originate from an aircraft’s engine,

  KSMO will soon join the ever-lengthening list of excellent airports that were killed by obliviousness, lack of imagination and greed. Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO) is most likely toast.

Electronic ignition promises enhanced fuel economy, less maintenance, and safer operation when compared to traditional magneto ignition. Steve Ells takes the plunge and upgrades his 1960 Comanche

Picks vary based on mission and budget, yet almost every Piper has a niche. By Kristin Winter With photos by Jim Lawrence Almost all airplanes are good for traveling, when compared to cars. In

In the early 1930s, businessman William T. Piper became involved with the Taylor Aircraft Company. C.G. Taylor designed a light aircraft with steel framework, tubular struts, rubber shock cord

September 2015 With a little (okay, a lot!) of help from his friends, Tom Grove’s Piper PA-28 Cherokee 235 was deemed Outstanding in Type at EAA AirVenture in 2014. “I think I caught him in a weak

Try these troubleshooting tips before you visit your favorite avionics shop for service. We all know it takes fuel to fly our aircraft from point A to point B, but we sometimes take for granted

Garmin D2 Pilot Watch-Move over, Dick Tracy: a new era in nifty watches has arrived. The new Garmin D2 Pilot does everything but catch the bad guys. GPS enabled with direct-to and nearest function

June 2013 Insider’s guide to getting the best bang for your engine overhaul buck. Life’s funny that way. One day you’re flying your Cherokee 180 along without a care in the world. The next, your

June 2013 STC packages for your Cherokee If the engine on your PA-28-140 or PA-28-151 is getting tired and it’s time to do something about it, you have a few options to consider. You can get a

May 2013 Several months ago (“Heading Bug,” June 2012) columnist David Hipschman weighed in with his ideas about what to carry in your Piper for emergencies, and he shared what he carries: “Here’s

April 2013 I ended my February column by saying that I expected to be flying a lot less, given my wife's cancer diagnosis. In fact, I'm delighted (and more than a little surprised) to report that