![]() ![]() When the Tomahawk goes into a stall, it is designed so that the pilot must go through the entire textbook stall recovery procedure to get out of the stall. The NASA Whitcomb GAW-1 airfoil is the driving force behind the Tomahawk’s unique to its class stall/spin characteristics. In alignment with the initial premise of building the ultimate flight trainer based on target market consensus, the differentiating design features of the Tomahawk are exactly what the surveyed flight instructors requested. The Piper Tomahawk is a two-seat single-engine tricycle gear plane with low cantilever wing configuration and T-tail. Key Design Features of the Piper Tomahawk Improved visibility and expanded cabin space rounded out the key requests.Īrmed with this list of feature and handling requests, the Piper design team got to work and in 1977 the Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk was released. The fuel system should be simple, self-explanatory, and easy to access. It would be heavier on the controls, making the transition to other touring types of aircraft a little easier. When the surveys were returned, the CFI consensus was that the ideal trainer aircraft should have “realistic” spin characteristics. The instructors were asked to identify the physical aspects and handling characteristics that they looked for in the ideal flight trainer aircraft. To make sure they got it right and that the target market would be interested in the finished aircraft, the Piper design team sent out a survey to more than 10,000 flight instructors. The design premise for the Piper Tomahawk was to create an ideal trainer aircraft that CFIs would love and want to use. The PA-38-112 Piper Tomahawk made its debut in 1978 and is one of the most affordable Piper aircrafts still able to be found today. ![]() After the Korean War, Piper continued developing its range of aircraft. When the post-WWII boom ended, Piper’s sales declined until new military orders for the Korean War stimulated production. Next up was perhaps the most legendary and prolific Piper aircraft – the Piper J-3 Cub with all of its subsequent variants including a WWII military version. The new Piper Aircraft company started production with their Depression-era E-2 Cub. Piper who would eventually earn the nickname “The Henry Ford of Aviation.” Piper initially partnered with Taylor, handling the finances while Taylor continued as engineer, but a rift developed between the two and in 1937, Piper purchased Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and changed its name to Piper Aircraft. Sales were sluggish on the $4,000 plane, and in 1928 when Gordon died while flying another Taylor designed aircraft, Clarence moved the company to Bradford, Pennsylvania thanks to the town’s offer of a new factory and investment money. Their first offering was a two-seat high-wing monoplane christened the Taylor Chummy. The Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company was started in 1927 by brothers Clarence and Gordon Taylor out of Rochester, New York. But before we delve into the details of this interesting aircraft, we will step back and take a look at where the Piper Tomahawk got its start. The adage “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it” also applies. ![]() The story of the Piper Tomahawk an interesting one filled with unique handling and flight characteristics, accidents, investigations, divided opinions, and controversy. ![]()
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