Piper Aircraft Pa-22

Single Piston

The Piper PA-22 Colt represents one of general aviation's most successful attempts to create an affordable entry-level trainer during the early 1960s. Introduced in 1961 as a simplified, cost-reduced variant of the popular Tri-Pacer, the Colt stripped away some of the parent design's features—including the rear side windows and wheel fairings—to hit a remarkably low price point of under $5,000 new. Powered by a modest 108-horsepower Lycoming O-235 engine, the Colt offered docile handling characteristics and forgiving flight manners that made it ideal for ab-initio training, though its performance was decidedly modest with a cruise speed around 108 knots and a service ceiling near 12,000 feet. The type shared the Tri-Pacer's distinctive tricycle landing gear configuration, which was far more forgiving for student pilots than the tailwheel PA-20 Pacer it evolved from. Production ran only from 1961 to 1963, with approximately 1,820 aircraft built before Piper shifted focus to the all-metal Cherokee line. Today, surviving Colts remain popular in the vintage aircraft community for their simple systems, reasonable operating costs, and straightforward maintenance, particularly in regions where basic transportation and training missions don't demand high performance. The PS- registration prefix on observed examples indicates operation under Surinamese civil aviation authority, where these rugged aircraft continue to serve bush flying and regional connectivity roles. SkyMeter has tracked 41 flights across 9 airframes and 5 operators over routes, with DART DAVID the largest observed operator.