The Piper PA-15 Vagabond was the first post-World War II Piper aircraft design, utilising the same production tooling that created the famous Piper Cub and Super Cub, as well as structural components, but used to make a new wing (generally similiar to that on the Piper Cub, except shorter) and a new fuselage (with side-by-side seating for two instead of tandem seating for two). This allowed the aircraft to be built with minimal design and with ease, and is credited with saving the company from bankruptcy after the war. The Vagabond was later superceded by the Pacer, Tri-Pacer and Colt, which are all in fact variations of the Vagabond design.

The PA-17 version featured dual controls to enable it to be used for pilot training, and also had revised undercarriage.

Specifications (PA-15)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)
• Wingspan: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
• Height: ft in ( m)
• Wing area: ft² ( m²)
• Empty: 620 lb ( kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 1100 lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-145 , 65 hp (49 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 102 mph (163 km/h)
• Range: 300 miles (480 km)
• Service ceiling: ft ( m)
• Rate of climb: 490 ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Related content

Related development: Piper Pacer

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: PA-11 - PA-12 - PA-14 - PA-15 - PA-16 - PA-17 - PA-18 - PA-19 - PA-20