PIPER COLT

A REAL CONTENDER

- JASON McDOWELL

BROWSING THE WEB in search of an airplane to buy is not unlike taking a stroll through your local bookstore; the newest and trendiest items tend to be featured prominently, with substantial fanfare. Carbon Cubs, Kitfoxes and Cessna 170s dominate social media and are featured front and center, while commanding ever- increasing prices on the usual classified sites. But hiding in the quiet, less-traveled aisles toward the back of the store, treasures can be found: older, less-flashy editions that, while frequently passed over, nonetheless faithfully continue to provide wonderful experiences.

Such is the case with the Piper Colt. Often overlooked as a lower-powered, less-capable version of the more common Tri-Pacer, it’s easily brushed aside by many shoppers. At first glance, its awkward-looking landing gear conveys an unbalanced, top-heavy presence. Further investigation reveals a capacity of only two people on board, with a baggage area in place of the Tri-Pacer’s rear seats.

While many write off the airplane as a contender at that point, an astute shopper takes a closer look, and the Colt reveals itself as a thoroughly underappreciated approachable aircraft.

Model History

When Cessna introduced the 150 in 1958, it didn’t take Piper long to realize they didn’t have a direct competitor and, thus, were losing potential sales. At the time, they lacked an economical two-place trainer with side-by-side seating, and with the introduction of the Cherokee 140 still a handful of years away, they needed a stopgap measure.