Bought my first aircraft today

[FlyingToIST]

A 1978 year old PA38. It still needs some TLC , but it will be fixed in KOSU by the fine mechanics of Ohio State University Aviation dept. and then it will be flown to Seattle for her new carrier as a training queen

 

[Traumahawk]

Good Choice

 

[FN FAL]

Congratulations...many happy and safe flying hours to you!

 

[Jmmccutc]

i've seen the craft that OSU opperates, top notch MX down there...best of luck to you...

 

[Timebuilder]

For those not familiar with this airplane:

http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=309

"Piper announced the development of the Tomahawk during late 1977 and first deliveries were made in early 1978. Despite an initial mixed reaction to the new trainer from the flying public, the Tomahawk was an instant sales success with over 1000 built in the first year of production alone. In service the Tomahawk proved to be economical to operate, but the aircraft was dogged by quality control problems (some 19 Airworthiness Directives were issued by the FAA in the PA-38's first four years) and unpredictable stalling characteristics, resulting in a number of stall/spin accidents.


Flow strips were added to the wing in September 1978 to improve the much criticised stall characteristics, while a number of other problems, including the poor quality control, were addressed in the improved Tomahawk II, which was introduced for the 1981 model year. Enhancements included improved sound proofing, windscreen defrosting, door latching and nose wheel design.


Piper ceased production of the Tomahawk during 1983."






I'm sure all of this was taken into account before you made your purchase. This is for those who may not know why it is sometimes called the traumahawk.

 

[chawbein]

A 1978 year old PA38....

WOW! 1978 years old? Isn't it corroded to dust by now?

Congratulations!

 

[vclean]

They found it next to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

 

[j41driver]

A 1978 year old PA38.

Wow, I didn't know they had PA-38's 1978 years ago.

 

[pilotyip]

1978?

Actually in the used airplane market a 1978 is almost a late model used airplane. I have 1978 C-172, worth more now with a high time engine that is was when I bought it with a zero time engine 10 years ago. Have some money, like piles of it sitting around, for those owner surprises.

 

[dmspilot00]

For those not familiar with this airplane:

http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=309

...This is for those who may not know why it is sometimes called the traumahawk.

Thanks for bringing this up.

There is an infamous NTSB report about a Tomahawk spin accident. I encourage everyone to read it, specifically the section titled "Additional Information." The following are quotes from the Tomahawk's original design engineers, who were quoted in the NTSB report.

The FAA certified Tomahawk "had been built with a rigid wing structure...necessary when using (its) airfoil."

The Tomahawk was completely redesigned after certification, and the resulting "softened wing structure could (make) the wing a new and unknown commodity."

The production Tomahawk, as redesigned after certification

- "had its wing rib numbers reduced (from 11) to four"
- had wings that were "...able to be torsionally twisted without substantial effort."
- was "totally unpredictable...the wings flexed noticeably"
- had a design that "...opens a Pandora's box regarding its performance"

Other information that I have found from other sources include:

"A third former Piper test pilot...told investigators that production Tomahawks 'were nothing like the article certified (by the FAA) as far as stall characteristics are concerned.'"

and

A 1979 Swedish National Aeronautics Board investigation of the Tomahawk's stall/spin characteristics...after performing more than 60 stalls with two production Tomahawks...concluded that the airplane did not meet FAA certification requirements for wings-level stall characteristics, or the FAA requirement for a stall warning.

NTSB report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001206X00857&ntsbno=CHI94FA097&akey=1.