Piper Aircraft Pa-17

Single Piston

The Piper PA-17 Vagabond is a two-seat, high-wing trainer built from 1948 to 1950, representing Piper's effort to offer an economical post-war aircraft for flight schools and private owners. Powered by a 65-horsepower Continental A65 engine, the Vagabond was designed as a simplified, affordable alternative to the more complex PA-15 and PA-16 Clipper models. Its fabric-covered steel tube fuselage and wooden wing spars kept manufacturing costs low, making it accessible to the burgeoning general aviation market of the late 1940s. The aircraft featured side-by-side seating and a distinctive rounded vertical stabilizer, characteristics that would evolve into the later Tri-Pacer and Colt designs. With a cruise speed around 90 knots and a range of approximately 250 nautical miles, the Vagabond was well-suited for local training flights and weekend recreational flying. Its docile handling and forgiving stall characteristics made it popular with student pilots, though its modest power limited performance in hot-and-high conditions. Only about 385 Vagabonds were produced before Piper shifted focus to the more capable PA-20 Pacer, but the type remains a beloved classic among vintage aircraft enthusiasts. Today, the PA-17 is prized for its simplicity, low operating costs, and nostalgic appeal, with many examples meticulously restored and flown at airshows and fly-ins. SkyMeter has tracked 8 flights across 3 airframes and 1 operators, with the largest observed operator.