Piper
PA-15 Vagabond N4330H
(c/n
15-113)
The Vagabond was produced in 1947-48 as a cheap, plain, no
frills two seat aircraft ideal for flying
clubs. This was
the first of the so-called "short wing" Pipers (the wingspan was
reduced by taking out
three feet from the wing
roots) This "short-wing" philosophy burgeoned into many follow-on
types.
The Vagabond example
above, seen at Santa Paula, California, in 2002 displays non standard
livery
for PA-15s as they were
shipped from the plant in Lock Haven, inasmuch as it has a fuselage
stripe.
As delivered, they didn't
even have that. They were all yellow. The aircraft below was seen
much
earlier in March 1963
at San Fernando Airport. It is, remarkably, still on the
register, registered to
an owner in Las Vegas.
In 1948 Piper came
out with a PA-17 Vagabond Trainer which was
just
about identical
externally. It differed mainly in having
dual controls (the PA-15 only had one
set),
bungee shocks, and
color
offerings other than yellow.
Piper
PA-15 Vagabond N4337H
(c/n
15-121)