Piper PA-15 / PA-17 Vagabond

The Vagabond, Piper's 1948 attempt to survive the postwar collapse by building the cheapest possible aeroplane: a short-winged, side-by-side two-seater with no flaps and minimal instrumentation. The PA-15 has a Lycoming and single controls; the PA-17 Vagabond Trainer a Continental and dual controls. Both are on type certificate A-800.

The variants

MODEL	YEARS	ACTIVE	TAILFAX SCORE	WHAT CHANGED
PA-15	1948	165	Partial 17.9/30	Lycoming engine, single controls
PA-17	1948	96	Partial 13.2/30	Vagabond Trainer: Continental engine, dual controls

Family fleet, active

261

FAA registry

NTSB events / 1,000, 10 yrs

19.2

5 events over 261 active aircraft, pooled across the family

Successor

Piper PA-16 Clipper

Data as of: FAA registry Sep 28 · NTSB Oct 2 · scores Sep 30