{"id":3434,"date":"2021-09-13T19:20:02","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T02:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pimaair.org\/?post_type=museum_aircraft&#038;p=3434"},"modified":"2022-03-31T15:17:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T22:17:12","slug":"piper-pa-48","status":"publish","type":"museum_aircraft","link":"https:\/\/pimaair.org\/museum-aircraft\/piper-pa-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Piper PA-48"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>PIPER PA-48 ENFORCER<\/h1>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Piper-PA-48-Enforcer-N481PE.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Since the 1960s several attempts have been made to interest the U.S. Air Force in a light-weight ground attack aircraft for use in low intensity conflicts and for counter insurgency operations.\u00a0 To date none of these efforts have resulted in the Air Force adopting such an aircraft.\u00a0 One of the attempts was begun in 1968 and ended in 1983 with the creation of the Piper PA-48 Enforcer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In 1968, the Cavalier Aircraft Company proposed an updated version of the World War II era North American P-51 Mustang for the mission.\u00a0 The company modified two existing Mustangs with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines which greatly increased the plane\u2019s speed and carrying capacity.\u00a0 Testing showed that the aircraft could effectively perform the mission but the Air Force did not order any.\u00a0 In an effort to push the concept forward Cavalier sold the design to Piper Aircraft in 1979.\u00a0 Piper redesigned the aircraft essentially from scratch and changed the engine to a Lycoming YT-55-L-9A turboprop and while the plane still greatly resembles a Mustang it shares less than 10% of its parts with the World War II fighter.\u00a0 Two Enforcers were built and first flew in 1983.\u00a0 While they were evaluated by the U.S. Air Force and again proved quite capable of performing their mission the Air Force chose not to pursue the concept.\u00a0 Both aircraft were retired by the end of 1984.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Wingspan<\/td>\n<td>41 ft 4 in<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\">Wingspan<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Length<\/td>\n<td>34 ft 2 in<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Length<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Height<\/td>\n<td>13 ft 1 in<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Height<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Weight<\/td>\n<td>14,000 lbs (loaded)<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Weight<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Max. Speed<\/td>\n<td>402 mph<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Maximum Speed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Service Ceiling<\/td>\n<td>25,000 ft<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Service Ceiling<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Range<\/td>\n<td>920 miles<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Range<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Engine<\/td>\n<td>One Lycoming YT-55-L-9A turboprop with 2,445 horsepower<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Engine<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Crew<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Crew<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Piper<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Markings<\/strong><\/span> <br \/>Piper Aircraft Company, Lakeland, Florida, 1983<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Designation<\/strong><\/span><br \/>PA-48 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Registration<\/strong><\/span><br \/>N481PE<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2387c3;\"><strong>Serial Number<\/strong><\/span><br \/>48-8301001<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- {\"name\":\"Aircraft Layout - Final\",\"type\":\"layout\",\"children\":[{\"type\":\"section\",\"props\":{\"style\":\"default\",\"width\":\"large\",\"vertical_align\":\"middle\",\"title_position\":\"top-left\",\"title_rotation\":\"left\",\"title_breakpoint\":\"xl\",\"image_position\":\"center-center\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"row\",\"children\":[{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-1\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"headline\",\"props\":{\"title_element\":\"h1\",\"title_decoration\":\"divider\",\"content\":\"PIPER PA-48 ENFORCER\"}}]}]},{\"type\":\"row\",\"props\":{\"layout\":\"1-2,1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"image\",\"props\":{\"margin\":\"default\",\"image_svg_color\":\"emphasis\",\"image\":\"wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/03\\\/Piper-PA-48-Enforcer-N481PE.jpg\"}},{\"type\":\"text\",\"props\":{\"margin\":\"default\",\"column_breakpoint\":\"m\",\"content\":\"\n\n<p>Since the 1960s several attempts have been made to interest the U.S. Air Force in a light-weight ground attack aircraft for use in low intensity conflicts and for counter insurgency operations.\\u00a0 To date none of these efforts have resulted in the Air Force adopting such an aircraft.\\u00a0 One of the attempts was begun in 1968 and ended in 1983 with the creation of the Piper PA-48 Enforcer.\\u00a0<\\\/p>\\n\n\n<p>In 1968, the Cavalier Aircraft Company proposed an updated version of the World War II era North American P-51 Mustang for the mission.\\u00a0 The company modified two existing Mustangs with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines which greatly increased the plane\\u2019s speed and carrying capacity.\\u00a0 Testing showed that the aircraft could effectively perform the mission but the Air Force did not order any.\\u00a0 In an effort to push the concept forward Cavalier sold the design to Piper Aircraft in 1979.\\u00a0 Piper redesigned the aircraft essentially from scratch and changed the engine to a Lycoming YT-55-L-9A turboprop and while the plane still greatly resembles a Mustang it shares less than 10% of its parts with the World War II fighter.\\u00a0 Two Enforcers were built and first flew in 1983.\\u00a0 While they were evaluated by the U.S. Air Force and again proved quite capable of performing their mission the Air Force chose not to pursue the concept.\\u00a0 Both aircraft were retired by the end of 1984.<\\\/p>\"}}]},{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"table\",\"props\":{\"show_title\":false,\"show_meta\":true,\"show_content\":true,\"show_image\":true,\"show_link\":true,\"table_order\":\"3\",\"table_responsive\":\"responsive\",\"table_width_title\":\"shrink\",\"table_width_meta\":\"\",\"meta_style\":\"\",\"image_svg_color\":\"emphasis\",\"link_text\":\"Read more\",\"link_style\":\"default\",\"table_style\":\"striped\",\"table_size\":\"\",\"table_last_align\":\"right\",\"table_width_content\":\"\",\"table_head_title\":\"\",\"table_vertical_align\":false},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"title\":\"Wingspan\",\"content\":\"\n\n<p><strong><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\">Wingspan<\\\/span><\\\/strong><\\\/p>\",\"meta\":\"41 ft 4 in\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"title\":\"Length\",\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Length<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"meta\":\"34 ft 2 in\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Height<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Height\",\"meta\":\"13 ft 1 in\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Weight<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Weight\",\"meta\":\"14,000 lbs (loaded)\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Maximum Speed<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Max. Speed\",\"meta\":\"402 mph\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Service Ceiling<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Service Ceiling\",\"meta\":\"25,000 ft\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Range<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Range\",\"meta\":\"920 miles\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Engine<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Engine\",\"meta\":\"One Lycoming YT-55-L-9A turboprop with 2,445 horsepower\"}},{\"type\":\"table_item\",\"props\":{\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Crew<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/p>\",\"title\":\"Crew\",\"meta\":\"1\"}}]}]}]},{\"type\":\"row\",\"children\":[{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-1\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"divider\",\"props\":{\"divider_element\":\"hr\",\"divider_style\":\"\",\"divider_align\":\"\",\"divider_align_breakpoint\":\"\",\"divider_align_fallback\":\"\"}}]}]},{\"type\":\"row\",\"props\":{\"layout\":\"1-2,1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"props\":{\"margin\":\"default\",\"column_breakpoint\":\"m\",\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Manufacturer<\\\/strong><\\\/span><br \\\/>Piper<\\\/p>\\n\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Markings<\\\/strong><\\\/span> <br \\\/>Piper Aircraft Company, Lakeland, Florida, 1983<\\\/p>\\n\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Designation<\\\/strong><\\\/span><br \\\/>PA-48 <\\\/p>\"}}]},{\"type\":\"column\",\"props\":{\"image_position\":\"center-center\",\"media_overlay_gradient\":\"\",\"width_medium\":\"1-2\"},\"children\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"props\":{\"margin\":\"default\",\"column_breakpoint\":\"m\",\"content\":\"\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Registration<\\\/strong><\\\/span><br \\\/>N481PE<\\\/p>\\n\n\n<p><span style=\\\"color: #2387c3;\\\"><strong>Serial Number<\\\/strong><\\\/span><br \\\/>48-8301001<\\\/p>\"}}]}]}]}],\"version\":\"2.3.32\"} --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3993,"template":"","categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3434","museum_aircraft","type-museum_aircraft","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-piper","Designation-pa-48","name-enforcer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Piper PA-48 - Pima Air &amp; 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