Thanks for the thoughts, guys.... I'm hoping (financing still to be arranged) to purchase a little '56 Tri-Pacer that, as I suspected, and verified on giving it a try Sunday, has a
lot of heart.
It was "metalized" in '59 and completely restored in 2006 after having sat for a number of years: new interior, new fabric on the empennage, new glass on front & sides, and the current owner added independent toe-brakes and a few other things. Currently has about 750 SMOH on the O-320 engine, around 3050 TTAF.
Radios are still original (OLD!) and the NAV doesn't work, but it has a dock for a Garmin GPSMAP unit. Current owner also cleaned up the dash and the wiring when he converted it to alternator.
Current owner is an LTC in the AF, very nice guy, and struck me as very honest. This is his "push the button and go" almost anytime plane; his main ride, a Baron (!), blew an engine. His wife really didn't want to sell the Pacer, but he really wants something that can "fly upside down." He did tell me that this Pacer has been to Oshkosh 4 out of the last 5 years, so folks up there know it....
Roy, if I knew you were that close, I'd love to have stopped by. As it was, however, it was a very long day. Surprised that I actually survived a trip like that at my age!
So here I am, still hoping and trying to put the pieces together.....
