I have a friend who is looking for information (and hopefully some photos)on the Tri-Pacer in service with the RAF. He has info that said they were used in Kenya as attack aircraft. He is considering restoring a Tri-Pacer in a military paint scheme if he can find decent documentation. Someone has already done the French military version so he was looking for an alternative military version.
By: mike currill - 29th July 2004 at 22:35
Oops, sorry Moggy. The grey cells are not as good as they used to be( the few that are left)
By: Moggy C - 28th July 2004 at 23:17
Nice shot of HP, would go well alongside the one of Moggy’s NE on the other thread. I remember her being at Kidlington when I were a lad. Hell I remember all the G-AP and G-AR Pipers passing through Kidlington as BEAS were the importers at the time.
G-ARNE came in through Kidlington, but definitely Vigors, not BEAS.
Moggy
By: mike currill - 28th July 2004 at 21:58
Nice shot of HP, would go well alongside the one of Moggy’s NE on the other thread. I remember her being at Kidlington when I were a lad. Hell I remember all the G-AP and G-AR Pipers passing through Kidlington as BEAS were the importers at the time.
By: Mpacha - 28th July 2004 at 17:51
Bit late with my reply, but have just returned from Den Helder :rolleyes:
paulmcmillan, the Rhodesian AF never used the Tri-Pacer/Colt.
Attached is a pic of the one I used to fly. With the uprated engine, she certainly had no problems with Hot ‘n High. On the coast she took off like a rocket! Lovely aircraft to fly. Especially loved cranking the old trim, made one feel like a bus conductor 😀
By: ALBERT ROSS - 28th July 2004 at 14:12
I think your friend is confused as all the Kenyan pilots were trained by the RAF and the Kenya Air Force Bases at Eastleigh and Embakasi were former RAF stations, so perhaps he assumed the Tri-Pacers were operated by the RAF?
By: Blue Leader - 28th July 2004 at 12:28
Tri-Pacers certainly were used in the Mau-Mau emergency in Kenya. However I think it was the Kenya Police that had them as “sky-shouters” to try and persuade the Kikuyu rebels to pack it in. I’ll have to dig out my old Kenya stuff for chapter and verse.
Ozplane is spot on, The Kenyan police operated the type to patrol their borders. Aeroplane or Flypast did an artical ages ago if that helps.
By: danohagan - 28th July 2004 at 00:36
Definitely a classic machine – sadly all too rare these days…
By: Moggy C - 27th July 2004 at 23:02
You mean I’m officially a warbird pilot?
Er, Mr Hanna……. 😉
Moggy
By: RobAnt - 27th July 2004 at 22:44
And there’s no truth in the rumour that Moggy was the pilot………
Ahhh must be true then.
By: Auster Fan - 27th July 2004 at 19:15
I have a friend who is looking for information (and hopefully some photos)on the Tri-Pacer in service with the RAF. He has info that said they were used in Kenya as attack aircraft.
And there’s no truth in the rumour that Moggy was the pilot……… (yes, I know he flies a Colt, but it’s near enough!) 😉
By: ozplane - 27th July 2004 at 17:52
Tri-Pacers certainly were used in the Mau-Mau emergency in Kenya. However I think it was the Kenya Police that had them as “sky-shouters” to try and persuade the Kikuyu rebels to pack it in. I’ll have to dig out my old Kenya stuff for chapter and verse.
By: paulmcmillan - 27th July 2004 at 16:30
Didn’t the Rhodesian Airforce (as was use) them.. I know they were used by the Kenya Airforce
By: John Boyle - 27th July 2004 at 16:27
Are you sure your friend isn’t mistaken, since the French had Tri-Pacers and used them in Africa.
I’ve never heard of any RAF use…seems they would have used Austers as AOP ships.
Early Tri-Pacers had 125 hp engines, (later upgraded to 135, 150 & 160 hp) so they woudn’t have had much payload…especially in hot and high conditions.
By: Arm Waver - 27th July 2004 at 15:59
The French used them in a military role…
PA.22-150 G-AZRS has the PI of F-MKAC and 22-5141 is an example of one of them.
OAW
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July 27, 2004 at 3:45 pm