New O-320 Powered Clipper

[Steve Pierce]

As many of you know I acquired the Stewart brothers STC's for the rear mounted oil cooler, wing tips and the O-320 in the PA16 Clipper along with the Bungee Buddy tool some 3 years ago now. The O-320 STC for the Clipper means the most to me because I went down the STC road for this and got bogged down in the bureaucracy involved. I was elated when Doug and Dan Stewart contacted me and asked if I would be interested in buying the rights. The Clipper is my favorite airplane and with the O-320 Lycoming it just makes it about perfect. Today was a great day because a gentleman in Louisiana I have been working with on his install got his Clipper flying today and sent me a video and picture. Still awaiting his PIREP but I am sure he will grin as big as my Dad and I did. Turns out he knows some friends of mine down that way and they helped him with the install. It truly is a small world. Congrats David.
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[SeanM]

Wow, that Clipper is beautiful!

[Subsonic]

Steve, I'm curious what makes it your favorite? Sticks not yokes? Big ailerons, no flaps, etc.? I'd like to put a 180 or 200 hp IO 360 or 390 in my TP. Wish there was an STC.

[Steve Pierce]

The Clipper is one of the most well balanced airplanes I have flown. A combination of the long ailerons, short fuselage and plenty of rudder. I am kinda sentimental about them as well since it is what I learned to fly in.

[andya]

You still have your Clipper, right????

[Steve Pierce]

You still have your Clipper, right????

I do. I have the Clipper I was in the mid-air in and the one I bought soon after. Of course it is in pieces, wings ready for cover as well as fuselage. I have too many projects.

[Old3pacer]

Beautiful that you have that STC and now it is flying in LA - I know that is satisfying.
I am a nose wheel driver and think the O320 is a perfect power plant for our planes!

[VTClipper]

The Clipper is one of the most well balanced airplanes I have flown. A combination of the long ailerons, short fuselage and plenty of rudder. I am kinda sentimental about them as well since it is what I learned to fly in.

I've owned my Clipper for a couple years now and everything Steve says is exactly what I'm feeling when flying it. It's light and lively on the stick and rudder and with the O-320 it climbs like it's scared of the ground. Cruising 120mph @ 8-9GPH makes the dirt go by below at a fun pace. I didn't learn to fly in a Clipper but I feel it teaches me about flying with every ride even after logging 650+ tail wheel hours. My first owned airplane post private check-ride was a Luscombe 8E which I loved dearly for nearly 20 years. But after adopting my Clipper the only thing I miss about the Luscombe is the pilot's door on the left side. I reconcile the lack of door on the left side of the Clipper as Mr. Piper's intent to keep his pilots limber climbing in and out from the right side. All that said, my Clipper is getting a hangar-mate as soon as the Vermont winter subsides enough to go to South Jerz and fly my newly adopted '79 Pitts S-2A. We'll find out pretty quickly if the Clipper has made my rudder dance moves svelte enough to keep the Pitts in a straight line.