Piper PA-15 and PA-17 Vagabond

The Piper PA-15 Vagabond and PA-17 Vagabond are two-seat, high-wing, conventional-gear light aircraft that Piper designed for personal use and flight training from 1948. The PA-15 was the first post-war Piper design and reused Cub tooling and parts, including the tail, landing gear and most of the wing, with a wing one bay shorter that gave the type the nickname short wing Piper. The prototype flew on November 3, 1947 and deliveries began in January 1948. The PA-17 added dual controls and bungee-sprung gear, and the design is credited with saving Piper from bankruptcy after the war. The Pacer, Tri-Pacer and Colt grew out of it.