The
Tomahawk
(nicknamed
Tommy
for
short)
was
the
first
all
new
two
seat
trainer
built
by
one
of
the
USA's
big
three
GA
manufacturers
in
almost
three
decades
when
it
was
introduced.
The
PA-38-112
Tomahawk
was
designed
as
a
relatively
inexpensive
to
acquire
and
operate
two
seat
trainer
to
tackle
the
firmly
established
definitive
basic
trainer
in
the
1970s,
the
Cessna
150
and
152,
and
to
take
over
the
spot
in
Piper's
model
range
then
occupied
by
two
seat
variants
of
the
PA-28
Cherokee
series.
Design
input
for
the
Tomahawk
came
from
a
questionnaire
Piper
distributed
randomly
to
10,000
flight
instructors
during
the
1970s.
With
their
responses
in
mind,
Piper
developed
the
PA-38.
The
resulting
aircraft
featured
a
T-tail
and
NASA
Whitcomb
GA(W)-1
design
low
set
wing
of
constant
chord
and
thickness
(also
featured
on
the
competing
Beech
Skipper),
a
cabin
wider
than
the
Cherokee's
(and
thus
much
wider
than
the
Cessna
150/152's)
with
360°
vision
and
a
Lycoming
O-235
powerplant.
Many
parts,
such
as
the
main
undercarriage
wheels
and
elevators,
were
interchangeable.
Piper
announced
the
development
of
the
Tomahawk
during
late
1977
and
first
deliveries
were
made
in
early
1978.
Despite
an
initial
mixed
reaction
to
the
new
trainer
from
the
flying
public,
the
Tomahawk
was
an
instant
sales
success
with
over
1000
built
in
the
first
year
of
production
alone.
In
service
the
Tomahawk
proved
to
be
economical
to
operate,
but
the
aircraft
was
dogged
by
quality
control
problems
(some
19
Airworthiness
Directives
were
issued
by
the
FAA
in
the
PA-38's
first
four
years)
and
unpredictable
stalling
characteristics,
resulting
in
a
number
of
stall/spin
accidents.
Flow
strips
were
added
to
the
wing
in
September
1978
to
improve
the
much
criticised
stall
characteristics,
while
a
number
of
other
problems,
including
the
poor
quality
control,
were
addressed
in
the
improved
Tomahawk
II,
which
was
introduced
for
the
1981
model
year.
Enhancements
included
improved
sound
proofing,
windscreen
defrosting,
door
latching
and
nose
wheel
design.
Piper
ceased
production
of
the
Tomahawk
during
1983.
2497
Tomahawks
were
built
between
1978
and
1983.
The
aircraft
has
for
some
time
been
a
subject
of
controversy.
The
wing
apparently
was
redesigned
after
the
original
had
been
certified
,
thus
theoretically,
the
airplane
has
never
been
properly
legal.
There
is
a
time
life
on
the
wing
which
can
make
an
elderly
aircraft
an
unattractive
prospect.
Difficulties
have
also
been
experienced
in
spin
recovery,
when
it
has
been
necessary
for
the
occupant
to
move
as
forward
as
possible
to
move
the
centre
of
gravity
forward
in
order
to
recover.
Nevertheless,
it
has
been
a
good
and
rugged
trained
for
many
years.
Demanding
more
from
the
trainee
pilot
than
the
Cessna
150;
many
would
argue
that
better
pilots
are
made
that
way.
