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Enforcer: Piper or Cavalier

Posted by Randy Haskin on Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:15:21 AM

In reply top Re: N51DL posted by Tulio on Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:49:10 AM

"I have a question regarding the PA-48 Enforcer: It has always been my understanding that this was a Piper product, modified by Piper, and not by TFA. Am I right in this?"

Remember, there were four total Enforcers and all of them were "built" by Piper.

The PE-1 and PE-2 were built in early '71 by Piper, assisted by a group of ex-Cavalier employees. The PE-1 was made from the Cavalier Turbo Mustang III airframe N6167U turned over to Piper when they purchased the program in fall 1970. The PE-2 was made from a disassembled airframe out of Cavalier stock and used a Cavalier TF-51 conversion kit to turn it into a dual-control model.

The PA-48s, N481PE and N482PE, were both new-build airframes (the only P-51 parts were bolt-on items like flaps) completed by Piper in early '83. By this time, Cavalier was long since dissolved. The only involvement from anything related to Cavalier was the lease of the N201PE airframe from David Lindsay to use as a pattern. Piper also purchased two ex-Cavalier P-51 airframes (IDs unknown) from Gordon Plaskett to use to build construction jigs and pattern new-build parts. Those airframes were sold back to Plaskett in '85.

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