The Short Wing Piper Club is a group of aviation enthusiasts who own, fly, or simply admire five of Mr. Piper's best aircraft, the Clipper, Vagabond, Pacer, Tri-Pacer, and Colt, built between 1948 and 1963. We number nearly 3000 members in 20 countries. and provide information, help and support for the operation, maintenance and use of the five Piper aircraft models we represent.
News, Views, and Quick Reads
Presidents Report on the 2008 SWPC Convention in Cable
Northern Exposure
(excerpted from the President's report for the July-August Short Wing Piper News)
We enjoyed a wonderful gathering of the clan at the Telemark Convention Center, Cable, Wisconsin. As promised this was a Northern Exposure experience with pretty good weather and good accommodations. The latest and best attendance count was 172 people and 59 planes. Bob and Eleanor Mills were unable to attend so in their absence several of us will be reporting the convention activities. We are now much more appreciative of the discipline it requires to take notes, take names and attend to details so the reports will be meaningful and we ask your tolerance in our reporting efforts if we fail to adequately identify people, places and things.
The person winning the certificate for flying the longest distance to Cable was Barbara Miller, Gladwin, Michigan. It took her over 50 hours to get to Cable as she followed here previous practice of making this a grand flying vacation stopping in several states and enjoying her Tri-Pacer to get there. Carole and I flew 19 hours getting from Sierra Vista, AZ to Cable. Our return route was slightly more direct and we ended the trip with a total of 37 trouble free hours, save for a couple of diversions around low ceilings and precipitation in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Minnesota.
The Telemark facilities were excellent, especially the runway which was within walking distance of the convention center. The entertainment worked out very well also with evening camp fires and a lot of socialization. Plenty of mosquito repellent kept the majority of bites away. Entertainment included a campfire presentation on the Wolves in Wisconsin, an excursion to Hayward, WI and attendance at their world renowned Lumberjack Show plus visiting the Hayward Fish Museum and a bus/walking tour of Madeline Island. We enjoyed several seminars including a very good presentation from the Richard Bong WWII Heritage Center providing a history of Richard Bong's WWII record of 40 confirmed kills flying P-38s, passing your flight physical, future convention site selection, greeting card workshop, constructing Christmas ornaments and Jim Fix' s propeller discussion.
The high point of the convention, for me, was the keynote address on Thursday evening by Paul Poberezny, EAA #1. I find his dedication to EAA, his discipline to accomplish difficult tasks, his perseverance, his positive attitude toward people and his love of aviation and most of all his accomplishments very inspiring. It provides me inspiration to keep paddling like the proverbial duck to keep the Ship of State of the SWPC moving the club forward.
If you have any photos of the convention you wish to share, please post them in the 2008 convention photo gallery.
Cliff
2008 SWPC Convention Winners
Congratulations to the SHORT WING PIPER CLUB Aircraft Prize Winners At Cable WI Convention
Best PA-22/20 & People's Choice, Rick and Nancy Jacobsen, Omaha, NE.
Best PA-20, John Hudec, Collinsville OK.
Reserve Grand Champion, PA-22 Tripacer, Paul Wolff, Reedsburg, WI.
Best PA-17 Vagabond, Bob Harrington, Midlane, MI.
Grand Champion, PA-17 Vagabond, Jim Hudgin, Lewisburg, TN.
Best PA-22 Tripacer, Ladies Choice, Steve Banks, Blue Springs MO.
Best PA-22 -108 Colt, Dean Dayton, Dublin OH.
Order Your Shortwing CD Today
Your plane can be "Standin' Tall, and Lookin' Good" like this if you buy and use the Blueprint and Drawings CD and the Tips and Techniques CD. Don't guess, know what your plane needs. Take advantage of those who have "gone before you" and read how to do what you want.
You can download an
order form for the CD here.
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SWPC Commemorative History Book
The Short Wing Piper Club and Turner Publishing Company are pleased to offer this exciting new commemorative volume celebrating Piper Aircraft Corporation and over 25 years of SWPC. This exciting volume provides an historical overview of the SWPC from its origins in 1979 through today, with past officers, the SWPC Honor roll, and SWPC Chapters. In addition, the book features photographs and descriptions of hundreds of SWPC member-owned pipers!
The beginnings of Piper Aircraft Corporation are also presented, along with a detailed look at the Piper PA-15/17 Vagabond, PA-16 Clipper, PA-20 Pacer, PA-22 Tri-Pacer, PA-22 Colt, and the PA-22/20 Taildragger Conversion.
This landmark collector's book is a 9" x 12" coffee-table volume with 136 pages, including hundreds of full-color and historic photos. This is the perfect addition to your library!
Commemorative History Book order form
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