The full scale Piper PA-15 Vagabond is called the 88 day wonder because it took exactly 44 days to design and 44 days to build. The prototype was flown on the 88th day. The Vagabond was an effort to get a sagging Piper Aircraft Corporation out of financial trouble immediately after World War II. The Vagabond sold for $1,990.00 and succeeded in getting the Piper Corporation back on its feet. 387 Vagabonds were built from December 22, 1947 to April 12, 1949. From April 1949 the PA-15 received some modifications and became the PA-17. The PA-17 was followed by the 4 placed Piper Clipper.

We first noticed the Vagabond in the form of a 33" span Sterling kit at the 1982 Toledo show. As our research began it was evident that information on the Vagabond was not readily available. After several dead end runs we went directly to the factory where we were able to obtain factory drawings and other information. Tom Keeling of T & D Fiberglass sent us the November issue of Sport Aviation which contains a fine article by Jack Cox entitled "Cinderella is a Vagabond". Through this article we were able to locate and correspond with Dick Peterson of Stroghton, WI who along with Bill Amundson restored a PA-15 to win the5976 EAA Grand Champion Classic award.

Our objectives for the giant scale Vagabond were as follows: An easy to build relatively lightly loaded plane suitable for a beginner in giant scale which would completely enclose any single or twin gasoline engine from 1.9 to 3.6 cu. in. The model would use traditional, readily available materials and weigh between 20 and 25 lbs. Special floats for the Vagabond would be made to challenge the more advanced modelers.

The size of our Vagabond came out at 9'6" span, 73" long, 2250 sq. in., 22 1/2" chord, 24 lbs. flying weight with a 2.4 Kioritz, approximate wing loading of 24 oz. and 32.5 % scale. The side and top view of the plans show a Kavan Twin and the front view shows a 2.4 Kioritz. The Kavan Twin is a perfect fit. Other twins and single cylinder engines would work well.

The 2.4 Kioritz is more power than necessary but gives one a very comfortable feeling when operating on floats. Like most all giant scale birds the Vagabond is a very realistic flyer and will provide hours of relaxing enjoyment. It requires coordinated rudder and ailerons for realistic turns.

Our Airtronics Championship Series radio is just what the doctor ordered for the coordinated turns. Just flip a switch on the transmitter and you are in the coupled mode. Don't forget to check for rudder throw direction in the coupled mode. You may do an unintentional slide slip like we did.

The only deviations we made from scale is a slightly aft stabilizer to permit an easier elevator hook up after the plane is completed and a slight decrease in the angle from the top of the dash to the front of the cowl. This angle change provides more engine room above the line of thrust.

The wings "plug" into the fuselage and are held in position by 6-32 machine screws at the front and rear spars. The wing struts are functional. A simple "box" is formed with plywood around the wing spars to allow for the "post" on the fuselage to plug in.

The plans show the tail feathers fastened directly to the fuselage. The tail feathers on the prototype were removable in order to allow experimentation with decalage and incidence settings. The full scale Vagabond required negative four degrees on the stab. Before it could be trimmed for level flight. Our model demanded a different setting and we ended up with + 1 degree on the wing and - 1 degree on the stab.

We chose the Sterling paint scheme with cream accented by black and orange striping. Since we did not care to go through an experimental paint mixing process with our favorite K & B Super Poxy we chose Permagloss Coverite and were very pleased. The letters and markings are Per- magloss on Permagloss and work very nicely. The struts, landing gear, tail wheel assembly and miscellaneous parts were painted with Coverite's matching Black Baron cream, miscellaneous parts were painted with Coverite's matching Black Baron cream epoxy paint.

If you are looking for something a little different, nice and easy to fly and build, realistic in flight and a joy to behold off water, you can't go wrong with the Vagabond. See our ad in HIGH-FLIGHT or our Web Page.