Is the Piper Tomahawk still being built?

No. Production ended in 1982 after approximately 2,497 airframes were built across the original Tomahawk and Tomahawk II variants.

Why is the Tomahawk called the 'Traumahawk'?

The nickname dates from the type's 1980s active years, when its accident record drew industry attention to stall and spin behaviour and to wing-rigging tolerances. The type was deliberately designed with sharper stall and spin behaviour than a Cessna 152 to expose students to clearly-recognisable departures from controlled flight; that design choice combined with rigging variability across the production run drew NTSB scrutiny. We link to the FAA TCDS and AD database rather than paraphrase accident history.

Can the Tomahawk be used for IFR training?

In practice, no. Most active Tomahawks are limited-equipment day-VFR airframes used for the PPL ab-initio block. Schools transition students into a 172, PA-28-181 Archer, or DA40 for IFR training.

Where can I still get parts for a Piper Tomahawk?

Tomahawk parts are supported through the Piper Owner Society, aftermarket suppliers, and specialist Piper service centres rather than direct factory channels. Active operators typically build relationships with type-specific maintenance providers; parts availability is the primary operational risk for the type.

Piper Aircraft

PA-38-112 Tomahawk

Single-engine pistonPrimary trainerPre-1980 classicdiscontinued

Power: 112 hp
Cruise: 110 kt
MTOW: 1,670 lb
Range: 460 nm
Fuel: 100LL avgas

Reference data only — never for flight planning or operational use.

This entry is a fleet-research reference for flight school operators. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook), the manufacturer's latest service documents, and the relevant FAA / EASA TCDS for any operational decision — flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, regulatory compliance, or maintenance scheduling. Numbers shown here are POH-typical for the family's representative variant under standard conditions and are not a substitute for type- and airframe-specific data.

Editorial confidence: Medium confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

1 primary source cited. Spec data is partially attributed; some operating details are editorial synthesis pending additional research.

View 3 disclaimers specific to this entry

Performance data
Reference data only — never use this entry for flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, or any operational decision. Numbers shown are POH-typical for the family's representative variant and standard conditions. Real-world numbers vary by airframe age, weight, density altitude, engine condition, and configuration. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH and the manufacturer's latest service documents.
Cost data
Cost ranges are illustrative reference figures for fleet planning. Actual acquisition, rental, and operating costs vary substantially by region, airframe age, engine and avionics generation, and local market conditions. Numbers should be validated against current quotes from local brokers, schools, and maintenance providers before any commercial decision.
Operator list
Operator lists capture schools and programmes we know to fly the type at scale. Lists are not exhaustive, may include operators that have changed fleets since publication, and should be treated as starting points for verification rather than current customer lists.

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)110 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)138 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)47 kt
Climb rate718 fpm
Service ceiling13,000 ft
Range460 nm
Endurance4 h
Takeoff roll1,460 ft
Landing roll635 ft

Weights

MTOW1,670 lb
Empty weight1,109 lb
Useful load561 lb
Baggage capacity100 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan34 ft
Length23.2 ft
Height9.1 ft
Cabin width42 in

Powerplant

EngineLycoming O-235-L2C — 112 hp · 100LL · 6 gph
Total horsepower112 hp
Primary fuel100LL avgas
Unleaded pathLeaded only — needs G100UL or engine swap

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeanalog
Autopilot commonly availableNo
Typical packages
- Six-pack analog with single nav/com— as-delivered
- Garmin G5 / GFC 500 retrofits— modern retrofit on active fleets

Certification

RegulatoryFAR Part 23 (CAR 3 origin)
Certified rolesNormal category · Utility category
IFRNo
Spin approvedYes
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelNo
Complex (FAR 61.31)No
High-performance (FAR 61.31)No

Why is the PA-38-112 Tomahawk popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Pedagogy and handling

Designed in consultation with active CFIs with deliberately sharper stall and spin behaviour than a Cessna 152 so student recognition of departures from controlled flight would be unambiguous; the type retains a niche role at schools that specifically value that pedagogy.

Operating economics

Acquisition cost between $22,000 and $60,000 and Lycoming O-235-L2C fuel burn around 6 gph keep the Tomahawk among the cheapest two-seat trainers available to flying clubs that retain the type.

Production volume

Approximately 2,497 airframes were built before production ended in 1982 — substantially smaller fleet than the Cessna 152, with corresponding parts-availability constraints driven by type-club support rather than factory channels.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

Schools that retain Tomahawks typically configure them in Aviatize as a low-cost ab-initio / spin-training airframe. Engine reserves track against the Lycoming O-235-L2C 2,400-hour TBO. The PA-38 wing-rigging service-bulletin compliance cycle is commonly tracked as a recurring inspection in the maintenance module.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebilling

Sources

Provenance for the data on this entry. Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourceFAA TCDS·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/A11SO
FAA TCDS A11SO covers the PA-38-112.
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

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