Beautiful 1978 PA – 38 tomahawk ​/​Garmin G5 ready to fly. This wall maintained in 1978 Piper PA 38 tomahawk is a clean, dependable trainer and cross country aircraft has been exceptionally cared for and always hangared

Home Airport(s)

EMMENT Idaho

Serial Number

N9482T

Manufacturer year

1978

Make/Model

Piper PA – 38 Tomahawk

Engine Details (e.g. Total Engine Time; Suggested TBO; Hours Remaining)

TTAF 3078 SMOH 346

Avionics

Garmin G5 electric flight instrument Door NAV​/​COM Radios King Katie​/​76 transponder ADS​/​BLTGDL 82

Maintenance Details

Log books available

Aircraft Model Overview (Reference only)

The Piper PA-38 Tomahawk is a two-seat, low-wing primary trainer produced from 1978 to 1982 and developed to compete directly with the Cessna 152 in flight-school fleets. Distinguished by its T-tail and expansive greenhouse canopy, it was designed with input from working flight instructors to give students more realistic stall and spin behavior than typical trainers of its era. Many pilots earned their certificates in the type. Power comes from the Lycoming O-235, a four-cylinder engine rated at 112 horsepower driving a fixed-pitch propeller. So equipped, the Tomahawk cruises around 95 to 105 knots and climbs at roughly 700 feet per minute, delivering the modest, economical performance appropriate to primary training and local flying while keeping operating costs low. The airframe pairs a low wing with a T-tail that positions the horizontal stabilizer out of the propeller wash, contributing to the aircraft's distinctive handling feel. Its design intent was to reward correct technique and clearly communicate the approach to a stall, which makes it an effective teaching platform but also demands disciplined airmanship and proper training. The side-by-side cabin seats two with excellent all-around visibility through the wraparound canopy, one of the type's most-praised features. Interiors are simple and trainer-focused, with panels ranging from original analog instruments to modest avionics upgrades. Baggage capacity is limited, in keeping with the aircraft's role as a two-place trainer rather than a traveling machine. In the used market the Tomahawk is valued as an affordable entry-level aircraft and time-builder, with generally low purchase and operating costs. Its reputation is mixed and centers on stall​/​spin handling, so buyers should weigh that history, confirm applicable airworthiness directives, and prioritize aircraft with clean, well-documented maintenance records. Parts availability is generally adequate through the used and aftermarket network. Overall, the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk offers economical two-seat flying and a capable, honest training platform for pilots who respect its characteristics and invest in appropriate instruction. It suits budget-conscious owners and time-builders, with airworthiness-directive compliance and maintenance history the key factors in evaluating any individual airframe.