Note: This aircraft is located in the Research & Development Gallery on a controlled-access portion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The gallery will close until further notice beginning May 1, 2013, as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration.
The Enforcer is a turboprop-powered light close-support/ground-attack aircraft built by Piper Aircraft Corp. Lakeland, Fla. It is based on the well-known North American P-51 of World War II fame. By direction of Congress, the USAF evaluated the aircraft, beginning in 1983. Testing was conducted in 1984 and the Air Force decided not to order the Enforcer.
Since the Enforcer was never in the Air Force inventory, it was not given an official military designation and did not receive an Air Force serial number. Instead, it carries the Piper designation PA-48 and Federal Aviation Administration registration number N481PE. Although the airframe resembles that of the P-51, the Enforcer is essentially a new aircraft.
SPECIFICATIONS: Span: 41 ft. 4 in. Length: 34 ft. 2 in. Height: 13 ft. 1 in. Armament: Mixed armament includes two GE GPU 30mm gun pods, MK-82 snakeyes, Bristol GRV-7 rockets, CBU canisters and MK-20 Rockeye antitank rockets Engine: Avco-Lycoming YT-55-L-9 turboprop of 2,445 hp C/N:48-350001 Registration number: N481PE (no USAF serial number assigned)
PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed: 403 mph Range: 921 miles Service ceiling: 25,000 ft.
