1978 PIPER LANCE, NORMALLY ASPIRATED, 4,445 TT, 669 SMOH, LOPRESTI COWL AND ALL SPEED MODS, NO ACCIDENT, NEEDS WORK, CHEAP !!
THE LANCE IS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF THE CHEROKEE "6", KNOWN FOR IT'S EXCELLENT CARRYING CAPABILITY AND LARGE 6 PLACE CABIN, WITH THE RETRACTABLE GEAR FROM THE ARROW (ONLY STIFFER), WHICH NORMALLY ALLOWS THE LANCE TO ZIP ALONG AT 160 KNOTS MAX, MORE LIKE 155 KNOTS NORMAL CRUISE(ABOUT 15%FASTER THAN THE ARROW), WHILE HOLDING 50% MORE PEOPLE, 48% MORE FUEL, AND WITH 50% MORE USEFUL LOAD THAN AN ARROW !!
BUT THAT IS A "NORMAL" LANCE.
THIS IS A "LOPRESTI" LANCE !!
ROY LOPRESTI, DESIGNER OF THE FAMED MOONEY "201" SPEED MODS, WENT ON TO GIVE SOME OF HIS MAGIC TO OTHER AIRPLANES, BUT THE LANCE CONVERSION GIVES THE MOST BANG, SINCE IT HAS HIGHER HORSEPOWER (300), SO EVEN LITTLE MODS ADD UP TO A GAIN IN SPEED, AND THE LANCE WAS PRETTY "DIRTY" AERODYNAMICALLY AS IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY, SO THE MODS WERE WELCOME.
THIS AIRPLANE HAS THE ENTIRE LOPRESTI KIT INSTALLED !!
IT STARTS WITH THE FIBERGLASS "HOWL COWL" (I DIDN'T MAKE THESE NAMES UP, ROY AND HIS CREW DID)
THIS COWL IS SLIMMER, HAS THE DISTINCTIVE ROUND COOLING PORTS THAT LOPRESTI (AND NOW THE WORLD) FOUND OUT WAS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIGH SPEED AIR IN WITHOUT AS MUCH DRAG. AND THE Y MAKE THE AIRPLANE LOOK "MODERN" INSTANTLY, LIKE A LATE MODEL SARATOGA !!
THIS COWL ALSO HAS: A LARGE COWL FLAP (THE FACTORY LANCE HAS NONE), SO YOU CAN CONTROL ENGINE TEMPS EASILY, EXTRA LONG NOSE GEAR DOORS, TO FAIR THE NOSEGEAR ALL THE WAY INTO THE BELLY, AND A WINDSHIELD WEDGE, WHICH ACTS LIKE THE SPEED SLOPE WINDSHIELD ON A BONANZA, AND MAKES THE AIRPLANE FASTER AND THE CABIN QUIETER.
IN ADDITION TO THE COMPLETE COWL KIT, WHICH ADDS TO THE CRUISE SPEED, THIS AIRPLANE ALSO HAS EVERY OTHER LOPRESTI SPEED MOD AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL !! THEY DID IT ALL !!
SPEED SPATS FAIR IN THE EXPOSED MAIN WHEELS
SPEED SPLITTERS COVER THE EXPOSED FLAP HANGERS
FLAP GAP SEALS
AILERON GAP SEALS
HUBBA HUBBA WHEEL CAPS (REMEMBER, NOT MY NAMES, ROY'S)
WING ROOT FAIRINGS
ALSO INSTALLED ARE TWO WING MOUNTED LANDING LIGHTS, WITH A WIG-WAG FEATURE THAT I LIKED SO MUCH, I AM GOING TO ADD IT TO MY AIRPLANE !! WITH THE POWERFUL LIGHTS ON AND ALTERNATELY PULSING, THIS AIRPLANE WILL BE NOTICEABLE EVEN OVER A BRIGHT CITY !!
AND THAT'S IT FOR MODS ON THE OUTSIDE !!
THE AVIONICS IN THIS AIRPLANE ARE ROCK SOLID !!
BOTH NAV-COMMS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO THE MODERN FLAT-PACK DIGITAL SL-30'S (A VERY BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER THE OTHERWISE STANDARD COLLINS OR KING NAV-COMS FROM THE 1970'S)
# 1 SL-30 IS HOOKED TO AN NSD-360 HSI, WHILE THE 2ND HAS IT'S OWN GLIDESLOPE INDICATOR (DUAL GLIDESLOPES)
THE GPS IS A GX-60, IFR CERTIFIED (ENROUTE AND APPROACH) SYSTEM WITH BUILT-IN MOVING MAP. THIS GPS SYSTEM IS HOOKED UP TO THE HSI, FOR APPROACH WORK, TO THE AUTOPILOT FOR APPROACHES AND ENROUTE, AND TO THE BIG-SCREEN MX-20 MFD WITH A HUGE MOVING MAP (BIGGER THAN A 530 DISPLAY).
THE MX-20 HAS THE DESIRABLE "CHARTVIEW" OPTION, WHICH SUPPLIES APPROACH PLATES AND TAXI DIAGRAMS, WITH OWNSHIP IDENTIFICATION !!
THE DISPLAYS ON BOTH THE GX-60 AND THE MX-20 ARE PERFECT !!!! NO DEAD PIXELS AND NO EXTRA LINES. THE BEST I HAVE SEEN !!
THE AIRPLANE HAS A PS ENGINEERING PMA 7000M-S AUDIO PANEL WITH 6 PLACE STEREO INTERCOM AND MARKER BEACONS.
DUAL TRANSPONDERS FOR SERIOUS IFR WORK, INCLUDE THE DIGITAL READOUT SL-70 AND A COLLINS TDR-950
THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM IS THE ALTIMATIC IIIC (CENTURY III) 3 AXIS SYSTEM WITH ALTITUDE HOLD, WING LEVELER, HEADING BUG, RADIO COUPLER, GLIDESLOPE COUPLER, AND AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL ELECTRIC TRIM !!
AND IT WORKS FANTASTICALLY !! ROCK SOLID, WITH VERTICAL SPEED SELECT. I LOVE THIS AUTOPILOT !!
AND THIS AIRPLANE IS ALSO LOADED WITH EXTRAS !!
ALPHA SYSTEMS ANGLE OF ATTACK (AOA), WITH SEQUENTIAL LIGHTS TO TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR WINGS LIFT, TO THE SECOND !! THIS IS THE FAA'S NUMBER 1 RECOMMENDED SAFETY ITEM !! ALL AIRPLANES SHOULD HAVE THEM !!
BUILT-IN:
STEREO CD PLAYER (GOOD RECEPTION, GOOD SOUND)
AIRSPORT ALTITUDE REMINDER (SHOWS YOUR TRANSPONDER OUTPUT, CODE SET AND ENCODER OUTPUT)
WX-900 STORMSCOPE SYSTEM, ALL THE PIXALS WORK
INSIGHT GRAPHIC ENGINE MONITOR 6 PLACE DIGITAL EGT/CHT SYSTEM
SHADIN FUEL FLOW TOTALIZER HOOKED UP TO THE GPS, SHOWS FUEL USED, FUEL TO DESTINATION AND RESERVE, AND MPG !
KING KN-64 DME
ZAON PCAS TRAFFIC DISPLAY (THIS LIGHTS UP, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A BOOK, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK IT
HORIZON DIGITAL TACH
STANDBY ELECTRIC ATTITUDE INDICATOR
HAMILTON VERTICAL CARD COMPASS
WHEW !
THATS A LOT OF STUFF
INSIDE, THERE IS A 6 SEAT "CLUB-SEAT" ARRANGEMENT, WITH THE REAR CENTER CONSOLE WITH COOLER !!
THE REAR DOOR HAS THE OPTIONAL FLIP-UP BAGGAGE DOOR, MAKING THE WHOLE REAR OPENING HUGE !!
OF COURSE, LIKE THE "6" BEFORE IT, THIS AND ALL LANCES HAVE THE FORWARD BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AS WELL
TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME IS 4,445 SINCE NEW !!
WE HAVE ALL OF THE LOGS, BACK TO NEW IN FEB. OF 1978 !!
THE ENGINE HAS 669 HOURS SINCE MAJOR IN 2011
THE PROP HAS 669 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL (INCLUDING 1 NEW BLADE) IN 2011
THIS AIRPLANE IS A VERY NICE 25 FOOTER. THE LOPRESTI COWL STANDS OUT OBVIOUSLY, AND THE NAVY BLUE LOWER, RED MIDDLE STRIPE AND WHITE UPPER IS A CLEAN, MODERN SCHEME AND COLORS.
BUT WHEN YOU GET CLOSER, YOU SEE THE BLUE ON THE FUSELAGE IS NICKED UP HERE AND THERE. A SEATBELT GOT LATCHED OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR, SO THERE ARE PAINT SPOTS MISSING THERE.
THE WHITE ON THE WINGS IS NOT ALL ADHERING AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE, AND THE BLUE ON THE WINGTIPS IS FADED AND WORN ETC. NOTHING AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE, JUST THE UP CLOSE LOOK.
THE SAME IS TRUE INSIDE. THE GREY LEATHER SEATS HAVE NICE HIGH HEADRESTS, AND THE FRONT SEATS HAVE NICE GREY SHEEPSKIN COVERS, BUT THE WELTING IS FRAYING AND WORN IN SOME SPOTS, AND ONE OF THE REARMOST SEATS HAS A SMALL TEAR IN THE BOTTOM COVER.
VERY FUNCTIONAL INSIDE, BUT NOT VERY PRETTY COSMETICALLY.
YOU WILL NOTICE THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THIS AIRPLANE !
NO HAIL, NO ACCIDENT, NO GEAR UP LANDING DAMAGE.
SO I BET YOU ARE GOING CRAZY WONDERING WHY A LANCE WITH GOOD TIMES, GOOD RADIOS, AND NO AIRFRAME DAMAGE IS SELLING FOR $70,000 LESS THAN ANY COMPARABLE (OR LESSER, NO LOPRESTI). NORMALLY ASPIRATED LANCE ON THE MARKET (THIS IS STILL OVER $50,000 LESS THAN THE CHEAPEST OF THE TURBO LANCES OUT THERE), AND DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE EXTRA SPEED AT HIGH ALTITUDE, TURBO LANCES ARE CHEAP FOR A REASON, AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT ONE !!!
COSMETICS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE LOW PRICE. IF YOU WANT A 10, YOU WILL NEED TO ADD BOTH PAINT AND INTERIOR TO THIS AIRPLANE. IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE WAY IT LOOKS, YOU CAN SAVE CRAZY BIG MONEY.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE CRACKS FOUND ON THE ENGINE CASE.
THE SAME MECHANIC WHO DID THE MAJOR OVERHAUL IN 2011 ALSO DID THE LAST 6 ANNUALS, (AND HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS AIRPLANE SINCE 1992). HE DID NOT NOTICE A PROBLEM, NOR DID THE OWNERS, BUT A NEW SET OF EYES LOOKED AT THE AIRPLANE RECENTLY FOR A PRE-BUY INSPECTION, AND FOUND 2 SMALL CRACKS IN THE SIDES OF THE ENGINE CASE.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW:
THE CASE WAS OVERHAULED AT THE MAJOR IN 2011, WITH YELLOW TAG IN THE LOGBOOKS.
THE LONG-TIME OWNERS OF THE AIRPLANE, WHO HAVE FLOWN THIS ENGINE 669 HOURS SINCE 2011 WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY ISSUES, BECAUSE THE ENGINE DOES NOT LEAK OIL, IT STARTS EASILY, RUNS AND IDLES WELL, AND HAS GOOD COMPRESSIONS ON ALL 6 CYLINDERS.
WHEN TOLD WHERE TO LOOK, I TOO COULD SEE THE AREAS IN QUESTION, BUT THEY ARE NOT OPEN, RAW WOUNDS, JUST A SHORT LINE ON THE SIDES, BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS.
I HAVE INCLUDED PHOTOS OF COURSE, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
THERE YOU HAVE IT. THE REASONS FOR THE $70,000 DISCOUNT
THE CASE CAN BE REPAIRED FOR ONLY $1,200, BUT OF COURSE THE ENGINE HAS TO BE DISASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO DO THAT !!
SO THERE IS $10-12,000, PLUS REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION LABOR, UNLESS YOU ARE A PERSON WHO CAN DO THAT WORK THEMSELVES.
THE CRANK WAS TAGGED AT THE MAJOR, OF COURSE, AND ALL 6 CYLINDERS WERE DONE AS WELL, OF COURSE, SO YOU AREN'T TRYING TO OVERHAUL THIS ENGINE, JUST REPAIR IT.
THE CRACKS ARE NOT LEAKING OIL, NOR LEAKING COMPRESSION, AND THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CASE, OR THEY WOULD BE. THEY ALSO DO NOT SHOW SIGNS OF INCREASING IN SIZE.
NEITHER THE LONG TIME OWNERS, NOR THE LONG TIME MECHANIC SUSPECTED ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE ENGINE ISN'T GOING THROUGH OIL, AND THE "CRACKS" ARE NOT LEAKING. I UNDERSTAND WHY THE MECHANIC WOULD NOT NOTICE, OR CARE, ABOUT THESE CRACKS. IF I DID NOT SHOW YOU, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD SEE THEM !!
I FELT THE SAME, SO AFTER A LONG RUN-UP, AND THEN SHUTTING DOWN TO CHECK FOR SEEPAGE (NONE), THIS AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN 900 NAUTICAL MILES LAST WEEK !! LESS THAN 6 HOURS, INCLUDING A GAS STOP (IT MAY HAVE MADE IT NON-STOP, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE, AND WHY TAKE THOSE KINDS OF CHANCES)
THE ENGINE USED JUST OVER 1 QUART FOR THE WHOLE TRIP, AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH OIL PRESSURE (ALWAYS CENTERED IN THE GREEN) OR OIL TEMP (JUST OVER 180, AGAIN IN THE CENTER OF THE GREEN)
THE AIRPLANE IS STILL IN ANNUAL UNTIL 5/31/2018, AND THERE SEEMED TO BE NO HARD EVIDENCE THAT THE BARELY VISIBLE "CRACKS" WERE INDEED A STRUCTURAL ISSUE. NO ONE HAS REMOVED THE PAINT FROM THIS AREA. NO ONE HAS DONE A DYE PENETRANT OR MAGNAFLUX CHECK ON THIS AREA.
BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU TO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THIS AREA AND FLY IT !!
IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THIS AIRPLANE, AND I ASSUME THE BUYER WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
DO NOT BUY THIS AIRPLANE HOPING YOUR MECHANIC WILL JUST SIGN IT OFF !!
DO NOT BUY THIS AIRPLANE ASSUMING THE CASE IS NOT CRACKED
DO NOT BUY THIS AS A FIRST AIRPLANE, HOPING TO USE IT TO GET YOUR LICENSE IN IT !!
THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE AIRPLANE AND SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED IN MY 32 YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS.
SO, IF YOU ARE A SHOP AND WANT TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF, OR ARE OK WITH THE COSMETICS AND JUST WANT A LOT OF AIRPLANE FOR A LITTLE MONEY, AND ARE OK WITH SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE CASE REPAIR, THAN THIS IS YOUR AIRPLANE !!
SOLD WITH ENGINE AND AIRFRAME LOGBOOKS SINCE NEW, PROP LOGS, FAA AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AND FAA BILL OF SALE, PLUS 337'S, AD COMPLIANCE SHEETS, POH, AND LOTS OF MANUALS FOR THE AVIONICS AND STUFF !!
IF YOU HURRY, YOU COULD FLY THIS AIRPLANE HOME IN ANNUAL !!. THE ANNUAL IS VALID UNTIL 5/31/2018 !!
LOCATED AT THE AIRLAKE AIRPORT (KLVN), SOUTH OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN. TIE-DOWN IS FREE FOR 30 DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION, THEN $150 PER MONTH THEREAFTER.
THERE IS NO TOWER AT KLVN, AND THE FBO AND FLIGHT SCHOOL DO NOT DO ANY OUTSIDE MAINTENANCE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE AN AIRPLANE WITH ONLY A MECHANICAL ISSUE ONCE IN A WHILE, AS MOST OF THE AIRPLANES I SELL HAVE SOME AIRFRAME DAMAGE. THIS ONE DOESN'T.
THIS ONE IS STRAIGHT, AND CHEAP, AND FLIES GOOD.
DON'T MISS IT !!
