Planeless no more! - Hypothetically ;)

Salty

Salty

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Dec 21, 2016
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Salty
We closed the deal yesterday on a 1977 Lance. We were shopping for a long body Mooney with either a big engine or turbo to replace our short body, particularly for our annual trip to AZ. But the market is horrible, and this Lance fell into our lap. It wasn't exactly an easy deal (reference the "buying a plane without logs thread"), but it worked out in the end. The wife sat in the back of the Lance and imagined sleeping all the way from Florida to AZ and said "yep, that works". It's a little slower, but a lot more comfortable, so we can make longer hops, which should make back most of the time lost.

Most important, the wife is "excited to go on our first trip"!

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Glad to hear the wife is ready to get back in the saddle. Was it the shoulder room that convinced her? Nice ride!
 
Beautiful! Congratulations!
 
Nice plane. So how’d you end up dealing with the logs (maybe it’s in the other thread)?
 
NICE!!! Congratulations! (Hypothetically speaking, of course.) That’s going to be a sweet ride for the long trips you two like.

Got any panel pics?
 
Congrats! That's a pretty plane, and I'm glad to hear your wife is looking forward to your next trip. :)
 
Congrats. A very different ride than the Mooney. But is sounds like it works for you, so enjoy.
 
Great looking aircraft ... and it's not orange (Too soon?) ;)
 
Half Fast said:
Hey, that looks nice! Good that it still has steam gauges for backup. I love the leather-wrapped yokes. Is the fuel selector next to your knee, like other Pipers?

Do you have to have an STC to fly it on Basic Med, or is it not certified for seven seats?
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Fuel selector is under the center radio stack, in front of the flap Johnson bar, a big switch, very easy to reach and change while flying. (one of my criteria for my next plane)

This one is a 6 seater.
 
Salty said:
Fuel selector is under the center radio stack, in front of the flap Johnson bar, a big switch, very easy to reach and change while flying. (one of my criteria for my next plane)

This one is a 6 seater.
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A bunch of PA-32s only had 6 seats but the airframe was certified for 7. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth a few years ago over planes being ineligible for Basic Med even though only six seats were installed, so an STC was created to restrict them to six. If yours is a PA-32R-300 it's effected. The STC is free if you're an AOPA member.

Article here that lists effected models: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media...stc-makes-more-piper-pa32s-basicmed-compliant .
 
Half Fast said:
A bunch of PA-32s only had 6 seats but the airframe was certified for 7. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth a few years ago over planes being ineligible for Basic Med even though only six seats were installed, so an STC was created to restrict them to six. If yours is a PA-32R-300 it's effected. The STC is free if you're an AOPA member.

Article here that lists effected models: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media...stc-makes-more-piper-pa32s-basicmed-compliant .
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The STC is on it's way.
 
Sweet airplane Salty, congratulations. Don't forget to feed the beast.
 
Salty said:
Most important, the wife is "excited to go on our first trip"!
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Best part of the whole deal.

Because as we all know, if momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy.

And if grandma ain't happy........ RUN.!!!

Oh, also nice looking plane.!!
 
Congratulations!

Here is a PA-32 specific pre-flight checklist item for you. At the time I was flying a PA-32-300R Saratoga, essentially the same airplane.

I had pulled off the taxiway to do the pre-flight runup. I got to the switch tanks item, switched from right to left, and the engine died! I knew both tanks were full, too. I used the old maxim that if something has an unfavorable result, undo it! I switched tanks back to the right and it started right up. Time for some investigation! Taxied back to the FBO, shut down, Exited the plane and re-entered head first with my head down in the footwell.

The answer was immediately visible. The lock-out lever that prevents the pilot from selecting tanks off when selecting the left tank, is attached to the metal shroud surrounding the valve assembly. The whole shroud including the lock-out lever was loose. It was basically just sitting there. When I switched tanks, the valve lever moved from right to left to off.

I am glad that happened on the ground.

So my advice is to check the shroud frequently, and/or check the lever position carefully after switching - particularly when switching to the left.

-Skip
 
Skip Miller said:
Congratulations!

Here is a PA-32 specific pre-flight checklist item for you. At the time I was flying a PA-32-300R Saratoga, essentially the same airplane.

I had pulled off the taxiway to do the pre-flight runup. I got to the switch tanks item, switched from right to left, and the engine died! I knew both tanks were full, too. I used the old maxim that if something has an unfavorable result, undo it! I switched tanks back to the right and it started right up. Time for some investigation! Taxied back to the FBO, shut down, Exited the plane and re-entered head first with my head down in the footwell.

The answer was immediately visible. The lock-out lever that prevents the pilot from selecting tanks off when selecting the left tank, is attached to the metal shroud surrounding the valve assembly. The whole shroud including the lock-out lever was loose. It was basically just sitting there. When I switched tanks, the valve lever moved from right to left to off.

I am glad that happened on the ground.

So my advice is to check the shroud frequently, and/or check the lever position carefully after switching - particularly when switching to the left.

-Skip
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I had the exact same experience, except it occurred at about 500agl on final. Thankfully she restarted almost instantly when I switched back.
 
Beautiful! It is truly a gift that your wife is excited.

I haven’t read if many going from a Mooney to a Piper, but she looks good

here’s to a safe transition and a smooth flight for your wife’s nap.
 
Congrats! And pics without us having to ask. I wouldn’t touch a thing on that panel. You should be set for a while until “that would be nice to change” sets in. Enjoy!!!
 
Terry M - 3CK (Chicago) said:
Beautiful! It is truly a gift that your wife is excited.

I haven’t read if many going from a Mooney to a Piper, but she looks good

here’s to a safe transition and a smooth flight for your wife’s nap.
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It's a bit of a bus compared to a sports car, but that's ok for long trips.

I might end up taking a partner on it and getting something more fun to fly as well. But for now, I want to get comfortable with it and get the wife comfortable with it.
 
Congratulations! Looks super nice.
 
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