Must have an expert look at the wood. It will be devilish expensive to fix if not OK.

BH

no animosity, it's a fine airplane for what it is. The airplanes shortcomings cause it to be priced lower than contemporary 4-seaters. That doesn't make it a "value" it just makes it priced for what it is. Personally, the engineer in me just finds it a disappointment. It has all the right building blocks to be really fast, but it's an inefficient design and doesn't capitalize on them.

As for the rest, I just find the whole wood wing thing amusing. It's a given that wood is good. In most quantifiable ways it's a superior material to aluminum. It wasn't until carbon fiber became mass-producable that we got a material that is as good as wood. The funny thing (to me) is not the wood, it's the owners' compulsion about it. Try an experiment the next time you see a viking owner you don't know. Strike up a conversation and offer the most benign criticism you can come up with that is unrelated to type of construction. Count how many sentences it takes to get to an un-provoked rebuttal of "wood hate".

For example
"Nice plane, but if I might make a suggestion, your nosewheel looks a little low on air". "OH YEAH, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THIS WOOD WING IS WAY STRONGER THAN THAT TIN CAN YOU'RE FLYING"
I believe it's related to cessna 210 owners who feel compelled to strike up a conversation about ways that their plane is "just as good as a bonanza" even though nobody asked.

again - before I get accused of "cessna hate" I'm making no commentary on the airplanes, just musing about human nature

Jeff,

I understand your point. I just love airplanes, have owned over 30 of them, including the Viking, and enjoy flying just about anything, not a One Design though.

The Viking is just fun. Quirky?? Yes, but airplanes like women sometimes exude a chemistry that defies explanation.

I'm almost embarrassed to say this, but this thread got my juices going. I just sold my Skylane for lack of flying it and now I "want" a Viking. Call me

I've got the money sitting in an account doing nothing!! Dangerous condition. Somebody stop me please.

Jgreen

No need for an explanation. If you want it and you can afford it, there's no need to go any further than that

Check the For Sale forum on the VikingPilots.com board. There is a newer model, excellently-equipped aircraft with a mid-time engine advertised there. I'd love to see someone buy that aircraft because he really wants it -- not just because the proceeds from selling a well-equipped Skylane might well pay for the plane, plus a BMW coupe to enjoy on the way to the airport to fly it.

He MUST have it checked out by a Bellanca specialist shop. Witmers in PA or Rocket/Millers in TX. Does he have a hangar? This is a must. Go to vikingpilots.com and spend some time reading up. Lots of good people there. I flew a '73 for four years. Annuals were expensive as the landing gear are finicky. It was a 160 knot airplane and was a joy to fly. My partner used to take it from NY to Grand Cayman every year (I wouldn't do that). The '79 and later are the ones to look for. There were several changes including a better cowl. They are faster and if you find one with a 550 in it you will be holding it back to stay in the green. They are about half or one third the price of a comparable Bonanza, so it depends on your hangar storage and tolerance for a tighter cabin. They are also not easy to sell.

Edit addition: By the way, the 520 has the same issues you need to watch for in the BO. Cylinders, VAR crank, etc.

Okay so my friend has seen the light and is set on getting a bonanza rather than the Bellanca.

Let's find him a solid Bo! He budget is $50K. Please post if you know or see something promising.

Bollanca ?

Clark did you take him for a ride and change his mind?

Sure did along with many conversations.

My friend changed his mind and bought the Bellanca. He found a guy in Florida willing to trade his Cherokee 140 with cash for the Bellanca

Not sure why anyone would trade a Bellanca for a 140...to each their own I guess. I am happy he now has a plane that may be able to keep up with the Bonanza

OTOH maybe there is something instructional there

OTOH maybe there is something instructional there

no doubt the bellanca is a beautiful machine. That's what makes the finished product to frustrating to me. Wood construction, smooth rivetless skin, small cabin, big engine. Those building blocks should result in something nosebleed fast, like a glasair. The bellanca just doesn't deliver, it's loud, cramped, and thirsty. I'm not surprised at all that someone would trade that pig for a cherokee.

This is level flight in a 1979 super Viking. The right one is plenty fast.