1978 Piper PA-32RT-300 Lance II Is a load-lifting ‘Aircraft For Sale’ Top Pick

Piper’s PA-32RT-300 Lance II competes with Cessna 210s, Beechcraft Bonanzas, and other six-seat singles.

The T-tail Piper Lance looks sharp on the ramp. [Courtesy: Ryan Dougherty]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Piper developed the retractable Lance in the mid-1970s from the fixed-gear Cherokee Six in an effort to boost cruising speed and efficiency. The company also wanted to compete with other six-seat retractables like the Cessna 210 Centurion and Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. Pilots liked the Lance’s wide, comfortable cabin and SUV-style, load-carrying capacity. The model later evolved into the Saratoga, which Piper produced through 2009. 

When this Lance II rolled out of the factory, Piper was on a T-tail kick, applying the jet-like design feature to a number of its piston aircraft. The T-tail on this Lance II gives it a stylish look that stands out on the ramp and recalls a particularly vibrant era in general aviation.

This Lance II has 3,409 hours on the airframe and 1,369 hours on its 300 hp Lycoming IO-540 engine. The panel includes a Garmin 530W and G5 HSI,  Garmin 350 HC audio panel, GTX345 ADS-B transponder, Century III autopilot, and JPI EDM-900 engine monitor.

Pilots with the desire to transport large families or bulky loads in a high-performance single should consider this 1978 Piper PA-32RT-300 Lance II, which  is available for $189,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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