This 1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking Is a Unique, Wooden ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Rare but robust, the atypical four-seater has a following.

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 12:25 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: Steve Spears

1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking [Courtesy: Chris Westcott]

Key Takeaways:

The featured "Aircraft For Sale: Today's Top Pick" is a 1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking, chosen for its unique and uncommon design, including a wooden wing and fabric covering, which distinguishes it from other aircraft.
Bellanca Vikings are known for their desirable combination of speed, responsive handling, and practicality as a four-place retractable, appealing to a devoted following of owners.
The specific 1973 model available for $115,000 boasts 1,537 airframe hours, 290 engine hours since overhaul, and an updated IFR panel suitable for modern cross-country travel.

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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.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking.

While flying your own aircraft is a wonderful experience, there is a special appeal associated with having an aircraft of uncommon make and model. The Bellanca Viking is a good example, as people tend to come out to the ramp to give the aircraft a second look, often trying to figure out what it is.

A Piper? A Mooney? A Rockwell Commander? Once you point out its wooden wing, fabric covering, and strut-braced horizontal stabilizer, there is no telling where the conversation might lead.

While there are not a whole lot of Vikings around, they have developed a devoted following among owners who love their combination of handling, speed and practicality. Vikings happen to be pretty fast airplanes in the four-place retractable category. They also are relatively light on the controls and responsive to pilot inputs. The result is an engaging experience that can make other aircraft, possibly the one you are flying now, seem ponderous.

1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking [Courtesy: Chris Westcott]

The aircraft for sale today has a number of panel updates that make it a practical cross-country traveler in today’s often-complicated airspace.

This 1973 Bellanca Viking has 1,537 hours on the airframe and 290 hours since overhaul on its Continental IO-520-K engine. Its IFR panel includes an Aspen ProMax PFD, Apollo CNX80 GPS/nav/com, Apollo MX20 MFD, SL60 GPS/nav/com, Garmin GI 275, Century IIB and S-Tec PSS 60 autopilot.

Pilots looking for a fast, attractive four-place cross-country machine that is a somewhat rare sight should consider this 1973 Bellanca 17-30A Viking, which is available for $115,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use our airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.