1978 Piper Warrior II for sale

Next week I will drop the price to $26,750.00

Remember, this is a fly away airplane with no squawks at all. It burns almost no oil, the propeller is dynamically balanced, no vibration at all. It flies straight and true, if you keep it trimmed, it is almost like having auto pilot, no effort at all when traveling.

The paint is eight or nine, the interior is eight.

-John
 
Is there a link to view all the details about this plane? Sorry about not using PM but I couldn't find a PM link.
 
John - What cruise speeds and fuel burns are you getting?
 
John - What cruise speeds and fuel burns are you getting?

It cruises pretty much as the POH suggests, around 111 knts. The fuel burn is a whole lot less if kept leaned properly it usually gets seven gph, I've gotten less than that, but the average seems to be 7gph.

The highest I've flown it is 12,500' but I think I could have taken it up to 13,000' or more. I did not have ox on board, my lungs aren't all that great, so I held it where I was.

Here are a couple of pictures from that trip, I was at about 10,000 over the Mojave desert when I took these. It also shows the condition of my glass and that I have an openable window on the co-pilots side as well as the pilots side.



-John
 

Attachments

  • returning from AZ, smoke ahead.jpg
    returning from AZ, smoke ahead.jpg
    45.2 KB · Views: 59
  • returnimg from Ariz..jpg
    returnimg from Ariz..jpg
    41.5 KB · Views: 56
Last edited:
I just asked my friend Bob to take my plane around to the flight schools and get whatever he can for it. He said he should be able to get rid of it by the end of next week. All I've ever accomplished is having people wanting more pictures or more information, screw it, I'm done with it.

-John
 
I apologize if I've unknowingly and unintentionally been a contributor to your frustrations. My interest was genuine when I asked.
 
I apologize if I've unknowingly and unintentionally been a contributor to your frustrations. My interest was genuine when I asked.

Everyones interest is genuine, including yours. But that is about all it is, interest. I kicked a lot of tires before I bought that airplane. I spent a whole lot on pre-buy inspections and paying people to ferry airplanes to San Diego, only to have my mechanic reject them.

I bought this airplane from a fellow in east Texas, I bought it over the phone. I was sick of paying for pre-buys, ferry flights and all the other crap that goes with buying an airplane the "right" way.

When it got here, it looked like a brand new airplane, it was beautiful. My mechanic gave it a huge thumbs up, it was an is, still a winner. It will probably end up in the scrap yard in a month or so if Bob doesn't sell it.

-John
 
John, have you considered taking on partners so you could keep it?
 
John, have you considered taking on partners so you could keep it?

I have, but again, same ol- same ol, they want to be my partner as long as there is no money, liability, or work involved. Frankly, I'm burned out on the whole GA thing. I'm tired of beating my head against the wall in order to fly around for an hour a few times a month. Granted it's fun, but at one hell of a price.

Now I just want to get rid of the thing and be done with it. If I was still making the big bucks I would probably feel different, but I'm not even sure of that. It has been a long and expensive battle from day one, I'm tired of it.

-John
 
Wait....I have a great idea. I got it from Matt1982, another thread on the classifieds forum. Everyone just send me free money, that way I can keep my plane and fly as much as I want. Thanks Matt, I don't know why I never thought of doing what your doing, a great idea.

-John

(For you thicker headed folks, the above was meant to be a spoof, please don't send me any actual money unless it's to buy my plane. It's that damn pride thing, keeps screwing with my head.) :rofl:
 
Wait....I have a great idea. I got it from Matt1982, another thread on the classifieds forum. Everyone just send me free money, that way I can keep my plane and fly as much as I want. Thanks Matt, I don't know why I never thought of doing what your doing, a great idea.

-John

(For you thicker headed folks, the above was meant to be a spoof, please don't send me any actual money unless it's to buy my plane. It's that damn pride thing, keeps screwing with my head.) :rofl:

C'mon there must be some law that says everyone has a right to own an airplane! :mad2:
 
Bob Lewis is now handling the sale of my airplane for me. I asked him to set a price for a quick sale. He is offering it for $25,000.00 I just don't have the stomach for it, I'm too emotionally involved.

If you want it, contact him at rclewis8117@yahoo.com

-John
 
Back to the top with this. Bob says there are several people with what seems serious interest, so maybe it will be gone soon.

-John
 
I had hoped by making the price so low I would get out of paying for another annual inspection, that is not to be. It will go in for its annual next week. My new price will be $27,000.00 Still a great price for that airplane. Book value is $30,000.00

I will put a rebuilt engine in it for anther $18,000.00, although for most private use, that engine is good for at least two or three more years. It has high compressions in all cylinders and burns almost zero oil.

If your a flight school, this airplane meets every requirement, including having a complete and up to date equipment list, along with current weight and balance. It is IFR current, two VORs, one glide slope indicator.

Anyone interested please contact Bob Lewis, his contact info is on post # 54 of this thread.

-John
 
Last edited:
My Warrior needed a new wing walk, which is being installed now. The annual and all squawks have been taken care of. The price remains at $27,000.00. Bob Lewis has all the photos and information you could want. The compressions are all great.

Bob's contact info is rclewis8117@yahoo.com

So, for 27 K, you get a super clean Warrior II, flies with almost zero vibration thanks to a dynamically balanced propeller. It flies straight and true, a total cream puff.

There is an offer on the table now, with several more in the works. I guarantee that this airplane is everything I said it is throughout this thread. If you've ever flown a Warrior before, you will love flying this one.

The first $27,000.00 offer I get will get this bird. Right now it is at So Cal Aircraft repair at KSEE. So cal is the place that gives the A&E certification and is owned by Ted Hazelwood. 619-448-5010

The offer on the table is a good one, but not quite what will make me say yes, not after just putting three thousand into it. It is a ready to fly airplane that needs nothing done to it. IFR current.

-John
 
I am waiting for the results of the annual. If everything still looks great (the compression for example, didn't drop), and I can work out everything else (hanger, insurance, wife's approval), expect an offer from me that you will like.

I keep wanting more plane, and then I keep realizing I don't need it. I am sure the first few months all of our friends will want a ride in it. But after that, it will just be my wife and I going places. I don't need a true 4 place plane for 95% of what I do.
 
I am waiting for the results of the annual. If everything still looks great (the compression for example, didn't drop), and I can work out everything else (hanger, insurance, wife's approval), expect an offer from me that you will like.

I keep wanting more plane, and then I keep realizing I don't need it. I am sure the first few months all of our friends will want a ride in it. But after that, it will just be my wife and I going places. I don't need a true 4 place plane for 95% of what I do.

There has been an offer. I counter offered. The potential buyer said he would let me know tomorrow if they are willing to do it.

You are one of the potential buyers I mentioned above. The other is in Texas I believe. Bob has been working with him.

The airplane may be sold by tomorrow night, subject of course on approval when they come to pick it up and when I receive the deposit to hold check.

You can also talk to the AI, Ted Hazlewood, about the annual and the work he is performing right now. He told me today, the compressions are all good.

-John
 
Last edited:
I am waiting for the results of the annual. If everything still looks great (the compression for example, didn't drop), and I can work out everything else (hanger, insurance, wife's approval), expect an offer from me that you will like.

I keep wanting more plane, and then I keep realizing I don't need it. I am sure the first few months all of our friends will want a ride in it. But after that, it will just be my wife and I going places. I don't need a true 4 place plane for 95% of what I do.

I've been thinking a bit about your stated mission, and I think this is a great plane for what you want. After training exclusively in Cessnas, I got checked out in a Warrior when I got my PPC, and that was all I rented until I bought a plane.
 
They have accepted my counter offer, my airplane is sold. Nothing is complete until the money is in the bank, but I have told them the airplane is theirs.

-John
 
The best airplanes sell FAST! If you want a good deal on a good airplane you have to be ready to move right now, with cash in hand.
 
They have accepted my counter offer, my airplane is sold. Nothing is complete until the money is in the bank, but I have told them the airplane is theirs.

-John

When the check has cleared, can you tell us what it went for?
 
I am the buyer of John's airplane, and I couldn't be happier right now! I've been reading John's post for years, and even though he doesn't know me, I feel like I know him. I do know I am buying this airplane from a man with unquestionable integrity.

Now the fun begins with planning a VFR trip from San Diego to Pontiac, Illinois. I think I've already made up about 5 routes so far. If anybody has advice on the best (safest) way to get across the mountains and desert, plus avoid the many restricted areas along the way, I am open to all suggestions!
 
Congratulations to the both of you! Now I guess I need to look for another plane :). Good thing it's a buyers market :). Let me know how much you love it! I am sure you will.
 
Steve, plan your trip one leg at a time. Stick to the airways to avoid the restricted zones. As I told you before, the airways also have the most alternate airports along your rout. Keep you legs to three or four hundred miles at a time, your going to want to stretch and walk around a bit.

It gets bumpy going across the desert, especially over piles of dirt and small mountains. If you or your co-pilot have sensitive stomachs, try to avoid those things, but it is going to bump anyway. Take bumpy areas slow, around eighty knots, consider that in your planning.

You can be flying for hours, smooth as glass, then be bucking all over the place without warning. The first thing is to pitch up a little, throttle back, slow it down till it's over.

Be sure to use flight following if your going VFR.

-John
 
They have accepted my counter offer, my airplane is sold. Nothing is complete until the money is in the bank, but I have told them the airplane is theirs.

-John

I am the buyer of John's airplane, and I couldn't be happier right now! I've been reading John's post for years, and even though he doesn't know me, I feel like I know him. I do know I am buying this airplane from a man with unquestionable integrity.

Now the fun begins with planning a VFR trip from San Diego to Pontiac, Illinois. I think I've already made up about 5 routes so far. If anybody has advice on the best (safest) way to get across the mountains and desert, plus avoid the many restricted areas along the way, I am open to all suggestions!


Wow, that's great! Mazel Tov to both of you. Steve enjoy the plane and John take a deep breath, congrats on the sale!
 
Another thought. While going across the desert, wherever you land, even if it's just parking for a few minutes to use the facilities, always tie the airplane down. Gusting winds can come up fast from nowhere, strong enough to propel the plane or flip it over. Do not take that advise lightly.

On the plane itself, it is equipped with two window Cool Scoops, one on each side. Never deploy them in flight or during take off. It can rip the whole window out, bad things happen when your window gets ripped out.

As this stuff comes to me, I'll post it. Might help others as well.

-John
 
John I'd imagine a dawn patrol departure over the desert might smooth the bumps
 
Last edited:
Thanks, John for the advice, and a dawn patrol seems to be the best way we go. I've poured over the charts, and I've been trying to decide whether to go northeast first, winding my way to Albuqueue, or take the southern route along the Mexican border taking the airways to El Paso, then crossing through Guadalupe Pass (just like Rinker and Kern Buck did in "Flight of Passage"). I spoke to a local flight instructor, who used to live in Long Beach. He thinks that for a Warrior, the safest bet is the southern route. That way is a little lower than the alternative, but should I be worried about flying so close to the Mexican border? We will have on board (besides the panel avionics), an Aera 510, an Aera 796, an iPad with Foreflight and WingX, and an older Lowrance 2000 (obviously with outdated Nav data), so we shouldn't get lost.

Any thoughts about flying near the border? I don't want to attract any attention from U.S. Customs.
 
Thanks, John for the advice, and a dawn patrol seems to be the best way we go. I've poured over the charts, and I've been trying to decide whether to go northeast first, winding my way to Albuqueue, or take the southern route along the Mexican border taking the airways to El Paso, then crossing through Guadalupe Pass (just like Rinker and Kern Buck did in "Flight of Passage"). I spoke to a local flight instructor, who used to live in Long Beach. He thinks that for a Warrior, the safest bet is the southern route. That way is a little lower than the alternative, but should I be worried about flying so close to the Mexican border? We will have on board (besides the panel avionics), an Aera 510, an Aera 796, an iPad with Foreflight and WingX, and an older Lowrance 2000 (obviously with outdated Nav data), so we shouldn't get lost.

Any thoughts about flying near the border? I don't want to attract any attention from U.S. Customs.

Go through Albuquerque (my old stomping grounds). V12 goes right through abq, and the pass on the opposite side is a cakewalk (stay at 9000ft, and you're golden). Once past those mountains it's pretty much flat all the way to Illinois.

That route will take you right over a buncha cool things to see.....Lake Havasu, Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Flagstaff, El Malpais, and give you a baby exposure to mountain flying without the real risk of Colorado mountain flying (requires no additional training). You can make it all the way from LAX to the Atlantic ocean at about 9500 ft.

The warrior will do fine.
 
Once you are past the mountains and SUA, don't plan too far ahead. Look at the weather and draw a line on the map to a place with a good fuel price. Fly, land, rinse, repeat.
 
The route is flown by hundreds of airplanes without any interference from the government. Just be sure you don't run into the cable for the surveillance blimp.

Thanks, John for the advice, and a dawn patrol seems to be the best way we go. I've poured over the charts, and I've been trying to decide whether to go northeast first, winding my way to Albuqueue, or take the southern route along the Mexican border taking the airways to El Paso, then crossing through Guadalupe Pass (just like Rinker and Kern Buck did in "Flight of Passage"). I spoke to a local flight instructor, who used to live in Long Beach. He thinks that for a Warrior, the safest bet is the southern route. That way is a little lower than the alternative, but should I be worried about flying so close to the Mexican border? We will have on board (besides the panel avionics), an Aera 510, an Aera 796, an iPad with Foreflight and WingX, and an older Lowrance 2000 (obviously with outdated Nav data), so we shouldn't get lost.

Any thoughts about flying near the border? I don't want to attract any attention from U.S. Customs.
 
So do I have to know how to spell Albuquerque before flying to Albuquerque? :) I would really rather go that route. As you say, it is much more scenic. I'm not sure how the warrior will handle with the 2 of us - maybe 400 lbs of people, full(?) fuel, and hopefully less than 75 lbs worth of "stuff". Maybe we will have some cool weather. Hoping to pick up the plane in about a week from now, if the gods smile on us. :)
 
I've done SoCal-ABQ over the desert - Arizona has some pretty scenery, but NM sucks. You can do it pretty easy below 10k but I had to go up to 15 to get out of the bumps (and ended up going all the way to 19) out of ABQ one day.

You might want to consider seeing if someone will loan you an O2 tank - the higher you go the further away from New Mexico you get.
 
I've done SoCal-ABQ over the desert - Arizona has some pretty scenery, but NM sucks. You can do it pretty easy below 10k but I had to go up to 15 to get out of the bumps (and ended up going all the way to 19) out of ABQ one day.

You might want to consider seeing if someone will loan you an O2 tank - the higher you go the further away from New Mexico you get.

This time of year, its not so bad for turbulence in the day. Its much worse in July/August. In fact, October was my favorite time to fly in New Mexico.

The east side of the Sandias are really cool looking. I think that's probably one of the most beautiful parts of the entire trip. But aside from that, I'll concede that New Mexico is pretty blase overall. El Malpais is cool though.
 
Yeah I scooted through there in June a couple times. 'Twas bumpy
 
The east side of the Sandias are really cool looking. I think that's probably one of the most beautiful parts of the entire trip.

When you get over Sandia Park, wave to my family for me :)
 
Back
Top