VIKING of the MONTH

January 2003


"Miss January"




N89EL is a 1989 17-30A owned by Don and Shirlee Shapansky




This Viking is based at Bourland Field (50F) Granbury, TX




Typical readout: 179KTS!





Don writes: "Here are some shots of my pride and joy, a 1989 17-30A N89EL . I bought mine in April 2002 with 437hrs Total Time! I have used it almost exclusively for growing our business, and have been to both east and west coasts and countless day trips to accumulate 230 plus hours by early December. It is well equipped, approach certified GPS, STEC 60-2, Shadin fuel flow, KCS 55A HSI, Bose wired headsets, etc."

"The best speed seems to be at 7,500 ft, where at 2475RPM and full throttle I see 176 -179 Knots on days where we are close to standard. As many others have discovered the real efficiencies are at higher altitudes where the fuel burn drops and speeds remain close to 200 mph. There was a lot effort put into reducing drag by a previous owner, all antennae were concealed except for Com 1 and rest are placed at the very last panel of the bottom fuselage, and the transponder antenna is in the left wing. I really like its flying qualities, it has excellent range (87gals). I have gone Granbury, TX to Lakeland, FL nonstop and have done Granbury, to Rawlins,WY nonstop even with 20KTS or more headwind. Cabin space is the compromise, so I pick my smaller friends for weekend trips! Climb rates are excellent, even at gross weights I can maintain 1000'/min @120-130mph indicated."

Don can be reached at:
donshapansky@sprintmail.com




Picture YOUR Airplane Here!





Send me photos and some history about your Viking, and I'll place it on this page for all Bellanca Fans to see! Snail mail photos to: 3741 N. Forgeus Ave, Tucson, AZ 85716 (all photos will be returned promptly)...or e-mail .jpg files to:
Vikingdrvr@att.net


Previous "Vikings of the Month"

N 1285R...Don Ames' 1972 Turbo Viking
N 93570...Larry Smalley's 1973 17-31A
N 39819...Jim Howell's 1973 17-30A
N 4081B...Tom Binder's 1975 17-31ATC
N 4052B...The DeFoe's 1976 17-30A
N 28067...Craig Gifford's 1979 17-30A
N 6578V...James Gryder's 1970 17-31ATC
N 93554...Troy Foster's 1974 17-31ATC
N 110CB...RJ Lint's 1974 17-30A
N 6639V...Michael Waiwood's 1970 17-30A
N 147PH...Ron Bianchi's 1974 17-30A
N 7379V...Bob & Bette Nixon's 1969 17-30
N 7358V...Troy Foster's 1969 17-31TC
N 8811V...Jeremy Reiley's 1971 17-30A
N 9996V...Lee Moore's 1971 17-30A
N 14732...Lynn Walker's 1975 17-30A
CFMJT...Eric Hansen's 1974 17-31ATC
N 4101B...Peter Knize & John Sullivan's 1974 17-31ATC
N 8229R...Bill Dudley's 1972 17-30A
N 4851V...Carl Fleece's 1968 17-30
N 7300V...Lee McGee's 1969 17-30
N 8281R...Victor Catalanotto's 1972 17-30A
N 228CM...Curtis Hannay's 1973 17-31ATC
N 8842V...Richard Dews' 1971 17-30A
N 28058...Rex Warren's 1978 17-30A
N 77TV...Tim Averett's 1977 17-31ATC
N 9782E...Walt Peasley & Greg Treager's 1977 17-30A
N 4062B...Russell and Rusty Viers' 1975 17-31ATC
N 4935V...Hal Schroeder's 1969 17-30
N 8229R...Bill Dudley's 1972 17-30A
N 14798...Earl Gault's 1974 17-30A
N 39862...Craig Schwab's 1973 17-30A
N 8231R...Mike Carr's 1972 17-30A
N 281SV...Fred Olson's 2000 17-30A
N 28055...John Hartnell's 1979 17-30A
N 327CP...Jeff Baker's 1973 17-30A
N 6712V...Tom & Laurie Cox's 1970 17-30A
N 8813V...Bob & Bette Nixon's 1971 17-30A
N 5683U...Dean & Demita Crofford's 1973 17-30A
N 4137B...William Bruu's 1975 17-30A
N 73KP...Ross Seabrooke's 1973 17-31A
N 200EB...Frank Waltman's 1978 17-31ATC




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