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A work in progress

The paint, interior, and engine overhaul are complete. Come follow along as N208GG makes its way through the panel upgrade, and barnstorms around the country. Read more >>






Project Details

Designing the panel

May 8

Designing an instrument panel, the actual work of deciding which instrument goes where and which radio goes in what slot, should be an easy task. It should be all about the needs of the pilot. But there are always complications. There are always snags that make it harder than it should be.

When designing the instrument panel for AOPA’s Get Your Glass Sweepstakes Piper Archer, we experienced our fair share of snags. That’s not to say it was a horribly difficult project. Read More >>

Next week: The panel work begins

Coming to a panel for you

May 1

Now that Oxford Aviation in Oxford, Maine, is finished repainting and refurbishing the interior of AOPA’s Get Your Glass Sweepstakes Piper Archer, and Penn Yan Aero has overhauled the Lycoming O-360-A4M engine, it’s time to get down to business on the panel. Read More >>

Those burning questions

April 24

It’s mid-April and we’re approximately one-third of the way through this year’s sweepstakes project, Get Your Glass. Of course, those who have been following along dutifully here each week know that work on the 1976 Piper Archer is almost complete. It’s going so fast we can’t keep up online! Read More >>

Running the numbers

April 17

It was another successful Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., last week. Members were really excited about the airplane, and many had questions about specific components or additions we’ve made to it thus far. Read More >>

What the members are saying...

April 10

It’s almost finished. In fact it practically looks finished. Your sweepstakes airplane is in the final throes of a complete makeover, accented with a new panel featuring some of the best liquid crystal (glass) displays the industry has to offer. Read More >>

Meet your new sweepstakes airplane

April 3

It’s almost finished. In fact it practically looks finished. Your sweepstakes airplane is in the final throes of a complete makeover, accented with a new panel featuring some of the best liquid crystal (glass) displays the industry has to offer. Read More >>

Sprucing up the airframe

March 27

Past sweepstakes projects have sometimes neglected the airframe. It’s understandable when you consider we’re trying to address the paint, interior, engine, and panel in only one year. Read More >>

Accessories are included

March 20

When it comes to the business up front, most owners only consider the engine. But engine accessories and other peripheral components have a major impact on aircraft safety, efficiency, and general cost. Read More >>

An overhaul for you

March 13

The business end. The work horse. The powerplant. All are colloquialisms for one key part that defines an airplane—the engine. In the context of AOPA’s “Get Your Glass Sweepstakes” Archer, that engine is a Lycoming O-360-A4M, one of the most popular light aircraft engines ever built. Read More >>

Keep it down in there

March 6

Airplanes are nothing if not loud. In the case of piston-engine general aviation airplanes, the noise usually penetrates straight to the interior. That might be cool if you’re flying a P-51 Mustang, but on a long cross-country flight in a four-seater, the quieter the better. Read More >>

Building an interior

February 28

The inside of an aircraft is an interesting place. Not only do the components have to meld traits such as durability, low weight, and quality, they have to look good too. Read More >>

Inside the machine

February 21

As the skilled technicians at Oxford Aviation work this week to rebuild the interior of AOPA’s Get Your Glass Sweepstakes Archer, let’s look at some of the interior appointments yet to come, and recap what’s been done to the inside of the airplane. Read More >>

Perfect paint

February 14

The time has finally arrived. Starting earlier this week and continuing into next week, the Get Your Glass Sweepstakes Archer is getting repainted. Although the process leading up to the application of the paint coats is time consuming and very important to the final outcome, this short period when the paint is applied is crucial. Read More >>

To reskin or not to reskin

February 7

Last week we talked about the nasty surprises that can crop up after an airplane is free from its paint. While some owners come away with having to do no additional work after the airplane is stripped, many aren’t so lucky. Unfortunately, we were part of the latter group. Read More >>

And the winner is...

January 31

Before we get to the winning scheme, we wanted to take a look at the initial painting process and talk about what N22ZT has gone through up to this point, and what your airplane would go through to obtain that perfect paint job. Read More >>

A success story

January 24

Picking a good shop to do extensive work on an airplane is incredibly difficult. Most owners spend more money on a paint job, interior refinish, and engine work than they do on a new car. And you can drive a new car. Picking a shop comes down to reputation, references, and, usually, a first impression. Read More >>

Buying the perfect airplane

January 17

Every buyer has his or her own definition of the “perfect” airplane. In AOPA’s case, the perfect sweepstakes airplane is dirty, well-worn, run-out, but overall mechanically sound. On top of that, our “perfect” airplane has to be cheap to get the best value for the membership. Read More >>

Paint your Archer

January 10

Vote for your favorite paint choice! Oxford Aviation designed this year’s scheme, which employs aggressive styling with lines that will give the airplane an updated feeling while nicely complimenting the new glass panel and high-class interior soon to come. We’ll show you the final scheme and color choice in an upcoming Web post.

It’s all about the glass

January 1

Welcome to the new year and your new sweepstakes airplane—a completely refurbished, glass-panel-equipped 1976 Piper Archer II. The year 2008 is all about AOPA’s Get Your Glass Sweepstakes. This year marks something new in the modern history of the AOPA sweepstakes airplanes. Read More >>