This 1977 Lake LA-4 Amphibian Is a Go-Anywhere ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

1977 Lake LA-4 Amphibian [Courtesy: Skywagons.com]

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 1977 Lake LA-4 Amphibian.

The unmistakable Lake amphibian aircraft, with their distinctive pylon-mounted pusher engine arrangements, had a long run on the GA timeline. Starting off at the tail end of World War II as the Grumman Tadpole, the design changed hands a number of times and evolved into the Lake range of small flying boats including the Buccaneer and Renegade.

While some people still find the aircraft’s layout strange, others consider it the ideal traveling machine, largely due to its ability to operate from water or runways. The aircraft remain especially handy for pilots who want to keep their aircraft in traditional airport hangars but often travel to remote destinations accessible only by water.

Numerous successful light sport and experimental amphibians including the ICON A5 and Searey have adopted engine and airframe layouts similar to the Lake’s. While those aircraft also have devoted fans, they cannot match the capability and practicality of the four-place LA-4 and Buccaneer, or the six-place Renegade.

This 1977 Lake LA-4 has 860 hours on the airframe, its 200 hp Lycoming IO-360 engine, and two-blade Hartzell propeller. The engine received a new camshaft and lifters in 2009 and underwent a top overhaul in 2021, 100 hours ago. The engine is equipped with GAMI injectors and straight-out exhaust, and its fuel pump and starter motor were replaced recently. Useful load is 930 pounds.

The IFR panel features a King KX 175B nav/comm, a KX170B nav/comm, dual KI 208 VOR/localizer indicators, King KT 76A transponder with Mode C, uAvionix tailBeacon with ADS-B Out, Flightcom intercom, and EDM 830 engine monitor.

Pilots who want an amphibian aircraft that transitions easily between water and land operations, and can deliver you to out-of-the-way destinations, should consider this 1977 Lake LA-4, which is available for $89,500 on AircraftForSale.

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