| | I own VNZ. It is the apparently the oldest LA4 in existence, being the second one built. Serial numbers are misleading with Lakes; the C1 Skimmer numbers started at 1, the C2 Skimmers started at 123, and LA4 Lake Amphibians started at 244 and 245, LA4P's which were prototypes with some differences from the Skimmers and LA4's. 246 was the first type certificated LA4 and doesn't seem to exist. "247" is thus actually the 47th aircraft built. The business had gone broke in 1959, and the new company started in 1960. My aircraft was the fourth aircraft the new company built; the second LA4. There is a handwritten note on the control column behind the instrument panel saying; "Ship four". C-FVNZ has received a new engine, new prop, new avionics, and a number of other improvements. It still wears 1960 paint, but will be repainted at some point. Cruise is 105 knots at 38 Litres, or ten gallons US per hour. I fly the aircraft regularly, and it has been as far south as Sun N Fun at Lakeland Florida, as well as being an Oskhosh regular.
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![C-FVNZ @ KOSH - CF-VNZ Lake LA-4-180 Buccaneer [247] Oshkosh-Wittman Regional~N 29/07/2008 - by Ray Barber](/images/aircraft/thumbnails/001/056/001056131.jpg "C-FVNZ @ KOSH - CF-VNZ Lake LA-4-180 Buccaneer [247] Oshkosh-Wittman Regional~N 29/07/2008 - by Ray Barber")
by Ray Barber @ KOSH
by Todd Royer @ KOSH
by Mark Pasqualino @ KOSH
by Doug Robertson @ OSH