By the way, what does it mean when an A&P shop calls themselves a "Piper
Service Center." Do they have to actually do anything or know anything
special, or can anyone pay some fee somewhere and get called a "Piper
Service Center"?

It usually means they've been around a long time, since the hey-day of
Spam-can production. Piper (like Cessna) used to run a chain of "service
centers" for their planes, back when they cranking out thousands (rather
than dozens) per year. These "centers" had "certified Piper mechanics" and
usually sold new Piper aircraft, too.

The "New Piper" has kept the system going, sorta -- but from what I've heard
they are a mere shadow of their former selves.

When our FBO sold out a few years ago, I bought two of their big "Piper
Service Center" signs (for $2 apiece!), cleaned them up, and hung one in my
rec room, and one in my hangar. The new FBO sells only new Cessnas now...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"