Ive found that many aircraft are compliant. The AD list is pretty long, but most of the items are one-time fixes, followed by future inspection. The number of available aftermarket mods for the plane is extensive; some are overpriced and pointless in my view, while othersare fairly cheap and offer great results. . Garmins GFC500 started life as an autopilot for experimental aircraft, but now has a sizable STC list for certified aircraft. Parts 1 and 2 of this Piper Comanche restoration series are also free to read. New aircraft models approved for the GFC 600 autopilot include: Cessna 421. Designed to work with and connects to the existing Mode A/C transponder. Pricing on the base GTX345 (without GPS) is $4995. 30RS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. While many Comanches sport three-blade propellers, some could have old clamp-style propellers. The 250 and 260 are better performers. I've yet to see one do that "happily." Legroom is good for both pilots and passengers, and the cabin is definitely more spacious than the Arrow that followed. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. There were eight runway loss of control incidents, low, we think-and one of them involved a student pilot. rebuilds of your existing Piper factory. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Click here. Top Efis Upgrades Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. We like that it keeps grime and dirt away from wheel assembly. Fortunately, there are a number of cost effective aerodynamic improvements that we developed that can easily add 3 to up to 15 MPH, while also improving rate of climb, slow speed handling (reduced stall speed, improved aileron control) and save you fuel. Also, the inspector must have experience using this equipment.. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. Even if youre not qualified to paint your plane yourself, you can still do most of the work. Our current best selling and most popular mods. Theres also the $289 Hubba Hubba wheel cap, with an access door for the tires air valve. Very clean west cost Comanche. Piper Comanche PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-39 Models. Piper's most significant upgrade to the Warrior came in 1977 when a slightly different O-320 engine-the -D3G-was bolted on, offering a . That extra payload has to go for fuel to feed the IO-720, meaning that for flights of more than 300 miles, the 400 actually has less payload available than the 260. We know of one flight school that had a Comanche on its flight line and it required renters to perform gear extensions and retractions with the airplane on jack stands. However, while the airplane isnt intrinsically difficult to service, understand and accept that this is an old aircraft-even the newest Comanche is nearly 50 years of age. (((navigator.appName == "Netscape") && Belts: Replace / Upgrade; Piper; PA24/30/39 Comanche; PA24/30/39 Comanche FAA/TSO-C114 OEM quality AmSafe 3-point diagonal replacement restraints for PA24 & PA30 Comaches with existing factory installed shoulder harnesses, or a replacement for an STC installation. Quotes in the photo captions are from Piehl. This is part five of seven parts. Diversity Mode S transponder with ADS-B Out when connected with an appropriate WAAS GPS. ON AND UNDERSTAND Cabin and cowling door repairs are often neglected, so be sure to inspect them for shoddy repairs and improper cabin door seals. These days, major avionics upgrades include sourcing a new instrument panel to accommodate large flight displays. I could not believe the difference. The 250/260 is the right amount of horses so the airplane does everything well, carry 4 fat guys to Utah, takeoff and land relatively short, roomy and flys nice. Do you need a field approval to start or finish a panel upgrade? The airframe is essentially identical to the 250, except the 400 uses the Piper Aztec stabilizer. The landing gear on the Comanche gets our attention. To many pilots, Piper's Twin Comanche represents an apex of light twin design. Youll need a reliable unit for the long term. Piper Comanche PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-39 Models. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. This means in those applications there is limited rewiring required. In 1958, Piper introduced a 250 hp (190 kW) version using a Lycoming O-540 engine, giving the PA-24-250 Comanche a top cruise speed of 160 kn (180 mph; 300 km/h). Piper Lance Restoration Continues With Dual Electronic Ignition Upgrade This is the second of two by Scott Sherer | Sep 15, 2022 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. Still, there were some notable improvements over early models. A few words on avionics projects. Approach Fast StackModular Wiring Systemwww.approachfaststack.com, Aspen AvionicsPrimary Flight Displayaspenavionics.com, PS EngineeringAudio Panelwww.ps-engineering.com, Adventure Pilot iFly GPSBackup GPS (uncertified)www.iflygps.com. I flight plan for 13.5 GPH, but flying from 9500 to 11,500 feet will reduce the fuel flow to around 12 GPH. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. LoPresti did create some interesting and worthwhile aerodynamic mods for the airplane, however. A prop inspection (AD 2005-18-12) is the most oft-complained about, costing nearly $1000 every 500 hours or five years. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. I wanted to do something like I saw in the EAA Museum, where they have a display of every aircraft engine ever built, on stands. Your Garmin dealers most likely top recommendation for a lower-end EFIS upgrade might be Garmins $2249 G5 display, of which there are two. The fifth and sixth seats, when available, are suitable only for children or the smallest of adults. function MSFPpreload(img) Were told one way to smoothen those landings is by adding the Knots2U wing root fillets, which eliminate the vortex striking the stabilator when flaps are used. Which of the reductions is smaller is too hard to say, but the difference isn't going to be significant. Two interesting facts related to this section of the overhaul: Just about the only things that survived to todays version of this Comanche are the seat frames, and just about the only thing that Piehl or his friends didnt do on this plane comes in this installment the leather upholstery work. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. Range remains one of the Comanches strong points and many have been fitted with even more fuel capacity in tip tanks and fuselage tanks to give it impressive endurance. Its so tolerant of any heat that its not going to hurt it, so I used the same paint., Piehl also wanted to stress that this article is very abbreviated. A turbonormalized version of the Comanche C was offered alongside the normally aspirated model in 1970. I hold commercial, instrument and multi-engine ratings, have 2300 hours total time with 500-plus hours of complex time, plus Ive logged about 200 hours in my Comanche. Its also time for our ADS-B buyers guide, and it follows this article. He's very difficult to contact but one CPA member reports successfully purchasing the STC in 2006. The 180 Comanches load-carrying capacity is ample but modest. Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 13, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish This "rebuilding a Piper engine" article is from Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Dual turbochargers allow operation at altitudes up to 25,000 feet. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. A side benefit of the standard turbo installation is that its quieter than the normally aspirated Comanche C. The -N1A5 engine, beefed up to handle the boost pressure and higher temperatures at altitude, is just as robust as the normally aspirated engine; both have a 2000-hour TBO. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } Its also intended as an easy replacement for the S-TEC 55-series autopilot with minimal rewiring. The Comanche is gentle when it comes to stalls and is stable for flying instruments. [service, repairs] [emco What makes this system our top pick for a high-end EFIS is the number of display options and the 500-plus approved model STC. The airplane carried 60 gallons, and could be modified to hold 90 gallons. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. Aircraft Panel Gallery. Also, a different prop AD (AD 97- 18-02) can prove costly for 250/260 owners. I have over 30 years experience owning, flying, maintaining and modifying aircraft, including Piper Comanches. Youve heard it all before but well tell it to you again: If you fly above 18,000 feet, youll need an ADS-B transponder. Diversity and the version made for helicopters. Also note that this engine has some really cool colors. If the G5 attitude instrument fails, the directional instrument reverts to an attitude display. -Scott Sherer. Important links and documents needed are provided within the posts themselves. Buy 3+ Items & Get 10% Off Your Purchase. These and later Comanches can be spotted by the extra cabin window and rear baggage door on the left side, which doubles as an emergency exit. 24LOB, Hub Cap W/Access Door. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Products (www.aviationperformanceproducts.com), which claims that its Eagle XP cowling increases speed, economy and improves maintenance access. There are no downloads available of this content. The big engine gives these airplanes excellent climb performance, as much as 1500 FPM. specials*] Comanche PA-24 Models. The datalink processor connects in line with the existing transponder antenna and has a built-in WAAS GPS. WORK Rocky Landsverk is the Editor and Publisher of the Piper Owner Society and PIPERS magazine. For sure, the Comanches list of mods, modifiers and parts resources is long and best accessed from involvement with the ICS and its members and publications. Displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. LYCOMING, BENDIX IGNITION, If you have aging fuel senders, expect to either have them overhauled or in many cases replaced with digital senders that may prove far more accurate than older analog senders. How can you improve the oil-change interval from 25 hours to 50 hours on a legacy Piper. Speed gains are reported to be from 5-10 MPH. 24WF, Wing Tips. { Accept that youll be a test pilot for a few hours. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. The airplane also gained cowl flaps and an aileron-rudder interconnect. My engine is carbureted. Most Comanche owners can vouch for them. or Write for our Comanche Catalog When I purchased the new cylinders, Zephyr Aircraft Engine said, Do not install cylinders and pistons right from the factory, you want to have them blueprinted.. PROPELLER and TEXTRON LYCOMING. 24WR $445.06 Add to Cart sku: 24WF I remember seeing something regarding an upgrade STC for various 4 and 6 cylinder engines (172/182, etc). Contrast that with the G3X Touch, which essentially requires a Garmin navigator for its digital data bus interface. After 34 years, the first flight of N6494P took place at Zephyrhills Airport, three days before leaving on a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, just in time for AirVenture in July and August 2021. Just mows through turbulence, unlike my t-wagging Bonanza. Call your Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he said. The International Comanche Society has been an invaluable resource for me. [parts], [*parts Diversity model (requires top and bottom antenna installation), requires WAAS GPS input, tablet interface requires Flight Stream wireless Bluetooth module, ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot app. The Comanche line debuted in 1958, with the Comanche 180 and 250 models. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 4 ))); if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav2n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comwingtips.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav2h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comwingtips.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } Recurring ADs on any aircraft can run up the cost of operation, and Comanches are no different. If a stock Twin Comanche catches your eye, then get a . Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Avionics, Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish. That didnt mean he went cheap. The Comanche hit the market running in 1958 and in its first production year, Piper offered the 180-HP PA-24-180 (Lycoming O-360) and the 250-HP PA-24-250 (Lycoming O-540). Greg was flying during this flight, with his friend Joe Cumbey co-piloting, and (not seen) dog Beau is piloting from the back seat. Theres plenty of instrument panel real estate to pretty much do whatever you can afford. If you wanted to start out with a cheaper airframe, buy a 180-HP model and do a 260-HP conversion with fuel injection. Display compatibility with several third-party systems for ADS-B In, including Garmin GTX345, L3 Lynx 9000 Series, and FreeFlight RANGR UAT. Heres how to replace your Piper seat covers, which was one step in my Arrows long by Piper Owner Society | Dec 8, 2022 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. If the aircraft has traditional round gauges, do you want to get rid of the vacuum system in favor of an all-electric suite? It offers an excellent blend of speed, fuel economy, control feel, and range. That engine has an 1800-hour TBO and the current Aircraft Bluebook says the overhaul is around $65,000. Subsequent Comanche models both single- and twin-engine were built until 1972. Requires WAAS GPS input (Garmin, Avidyne). For more than five decades, active and dedicated aircraft owners and pilots have turned to AVIATION CONSUMER to answer their most important buying questions. You aren't after the fuel flow reduction FROM the less dence air, but after the smoother air/fuel mix and the greater leaning allowed. In other words, our equipment had to talk with anything else installed in theairframe. ADS-B is old news. I believe the payoff was at about 400 hours on a 172 with the reduced fuel burn, and not having to maintain a carb. Theres also an extensive wireless (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) interface for connecting the IFD to external devices, including an iPad running Avidynes IFD100 app, in addition to ForeFlight. There are mixed reviews from owners on maintaining a Comanche. I didnt want any dealer-only installations; that was #2, Piehl said. There would have been a happy ending, but he stalled the airplane on short final, over the runway, and stuck a wingtip into the ground. Tied with 12 events in which the pilot could not extend the gear due to maintenance issues, it is our opinion that a potential Comanche buyer put attention to the landing gear system high on his or her checklist for ownership. The plane has not been a drain maintenance wise. Also, the carbureted O-540 found in the Comanche 250 may be upgraded to fuel injection. Aftermarket gear warning systems are also a good investment to supplement the system originally installed. I basically just had to make the power connections to each component/circuit breaker. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Piper Comanche 250, Piper Comanche 250 Reviews, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. TSO certified, STC for installation pending. Piper did the turbo 260 installation the right way by providing check valves and a turbo oil sump. It mounts just aft of the nosewheel well and helps the existing cooling air turn parallel to the belly of the airplane in a more efficient pattern, yielding a 3-MPH speed gain. ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer") && We pride ourselves that we can make your Comanche go Faster, Model 415 O200A Engine Upgrade STC SA2628WE . We are now I was authorized to do anything I wanted to this airplane, under the inspection and authorization of my A&P/IA, Neil Humphreys, Piehl said. The idea is to arm you with enough knowledge to talk the talk with your avionics shop when they make suggestions for a package. The Piper PA 28, 32 and 34 series of aircraft are world renowned for their durability and overall reliability, but they werent built to maximize performance. Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, . youre down.. Itll burn 8 to 10 GPH and cruise at 140 knots. Can you rewire and move the circuit breakers on a Piper. O.E.M. Works with a Wi-Fi module for display on tablet computers and select panel displays. We did not find evidence that the Comanche has peculiar landing characteristics-there were only six hard landing events, well below what we would expect for an airplane that is truly difficult to land. The trick-as it is with any older aircraft-is finding a shop or technician experienced in the type. Weve see trade values as high as $8000. Upgrade & Refurbish. General Tiger with fixed gear goes just as fast and another contemporary retractable, the Mooney M20C or M20E, will outrun the 180. The plane is owned by Greg Piehl and his wife Deb. [general aviation] You don't have to go wide open with it, typically in my Travelair I would lose 2-3kts and save 3gph while still running smooth. The 250 can haul 750 pounds with full standard fuel, while the 260s and 400 can lift up to 1000 pounds. Piper didnt distinguish between the 180 and 250 in its serial number records, but total production for 1958 was 336, comparing favorably to the 396 J35 Bonanzas Beech cranked out that same year. [ag This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. Its one of our top picks for a retrofit big-screen engine display. Log in and start reading now. With practice and with the gear down, finals for a precision approach can be flown at 130 knots and, with the gear up, even faster. Piper Aircraft has always offered some of the best aviation values in the sky. Piper Comanche. By the time these models were introduced, the Comanches production run was about to end without warning, so this variant is comparatively rare. Not bothering with a preflight briefing, he took off and flew to his Plan B airport, where he learned, on Unicom, that it was closed. It had never lifted off that easily beforeI am now climbing faster with a solid feel to the controls and the ride. Find your Customer Number (its on your mailing label) and register here. Thats the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot, which also has a growing STC list and some smart features as standard. Products from Knots2U andWebco are respected. Its a worthy suggestion, in our view. Market Scan With more than 2000 built, there are usually plenty of Twin Comanches to pick from in various stages of repair, restoration and upgrade. Even heeding all of my advice, expect to spend money to acquire and keep an aging Comanche. Also installed was a new glare- shield and a metal panel. Aside from the engine and prop, it involves the engine mounts, some baffling, controls and the exhaust system. Never created a website login before? There could be major panel work involved, and it might not work fully with your autopilot. We have 24 PIPER COMANCHE SERIES Aircraft For Sale. Two-piece system, requires WAAS GPS input, compact. Expect overruns and long downtimes. 6" Wheel (Set of Two) LSM-200-701-1, Windshield Cowler Kit. This requires the use of micrometers, calipers, thickness gauges, and other measuring equipment to ensure that all parts meet the tolerances required by the engine manufacturer.
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