Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. All were zinc-chromated during assembly, for corrosion protection. Tony_Scarpelli, Oct 6, 2013 #7. . http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/lasarignsys.php, From out of the clear blue of the Western sky, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. TEXAS SKYWAYS HAS THIS STC. 24RS, Wing Root Fairing Kit. Their excellent build quality with total corrosion proofing before assembly and compound curve panels meant that the underlying cost structure was greater than emerging designs from either Piper or its competitors. Comanche is my favorite Piper single. Approved Aircraft List Expanded for Autopilots | Garmin Blog If a stock Twin Comanche catches your eye, then get a . since 1947 and have a reputation for Quality, Reliability, and Service. That is because of a simple fact that anybody who has painted their house or restained their deck knows: Strip and prep are the most time-consuming part of the paint job, by Piper Owner Society | Jun 8, 2022 | Maintenance, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) || 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. Keep it on the centerline! At this point the ADS-B buy-in decision should be easy. displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). specials*] 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. Models: 310P, 350P. With that as mindset, that eliminated some of the equipment on the market. Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche - Wikipedia The plane has not been a drain maintenance wise. We invite you to look around and come see why we have the best made, lowest priced and best warranty of any modifications available for your Piper. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. The list price of the IFD550 is $21,999, but if you have a clean and fully functional Garmin GNS530W, you can cut that cost substantially. They gave me a guy to call at Lycoming, and he said, I cant tell you the color of it, its proprietary. And an airplane thats been all over the hangar floor for a month or longer-now with unfamiliar avionics-is a poor match for the nonproficient pilot. Weve see trade values as high as $8000. In my opinion, there is no reason to own a 180 Comanche unless you are consumed with fuel range and can tolerate the vibration from the engine being so far out from the firewall. Turboplus was granted multiple Supplemental Type Certificates to upgrade many Continental TSIO-360 and LTSIO-360 engines to the 220HP operating limits of the Continental TSIO-360KB engine. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. The Comanches have a speed wing so its not a comfortable ride in moderate or greater turbulence, so slowing it down softens the bumps. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. Dont underestimate the learning curve that tags along with a new suite, especially if it includes a new-to-you GPS navigator. Never created a website login before? The installation included dual Garmin G5 digital flight instruments, a PMA450 audio system, Garmin GTN 650 WAAS/GPS navigator and a GNC 255A VHF radio. As one result, many have opted to replace their old Hartzells for new two- or three-blade Hartzell or McCauley propellers, which terminates the AD. Pilots who dont understand the undercarriage and its various procedures, particularly the emergency extension procedure, also are a source of problems. ADS-B is old news. The panel is what one would expect from a circa-1960s airplane, with good space for instruments but early, unrestored models will look dated by modern standards. 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 Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. The mods that can offer the most speed include relocating the brakes to the inside of the gear forks, gap seals, wheel well slippers and wingroot fairings, both front and rear. Everything Laminar Flow Systems makes has integrity, a design philosophy which puts the pilot 1st! If youre in the market for a new autopilot, there have never been so many choices at the $10,000 price point. To hold more fuel needed to feed it, there were optional 130-gallon tanks. Installation of the We like that it keeps grime and dirt away from wheel assembly. 2-blade. There is no doubt that your kit was responsible for our taking second place in the race. Click here. Thats the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot, which also has a growing STC list and some smart features as standard. That engine has an 1800-hour TBO and the current Aircraft Bluebook says the overhaul is around $65,000. Those familiar with the Comanche maintain major causes of gear-system problems are poor maintenance or rigging by mechanics unfamiliar with it. You can modify its engine, its look, its handling, its panel and its features. We have 24 PIPER COMANCHE SERIES Aircraft For Sale. And you cant do it with the mechanic whos already maintaining the airplane. there is a definite 15-knot increaseThe numbers show that it has paid for itself in one year. Theres also the Delphi Airworthy Comanche Forum (https://forums.delphiforums.com/Comanches), and we spotted tons of useful threads on all things Comanche-from avionics to lighting to service parts. contact us for horns, installation kits, horn installations in your Comanche, or rebuilds of your existing Piper factory horn/torque tube/balance weight tube assembly. The AD list is pretty long, but most of the items are one-time fixes, followed by future inspection. If you find the right person and keep them happy, youll be happy. Comanche PA-24 Models. We think at least two of those pilots did change to a tank with fuel, but didnt wait long enough for it to fill the empty fuel lines between the selector and the engine before concluding that the new tank was dry as well and switching into another empty tank (or the original tank). Not many vintage singles in its class can match that. I didnt really want to paint the engine all Lycoming gray, Piehl said. The trick-as it is with any older aircraft-is finding a shop or technician experienced in the type. I basically just had to make the power connections to each component/circuit breaker. The Piper Arrow has similar engine benefits. There were eight runway loss of control incidents, low, we think-and one of them involved a student pilot. 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. Recommended: Click on a photo for a popup photo gallery. For more than five decades, active and dedicated aircraft owners and pilots have turned to AVIATION CONSUMER to answer their most important buying questions. What the 180-HP Comanche lacks for cruise speed it certainly makes up for with endurance. Clockwise from the top: The digital Genesys S-TEC 3100 has a growing STC list and is a good value because it work with existing S-TEC autopilot servos, saving a sizable amount of installation time. Piper PA-24 Comanche - Wikipedia I believe the payoff was at about 400 hours on a 172 with the reduced fuel burn, and not having to maintain a carb. The Electronics International MVP-50 is another. Old models worth getting rid of include the King KT76/78 series and anything made by Narco or Collins. Speed gains are reported to be from 5-10 MPH. Last edited: Oct 6, 2013. Like the first two installments of this series, were making this article free to all website visitors. Since its important that the flight controls are properly rigged (while ensuring the landing gear and landing gear doors are retracted fully and fit flush) this should be the first step before any aftermarket mods are installed. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. Rare find! With the plane on jacks, swing the gear and look for loose fits and bushings. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Upgrade & Refurbish. [ag aircraft] While Comanche engines are generally dependable, beware of top-end overhauls that were accomplished without replacing the cylinders with new ones. assembly. Piehl said Zephyr did a triple-angle valve job in rebuilding this Comanche engine, blueprinting the pistons and cylinders, and stuffed the pistons in the cylinders, ready for him to assemble onto the rods and the crankcase. 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. Also featuring longtime pilot and electrical engineer Jim "Griff" Griffin, these advice videos feature tips from longtime pilot and CFI Mike Jones, avionics consultant Bob Hart, insurance and business . youre down.. 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. Piper Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 Engine Upgrade STC The Piper Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 engine upgrade STC removes and replaces the OEM installed Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D that was certified on the Piper Lance, Lance II, and Saratoga SP model aircraft. Now is a good time to invest, but dont let lower prices fool you into thinking even a basic upgrade will be inexpensive. Grass Lake, MI USA Compare. These mods are available for all Comanches except the 400. 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). Wingtip mount with WAAS GPS, LED nav light, LED strobe light. The good news for owners left in the cold is that many of the probes and sensors for this system can work with a JP Instruments engine monitor, including the EDM930. Displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). Apart from the aforementioned ADs, Comanches are unremarkable; most other ADs are minor and/or shotgun directives that apply to many airplanes. There are no downloads available of this content. and they ran well doing the pull to rough, push to smooth method. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. The added seats are in the baggage compartment. Number 3 was ease of use. Accept that youll be a test pilot for a few hours. . So to help sort it out, in this article well offer an around-the-bases look at the most popular new avionics configurations-from entry-level (for basic aircraft) to higher-budget (for go-places higher-end machines). CONTINENTAL, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Electronic Aircraft Ignition Electroair Review, How to Replace Your Piper Door Lock: Medeco Lock Review, Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Review: Restored Plane Flies for the First Time in 34 Years (Series Part 7, Finale), Reassembling a Restored Piper (Comanche Restoration Series Part 6), Rebuilding a Piper Engine in a Comanche (Comanche Restoration Series Part 5), Upgrading a Comanche Panel (Comanche Restoration Series Part 4), Restoring a Piper Interior (Comanche Restoration Series Part 3), How to Save Money When You Get Your Piper Repainted (Comanche Restoration Series Part 2), https://www.facebook.com/PiperOwnerSociety?fref=ts. The navigator also connects to a Bluetooth keyboard as yet another option for data entry. Well start by saying that primary monitors (ones that are approved to replace all of the OEM gauges-including fuel quantity) require a sizable installation. For comparison, an American. Lets equip and move on because the real news in the avionics market is the serious surge in competition, combined with a shift from expensive TSO approvals to STCs. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: Step one is to evaluate the existing flight instruments and look toward the future. // -->