Just mows through turbulence, unlike my t-wagging Bonanza. 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. AVCON Conversions in Udall KS has an STC to upgrade a Cherokee with an O-320 to an O-360 180 HP. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } 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. Any thoughts or ideas? The Comanches have a speed wing so its not a comfortable ride in moderate or greater turbulence, so slowing it down softens the bumps. After years of distance-traveling in my airplane (to places I never would have visited if it werent for my Comanche), I believe a full-featured autopilot is perhaps the most useful avionics system you can buy. 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. 2-blade 2-blade Scimitar. The engines are identical, but with a different propeller redline. We covered the G3X Touch in a flight trial article in the June 2019 Aviation Consumer so well just recap it here. There was a little bit more than that (headset jacks/wiring/soldering), but their work is of the highest quality., One other thing that Piehl stressed about this part of the project you need to coordinate the field approval before you start this process. Slow it down in the last few hundred feet to land short and turn off at the first taxiway. After watching countless fuel injected flyers grind their starters into dust on the 100 degree tarmac down here in TX, I'm glad I have a carb and the mogas option. The overarching theme for his avionics plan was to make the system interact with other elements and to make everything simple. When youre in the cockpit flying, using the avionics has to be second nature., The Comanche panel is not large, so youll notice in the photos that follow that Piehl twice mentions the installation of hidden transponders. AUSTRALIAN HORN COMPRISES, Please Piper PA-46. Important links and documents needed are provided within the posts themselves. the North American representative Piper PA-24 Comanche - Wikipedia I can put 260 hp on a Cherokee Arrow and never fly as fast as a Comanche. ). The extra 10 GPH the big-engined Comanche 400 burns yields only about 10 to 15 extra knots. SA 97 SO Installation A, B, or C of . 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. One on the landing gear (AD 77-13-21) mandates replacement of landing gear bungees every 500 hours or three years to prevent landing gear collapse after manual extension. I remember seeing something regarding an upgrade STC for various 4 and 6 cylinder engines (172/182, etc). But as budget-based as these solutions are, shops still report that the most popular ADS-B upgrade is Garmins GTX345 ADS-B In and Out transponder. 30RS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. But I can send you a color chip to match., So I matched it, and when looking at it, I thought, Darn, thats pretty much the color that I used on the airplane, lets just use the same paint! So I didnt have to invest in any engine paint., What Piehl means is that he used the same paint as the exterior in places on the engine that dont get overly hot. These mods are available for all Comanches except the 400. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Maintenance, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. Speaking of logs, before buying, examine the logbooks for entries that indicate the airframe has a history of good landing gear system maintenance and repair. This assumes that you have wheelpants on the airplane; if you don't, subtract 2 knots. SE 57 WE Installation of two Roto-Master Turbochargers P/N 600572-00 on Continental TSIO-520-D engine. I would always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection. Piper Comanche Guide and Specs - Aviator Insider If a stock Twin Comanche catches your eye, then get a . The early panel layout doesnt conform to the later standard T configuration, so it may be unfamiliar to recently trained pilots or those coming from more modern rides. Call or Write for our Comanche Catalog 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES WE LIKE ALL OF THEM COMPLETE AIRCRAFT SERVICE FACILITIES Speed gains are reported to be from 5-10 MPH. 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 expert Scott "Sky" Smith, and more. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. Production of both the 180 and 250 ended after the 1964 model year. The ICS is extremely resourceful, with a list of qualified instructors and shops familiar with the airplane. The airframe dimensions are identical, but the internal fuselage structure was changed to accommodate the additional window. Find your Customer Number (its on your mailing label) and register here. Shop labor effort and rates are at an all-time high and good shops are busy. TEXAS SKYWAYS HAS THIS STC. If the aircraft has traditional round gauges, do you want to get rid of the vacuum system in favor of an all-electric suite? 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). Get it approved in advance.. Engine Upgrades, What is possible. I guess that explains why I have had the same plane for 30 years! Internal WAAS $5795, GTX345-R LRU priced the same and works on G1000 NXi, G2000, G3000, G5000. Installing a 180hp in a warrior? | Pilots of America LJ Warren, owner of Zephyr Aircraft Engines, is a friend of Piehls. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. For dual installations (maybe an IFD550 and IFD440), the connections are independent for redundancy, but have full synchronization. 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. He headed back to home plate and ran the airplane dry on downwind. Prices vary with engine size, but start at around $5000 plus installation. 1963 PIPER COMANCHE 250 . The MAX, which is available in one-, two- and three-screen versions (just like the original Evolution), is designed as a drop-in replacement for the older displays. 24WS, Arapaho Dorsal Fin. The TruTrak Vizion has a straightforward installation. Mon-Fri:9:00am 5:30pm The 260's Lycoming IO-540 engine could cruise at 142 to 161 knots, burning 13 to 19 gallons per hour. Its pretty much plug and play. While many Comanches sport three-blade propellers, some could have old clamp-style propellers. This was once a flagship monitor with a good display. In fact, the IFD100 app essentially adds a second IFD550 display/control set on the tablet. PA-NAC1P: Option: Nacelle Panels 27-4426, 27-4574 On 64-81: PA-NP2S: Option: Nose Panels Aztec Six Place No Ice PA-NP2P: Option: Nose Panels Aztec Six Place No Ice PA-NP3S: Option: Nose Panels Aztec Six Place Ice Shields PA-NP3P: Option: Nose Panels Aztec Six Place Ice Shields PA-FD1W: Option: Fuel Doors Winged Budget Buy: Comanche 260 - AOPA The Piper Comanche: The First Modern Piper - Disciples of Flight 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. Oh, and it looks good, too. I am the second owner of 20 years. Do you need a field approval to start or finish a panel upgrade? They build and 100% test the harness for installation. 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. Because of that, I had to choose some remote-mounted components such as the transponder, the ADS-B system, and a second communication radio.. There were a number of different models built during that .