No, its not complicated but a review of service difficulty reports (and the NTSB accident reports) indicates its a top sore spot, along with general airframe corrosion and engine/ prop issues. However, the empty weight is also higher, by 337 pounds. Cessna's owners manual has for decades had pilots run lop. Its a worthy suggestion, in our view. Whelen Aerospace technologies (formerly LoPresti Aviation) is now at www.flywat.com and offers the $499 Slipper Fairing mod. For ease of watching, we have broken these videos into 3 parts. SE 57 WE Installation of two Roto-Master Turbochargers P/N 600572-00 on Continental TSIO-520-D engine. All upgrades get a fresh two-year warranty. If youre in the market for a new autopilot, there have never been so many choices at the $10,000 price point. Piper Comanche Guide and Specs - Aviator Insider 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. What stands out in this section of our overhaul is the way that Piehl again constructs a template with which to practice and test his major work. We dont sell anything unless it is GUARANTEED to give you increased cruise, climb & fuel economy performance. I believe it indicated fuel injection or electric ignition. Models: 421C. WORK Not many vintage singles in its class can match that. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Restoring a Piper Interior (Comanche Restoration Series Part 3), Rebuilding a Piper Engine in a Comanche (Comanche Restoration Series Part 5), Piper Avionics: Digital Autopilots 5 Years Later, Evolution of the Piper Panel (and What It Means to You Today), https://www.facebook.com/PiperOwnerSociety?fref=ts. What kind of paint do you use to repaint a Piper engine? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Upgrading a Comanche Panel (Comanche Restoration Series Part 4), Reassembling a Restored Piper (Comanche Restoration Series Part 6), Dream Come True: Ray Cooks Super Cub on floats, Arrow Door Restoration Project: Re-aligning the door improves cockpit environment, How to Replace or Repaint Your Piper Hub Caps, uAvionix Receives TSO Authorization from FAA for skyBeacon ADS-B Out, https://www.facebook.com/PiperOwnerSociety?fref=ts. 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. [parts], [*parts Pilots who have mastered the Comanche tell us you probably wont make a smooth arrival every single time, but that its not much different from some other high-performance singles. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. 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. The extra 10 GPH the big-engined Comanche 400 burns yields only about 10 to 15 extra knots. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. Still, the respected International Comanche Society (ICS) reports the best way to learn to land-and fly-this machine is to get some dual from an expert in the type, not the local flight school unless they have a Comanche expert on hand-and some schools even have Comanches. 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. The AD list is pretty long, but most of the items are one-time fixes, followed by future inspection. Theres also a good supply of aftermarket and PMAd parts for commonly needed items. ON AND UNDERSTAND Many carb engines will happily run LOP too. Same as FDL-978-XVR but with internal WAAS GPS. 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. A complete overhaul must also include inspection and measurements on all engine components. Still, there were some notable improvements over early models. Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. aircraft sales] [engines] The 250 can haul 750 pounds with full standard fuel, while the 260s and 400 can lift up to 1000 pounds. Contrast that with the G3X Touch, which essentially requires a Garmin navigator for its digital data bus interface. More Piper Comanche questions! | Pilots of America Recommended: Click on a photo for a popup photo gallery. It had never lifted off that easily beforeI am now climbing faster with a solid feel to the controls and the ride. The trick-as it is with any older aircraft-is finding a shop or technician experienced in the type. So I sent the crankcase off to DivCo in Oklahoma City (www.divcoinc.com), the crankshaft to Rick Romans Inc. (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and Im fortunate enough that at my home airport, we have one of the finest engine facilities in the country Zephyr Aircraft Engines (Zephyrhills, Florida, www.zephyrengines.com).. Daytona Beach, FL 32114. PA23-250 Aztec. Turns out the claim was close enough to crown the skyBeacon a winner for a budget-based solution, the deal sweetened with a two-for LED lighting upgrade. Never created a website login before? HAS WAAS GPS, touchscreen, displays traffic and weather on some aspen, avidyne and garmin displays. Thats more than twice the rate we expect to see on retracts-and is cause for concern for a potential buyer. Call 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. Installing a 180hp in a warrior? | Pilots of America 2-blade 2-blade Scimitar. specials*] To hold more fuel needed to feed it, there were optional 130-gallon tanks. The ICS is extremely resourceful, with a list of qualified instructors and shops familiar with the airplane. The airplane also gained cowl flaps and an aileron-rudder interconnect. I know that I could save fuel instead of the extra speed, but I really enjoy the speed. Its a small panel; its wide but not tall. "COMANCHE". Piper designed and built the aircraft from 1956 until 1972, when the manufacturing plant was wiped out by a massive flood and production ceased. 24DF, Vortex Generator Kit, Piper PA-24 Models, Challenger Air Filter, High Performance (CP-3110). You might hear some say the Comanche is tough to land smoothly, and that it floats when in the flare, and then drops on. The Comanches have a speed wing so its not a comfortable ride in moderate or greater turbulence, so slowing it down softens the bumps. Piper PA-24 Comanche Speed Mods by Knots 2U. 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. Products from Knots2U andWebco are respected. YOU NEED!!!! 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. But if you want to connect the new displays audio output feature, your shop will need to wire it in to the audio panel. 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. Below are more photos and advice from Piehl as he went through this process. You heat the mixture up just enough so that when it goes into the venturi it can now ice up. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 2-blade. The TruTrak Vizion has a straightforward installation. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Piper Comanche 250, Piper Comanche 250 Reviews, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. 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. You can modify its engine, its look, its handling, its panel and its features. But for the lucky 400 owners the cost of admission is worth it-most big-engined Comanche owners say that with speed mods, 200 knots is a way of life. 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. Bolt-On Horsepower. Four of those involved inflight breakups-the clean Comanche airframe will smoke through Vne in short order once the nose is down or in a diving spiral. Apart from the aforementioned ADs, Comanches are unremarkable; most other ADs are minor and/or shotgun directives that apply to many airplanes. If theres any doubt about its health, have your shop evaluate it. Use the downtime to hit the pilots guides. Subsequent Comanche models both single- and twin-engine were built until 1972. I didnt really want to paint the engine all Lycoming gray, Piehl said. Model 415 O200A Engine Upgrade STC SA2628WE . When deciding on either system, ask your shop what makes the most sense from a compatibility standpoint. The 400 will, however, climb like a bat out of hell-every bit of 1600 FPM. 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. What differentiates the IFD550 from the IFD540 is the IFD550s ARS, or attitude reference system. Internal WAAS $5795, GTX345-R LRU priced the same and works on G1000 NXi, G2000, G3000, G5000. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. L3 Avionics product sold by Aspen. 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 . 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. Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, . Get it approved in advance.. It doesn't take much carb heat to even out distribution. The familiar Wholey Cowl (which is no longer available for Comanche singles) eliminates the Slipper mod and boosts the top speed by a whopping 15 MPH. History of the Piper Comanche. 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. The company also offers a stainless steel dual exhaust system. Complete replacement of your exhaust system. $795 software unlock required to interface traffic/weather with Aspen display. The paint I use is Imron, with an epoxy primer. I flight plan for 13.5 GPH, but flying from 9500 to 11,500 feet will reduce the fuel flow to around 12 GPH. And you cant do it with the mechanic whos already maintaining the airplane. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: 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. What about temperatures in the 15-30 degree range? Avidyne was the first with a hybrid user interface, which means you use a combination of touch and button presses. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Click here. Top Efis Upgrades Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. Its also time for our ADS-B buyers guide, and it follows this article. since 1947 and have a reputation for Quality, Reliability, and Service. We have been in the Aviation Support Business We had requirements, in our MIL specs, that our avionics must communicate with the established protocols. Got an existing GTX330 Mode S unit? The airframe dimensions are identical, but the internal fuselage structure was changed to accommodate the additional window. New prop 50 hours. He had just flown non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean from Casablanca on a record-setting 6,966-nm flight. So that was #1 on my list: The avionics I chose had to communicate with the other avionics., His next requirement was the ability to self-install the instruments, with the help of his A&P. This beast had a normally aspirated, fuel-injected, eight-cylinder Lycoming IO-720-A1A fitted with a three-blade prop. While Comanche engines are generally dependable, beware of top-end overhauls that were accomplished without replacing the cylinders with new ones. 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. Also note that this engine has some really cool colors. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. The Piper Owner Society would like to thank the following contributors: A sampling of quotes from this first webinar. 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. . These mods are available for all Comanches except the 400. 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 Ive seen some IAs do the six-cylinder engine conversion and sign it off with a logbook entry. These two models remained in production until 1964. Weve covered this system extensively, and most recently in the May 2019 Aviation Consumer where we installed one in a Piper Cherokee to see if it really was the worlds easiest ADS-B upgrade as the company claims. PRODUCTS], info@johnstonaircraft.com We are now Same as the FDL-978-RX, but with a built-in GPS. They gave me a guy to call at Lycoming, and he said, I cant tell you the color of it, its proprietary. Garmin GI 106B Course Deviation Indicator. Piper | Hartzell Propeller Inc. Parts 1 and 2 of this Piper Comanche restoration series are free to read. There are mixed reviews from owners on maintaining a Comanche. The trim is generally in very poor condition, with various cracks in the trim and deformation around the screw holes. Very clean west cost Comanche. 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. Its available with and without WAAS GPS and has built-in Bluetooth for sending flight data, ADS-B traffic and weather data to a tablet or smartphone running the Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight tablet apps. [ag aircraft] The 1965 Comanches are transitionairplanes in that they have the earlier fuselage mated to the later 260-HP engine, albeit with a carburetor. I have over 30 years experience owning, flying, maintaining and modifying aircraft, including Piper Comanches. Piehl said, he gave me a lot of advice like where to find parts, and I subbed a lot of work to him, such as magnafluxing connecting rods and checking all the gears, and that inspection is required for a complete overhaul. Were putting the finishing touches on an engine monitor roundup for a future issue of Aviation Consumer, but well give you a brief primer here. The datalink processor connects in line with the existing transponder antenna and has a built-in WAAS GPS. assembly. Those owners will eventually spend big money at the avionics shop for new metal panels and modern avionics, including autopilots and engine displays. Power Flow Systems offers its exhaust mod for the Aviat Husky, Cessna 170, 172, 175, 177 and 177RG, Diamond Star, Beech 19 and 23 series, Grumman Americans and four-cylinder Maules, among others. My performance improvements are way beyond anything I expected. Mon-Fri:9:00am 5:30pm FEATURING QUALITY, RELIABILITY, and PERFORMANCE. My hardest transition in flying the Comanche was planning enough time to slow it up to the gear extension speed of 150 MPH and managing four fuel tanks (90 gallons total) and an electric fuel pump (on and off for landing and takeoffs). There were a number of different models built during that . Engine Upgrades, What is possible | Pilots of America Initially the airplane was equipped with hand brakes, but after 1960 most Comanches were delivered with optional toe brakes. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. (Aircraft Sales/General Info), parts@johnstonaircraft.com Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Comanche Panel Upgrades; Comanche Engine and Mounts: What Happens During an Upgrade; Comanche Reassembly: What a Legacy Piper Looks Like When It's Taken Apart; 1959 Comanche Fully Restored; .
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