piper comanche engine upgrade
PA24-180 Comanche. With the primitive indicating systems associated with many of the airplanes in the field, too often a pilot is faced with the dilemma, Now where did I put that fuel?. Dont underestimate the learning curve that tags along with a new suite, especially if it includes a new-to-you GPS navigator. Walter Sykes, (561) 278-1964. 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. 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. Most of my flight time is in single-engine Cessnas. Counter rotating with Tip Tanks, complete interior 2021, lots of upgrades and STC's. More Info. In 1961, the gross weight of the 250 was boosted by 100 pounds. There could be major panel work involved, and it might not work fully with your autopilot. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. At this point the ADS-B buy-in decision should be easy. Expect overruns and long downtimes. Like the first two installments of this series, were making this article free to all website visitors. 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. 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES Throttle 1/8 mixture where you set for lean taxi, mags hot, hit the starter. 2-blade 2-blade Scimitar. As we reported in the July 2019 Aviation Consumer, this new companys AV-series primary EFIS is capable and smartly engineered, with a price that caters to low budgets and an installation that doesnt require shredding the instrument panel. Its big on features, small on size and works with the Garmin flight displays. To many pilots, Piper's Twin Comanche represents an apex of light twin design. The engine case is running oil temperature, which is right around 180 degrees. 24WS, Arapaho Dorsal Fin. SE 51 WE Installation of two Rotor-Master (Rajay) P/N 600573-00 or 600576-00 (or any combination thereof) Turbocharger on Avco Lycoming Model IO-720-A1A and IO-720-A1B engines. Electric flaps replaced the manual ones in 1962 models. 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. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. Theres roughly a $6000 greater price delta between the 10-inch G500TXi ($15,995) and the 10-inch G3X Touch. WITH HARTZELL horn/torque tube/balance weight tube Call or Write for our Comanche Catalog 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES WE LIKE ALL OF THEM COMPLETE AIRCRAFT SERVICE FACILITIES These two models remained in production until 1964. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav2n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comwingtips.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav2h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comwingtips.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } Those familiar with the Comanche maintain major causes of gear-system problems are poor maintenance or rigging by mechanics unfamiliar with it. There were eight runway loss of control incidents, low, we think-and one of them involved a student pilot. WE LIKE ALL OF THEM, ENGINE OVERHAUL Have a website login already? 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. Cabin and cowling door repairs are often neglected, so be sure to inspect them for shoddy repairs and improper cabin door seals. Click here. 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. Its also intended as an easy replacement for the S-TEC 55-series autopilot with minimal rewiring. Oh, and it looks good, too. Ask someone about the Piper Comanche series and youre likely to get a comment along the lines of with that laminar-flow wing and low ground clearance, its a mutha to land-you float and float in ground effect, then it pays off and wham! Just mows through turbulence, unlike my t-wagging Bonanza. 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. Flap / Aileron Gap Seal Kit. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. Production of both the 180 and 250 ended after the 1964 model year. This gave Piper a reason to pull the plug on the Comanche, choosing to concentrate on the more-popular, less-expensive and higher-profit PA-28 line, including the PA-28R Arrow being produced at the Vero Beach site. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. 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. MSFPhover = Number 3 was ease of use. SKYTRONICS IGNITION HARNESSES, CHAMPION PRODUCTS, LP PLASTICS, WHELEN LIGHTING. 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. As for range, even an old 250 model with 60 gallons of fuel will generally go from Western Massachusetts to North Carolina in 3.5 hours with one hour of fuel remaining. Requires WAAS GPS input (Garmin, Avidyne). Piper Comanche PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-39 Models. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. HAS WAAS GPS, touchscreen, displays traffic and weather on some aspen, avidyne and garmin displays. How to paint interior plastic trim, step by step instructions with photos. 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. CONTINENTAL, PA24-260( ) Comanche. Partial plug-and-play with KT76A/C, KT78A transponders, requires WAAS GPS input. With a tapered laminar-flow wing, respectable speed (big-engine models make downright impressive numbers), solid handling and lots of available speed mods, the right Comanche could be one of the most desirable vintage piston singles. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. 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. [ag aircraft] Now is a good time to invest, but dont let lower prices fool you into thinking even a basic upgrade will be inexpensive. The extra 10 GPH the big-engined Comanche 400 burns yields only about 10 to 15 extra knots. The plane is owned by Greg Piehl and his wife Deb. Tuned through the IFD-series navigators. 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. 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. A turbonormalized version of the Comanche C was offered alongside the normally aspirated model in 1970. 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. I see no one else other than Robin Thomas who makes a promise that if youre not satisfied, no questions asked, you get your money back. for the AUSTRALIAN STABILATOR HORN [general aviation] Models: 421C. Most of us have heard horror stories about the person who built a dock or deck next to the lake without calling the Department of Natural Resources. 24WR $445.06 Add to Cart sku: 24WF Continentals are easy to hot start, full throttle, mixture rich, hi pump till you get flow, 1,2,3,4, off. or Write for our Comanche Catalog The 180, which obviously came second to its bigger brother in load carrying and was not selling as well as the 250, was dropped altogether while the 250 was upgraded to the 260. This was once a flagship monitor with a good display. Piper Comanche. This is a great airspeed for 160 hp and roughly 10 gph of 100LL. Realistically, youll want to budget $2000 for an easy installation (including the strobe light), paperwork and flight testing, and a bit more if the light doesnt exactly bolt directly in place of the existing lamp assembly. Well hammer out the difference in the upcoming market scan. Once the dust settles, typical dual-screen G5 installations generally run around $7000. Speed gains are reported to be from 5-10 MPH. It has a battery backup in case of electrical failure and can be paired with the $2549 G5 heading/electronic HSI instrument for dual ADAHRS redundancy. Wingtip mount with WAAS GPS, LED nav light, LED strobe light. Avidyne was the first with a hybrid user interface, which means you use a combination of touch and button presses. rebuilds of your existing Piper factory. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. That may or may not even out the distribution, and you don't get much fuel flow reduction, either. Early in my career, I was an avionics engineer in military electronics for a major contractor, Piehl said. When planning the G3X Touch, first consider which screen configuration works best for the panel and the budget. Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Avionics, Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish. Also, the carbureted O-540 found in the Comanche 250 may be upgraded to fuel injection. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: In 1961, Piper offered an optional 90-gallon system, which gave the Comanche 180 seriously long legs: nine hours, provided it was only loaded with the pilot, one passenger and a little baggage. Those owners will eventually spend big money at the avionics shop for new metal panels and modern avionics, including autopilots and engine displays. Standalone ADS-B Out and In, wireless Bluetooth connectivity with Flight Stream 110/210. youre down.. Garmin GI 106B Course Deviation Indicator. Parts 1 and 2 of this Piper Comanche restoration series are also free to read. 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. I've checked that leaning method with a lot of carbureted engines with full engine analyzers, and you end up right around peak, with one or two LOP and one or two ROP. Phone: (386) 253-8833 The good news is that lots of shops can work on them (although as the accident reports show, pick one that knows the model well), parts are available and market prices are steady, yet reasonable. Upon shutdown, this allows the oil to drain from the hot turbos instead of remaining inside them and cooking. 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. The Piper PA-24 Comanche 180 first flew on May 24, 1956, the first of what would become one of Piper Aircraft's most successful single-engine series. At long last, this 1959 Comanche that was disassembled and trailered . TSO certified, STC for installation pending. When deciding on either system, ask your shop what makes the most sense from a compatibility standpoint. The idea is to arm you with enough knowledge to talk the talk with your avionics shop when they make suggestions for a package. Initially the airplane was equipped with hand brakes, but after 1960 most Comanches were delivered with optional toe brakes. On takeoff there might be a tendency for the Comanche to wheelbarrow in crosswinds when holding the nose down to prevent the airplane from coming off the ground. History of the Piper Comanche. We have been in the Aviation Support Business These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. Standalone ADS-B Out and In, wireless Bluetooth connectivity with Flight Stream 110/210. *$4495 with Flight Stream 210 (built-in AHRS), version for helicopters. All rights reserved. Complete replacement of your exhaust system. The 100-pound rise in gross gave the airplane a hefty 1427-pound useful load. Suite A & B 30RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24RS Rudder Gap Seal Kit. When compared to a Comanche B, the 400 has a gross weight 500 pounds higher. 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. 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. 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).. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. It offers a magazine as well as other resources and can be reached at 888-300-0082 or via the website at www.comancheflyers.com. If youre in the market for a new autopilot, there have never been so many choices at the $10,000 price point. For training info, try www.comanchetraining.com. Pending TSO certification. Prices vary with engine size, but start at around $5000 plus installation. 1958 PIPER COMANCHE 180 $75,000 FOR SALE 1958 PA 24-180, Airframe 1220 TT, Engine 747 TT, Prop 75 SOHT, Annual completed in April 2022, Two NARCO MK-12D Navcoms one with GS one without, Always Hangered, New Carpet, Leather Seats, original paint. Piper Cherokee Modifications & SpeedImprovements, :uninterrupted flow in which the direction of flow. Call your Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he said. Recommended: Click on a photo for a popup photo gallery. the North American representative Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 13, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish. The performance change has been incredibleI cant begin to explain how different the plane feels. Recurring ADs on any aircraft can run up the cost of operation, and Comanches are no different. These days, major avionics upgrades include sourcing a new instrument panel to accommodate large flight displays. Some of the engine parts were sent around the country, reconditioned, and sent back to Florida, where Piehl worked on it. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. How can you improve the oil-change interval from 25 hours to 50 hours on a legacy Piper. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. 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. 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. The AD list is pretty long, but most of the items are one-time fixes, followed by future inspection. Because of that, I had to choose some remote-mounted components such as the transponder, the ADS-B system, and a second communication radio.. Garmins GFC500 started life as an autopilot for experimental aircraft, but now has a sizable STC list for certified aircraft. 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. assembly. It doesn't take much carb heat to even out distribution. There were 17 accidents involving pilots either running completely out of fuel or running a tank dry and not then selecting a tank containing fuel and getting a restart in the time remaining in flight. If you want to coax Comanche 260 speeds from a 250 model, try using the 260s power settings. Most 250s had carbureted Lycoming O-540-AIA5 engines, but a small number were fitted out with fuel-injected versions of the same engine. The Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche was designed as a twin-engined variant of the Piper PA-24 Comanche. How do you test an engine after a rebuild without mounting it back onto the plane? Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 795 Fentress Blvd 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. You can modify its engine, its look, its handling, its panel and its features. Coming next month: Engine, prop, and motor mount. var a=new Image(); a.src=img; return a; The Piper PA-24 Comanche is a single-engined, low wing, all-metal light aircraft, with retractable landing gear and either four or six seats. [parts], [*parts Same as FDL-978-XVR but with internal WAAS GPS. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) || Whelen Aerospace technologies (formerly LoPresti Aviation) is now at www.flywat.com and offers the $499 Slipper Fairing mod. Theres plenty of instrument panel real estate to pretty much do whatever you can afford. 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). Partial plug-and-play with some existing BendixKing transponders. 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. Grass Lake, MI USA Compare. We like that it keeps grime and dirt away from wheel assembly. Never created a website login before? 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. I guess that explains why I have had the same plane for 30 years! I can put 260 hp on a Cherokee Arrow and never fly as fast as a Comanche. If so, does the products STC include removing the vacuum system? If not, the selling price should be adjusted to reflect a cost of $1500 per bladder. Better yet, the Max gives existing Aspen owners an upgrade path, plus it runs upgrade promotions (currently $4995) and can upgrade your existing display or send your shop an exchange. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. Before even asking a shop for a price quote, bring them the aircraft. 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. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. That engine has an 1800-hour TBO and the current Aircraft Bluebook says the overhaul is around $65,000. If you already have a healthy and modern transponder and you dont plan to fly high, Garmins GDL82 UAT solution sells for $1795-the second cheapest. 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. Piper then skipped directly to the 400 HP PA-24-400 in . The installation requires mounting the GPS antenna on the cabin and wiring the unit. FEATURING QUALITY, RELIABILITY, and PERFORMANCE. Thats working out to the benefit of avionics buyers, especially ones with lower budgets. . The Comanches have a speed wing so its not a comfortable ride in moderate or greater turbulence, so slowing it down softens the bumps. Below are more photos and advice from Piehl as he went through this process. Use the downtime to hit the pilots guides. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Piper Comanche 250, Piper Comanche 250 Reviews, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. The only major issues have been a nosegear door repair and re-rigging the trim cable. The basic airframe proved successful and wasnt changed much during its production run. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. has WAAS GPS, touchscreen, displays traffic and weather on some aspen, avidyne and garmin displays. Cept it works, especially on planes like mine with garbage induction systems. On November 24, 1959, Max Conrad landed a Piper Comanche equipped with a Lycoming four-cylinder 180-horsepower engine in El Paso, Texas. A major problem with older aircraft is the condition of the interior plastic trim. 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. Most Comanche owners can vouch for them. This website contains many older reviews. Its sturdy, which it makes it a good instrument airplane, plus its easy to fly in busy traffic patterns since its comfortably flown slow or fast. The 180 came with a carbureted 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine, had a 140-kt cruise speed, and went out the door for $18,000 or so. 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. 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. Ive found that landing gear bungees generally need replacement at every annual inspection. 2-blade Scimitar. I didnt really want to paint the engine all Lycoming gray, Piehl said. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. The trim is generally in very poor condition, with various cracks in the trim and deformation around the screw holes. There were eight LOC events in IMC or dark night conditions. Some years ago, there was some thought given to resurrecting the design at the hands of the legendary and brilliant Roy LoPresti, but like the Swift Fury, it came to nothing. (Set of Two) 2430WT, Gear Lobe Fairing Kit. Garmin's G500 retrofit avionics system ranks as one of the best values in aviation, offering a host of advanced capabilities for under $20,000. It'll start in a couple of blades. Given their size, expect your shop to do substantial panel rework to make the big-screen display fit in a location thats within your scan and reach. If you already invested in Aspens Evolution retrofit EFIS, you probably recognize that the system can use a jumpstart in processing speed and graphics display. The Rajay system essentially had a second throttle wastegate control the pilot used to manually set boost at altitude. Also installed was a new glare- shield and a metal panel. The trick-as it is with any older aircraft-is finding a shop or technician experienced in the type. The Comanche line debuted in 1958, with the Comanche 180 and 250 models. AVCON Conversions in Udall KS has an STC to upgrade a Cherokee with an O-320 to an O-360 180 HP. The old boys that I learned to fly with would say that if you can shut the door on whatever you got into a Comanche, it would fly away without a problem. I seem to remember reading something about carb heat being dangerous at cold temperatures, because it can warm intake air enough to get it into the icing temperature range. 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 . of our High Performance Propellers, Knots The 180 Comanches load-carrying capacity is ample but modest. They all seem to run somewhat rough when you get all cylinders LOP. Pilots who dont understand the undercarriage and its various procedures, particularly the emergency extension procedure, also are a source of problems. The Comanche 180 was introduced in 1957, and the PA-24-250, the 250 HP version, followed soon after in 1958. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Other than the obvious boost in confidence and reliability, getting rid of all that hardware sheds sizable weight and clutter behind the instrument panel. There are no downloads available of this content. 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. 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. The installation was straight-forward with no surprises. What about temperatures in the 15-30 degree range? Many carb engines will happily run LOP too. If you wanted to start out with a cheaper airframe, buy a 180-HP model and do a 260-HP conversion with fuel injection. 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. Sun n Fun 2023: Superior Custom Instrument Panels. Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B Transponder. 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. Tail mount version. 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. Engine Upgrades, What is possible. 2-blade. That number is high, and we dont have a hypothesis to explain it, although we saw that three were at night and one of those hit power lines more than two miles short of the runway. Ya need to explore the "experimental" side of aviation Greetings fellow fliers and the A&P's that keep us flying. New aircraft models approved for the GFC 600 autopilot include: Cessna 421. By then, Piper was already established in Vero Beach, Florida, but neither the single nor the Twin Comanche variants made the transition to Vero. { Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. 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. I know that I could save fuel instead of the extra speed, but I really enjoy the speed. Can you hide the transponders if a Piper panel is small? Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. 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. 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. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Maintenance, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } PRODUCTS], info@johnstonaircraft.com Learn how to repair plastic trim here. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 13, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. He had just flown non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean from Casablanca on a record-setting 6,966-nm flight. 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. 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. Keep it on the centerline! Piper Comanche. Its worth mentioning Garmins G500/600TXi PFD/MFD, which came out before the G3X Touch was certified. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. Its a worthy suggestion, in our view. The TruTrak Vizion has a straightforward installation. In fact, the IFD100 app essentially adds a second IFD550 display/control set on the tablet. Either way, a realistic budget should be around $100,000. Remote version of the AXP340. For dual installations (maybe an IFD550 and IFD440), the connections are independent for redundancy, but have full synchronization. Most of the avionics manufacturers have established communication protocols that will work with other equipment. Insurance runs about $1600 per year. There were a few companies involved in this stage. I get approximately 200 feet per minute in climb increase and 15 knots in cruise. Those first few years are even more challenging. -Scott Sherer, In the last three years of aircraft ownership, a lot of people stop maintaining their aircraft. The straight roofline giving theComanche its distinctive crewcut looks also reduces visibility upward, although its not as bad as some airplanes and does provide welcome shade in hot climates.