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. Speaking of ICS, owners tell us the group is an exceptionally good resource for Comanche owners. And if your existing transponder is an aging non-digital (has a cavity oscillator tube) model, our advice is to ditch it and put in an ADS-B transponder. For more than five decades, active and dedicated aircraft owners and pilots have turned to AVIATION CONSUMER to answer their most important buying questions. Step one is to evaluate the existing flight instruments and look toward the future. FEATURING QUALITY, RELIABILITY, and PERFORMANCE. ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer") && In fact, the IFD100 app essentially adds a second IFD550 display/control set on the tablet. Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Avionics, Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish. Piper Cherokee Modifications & SpeedImprovements, :uninterrupted flow in which the direction of flow. 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. 30RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24RS Rudder Gap Seal Kit. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. 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. Expect overruns and long downtimes. Wingtip mount with WAAS GPS, LED nav light, LED strobe light. Works with a Wi-Fi module for display on tablet computers and select panel displays. A turbonormalized version of the Comanche C was offered alongside the normally aspirated model in 1970. Cabin and cowling door repairs are often neglected, so be sure to inspect them for shoddy repairs and improper cabin door seals. It offers an excellent blend of speed, fuel economy, control feel, and range. Bold Warrior 180-hp Engine STC | Piper Owner Society (Parts Department). They all seem to run somewhat rough when you get all cylinders LOP. 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. To ask questions and discuss these tips, visit our forum here. Most of my flight time is in single-engine Cessnas. Has built-in WAAS GPS receiver, tablet interface requires Flight Stream wireless Bluetooth, Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight app. Recurring ADs on any aircraft can run up the cost of operation, and Comanches are no different. Before even asking a shop for a price quote, bring them the aircraft. Weve see trade values as high as $8000. specials*] Thats working out to the benefit of avionics buyers, especially ones with lower budgets. We are now The 100-pound rise in gross gave the airplane a hefty 1427-pound useful load. contact us for horns, installation kits, horn installations in your Comanche, or 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. 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. I flight plan for 13.5 GPH, but flying from 9500 to 11,500 feet will reduce the fuel flow to around 12 GPH. AVCON Conversions in Udall KS has an STC to upgrade a Cherokee with an O-320 to an O-360 180 HP. This was once a flagship monitor with a good display. 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. Production of both the 180 and 250 ended after the 1964 model year. Apart from the aforementioned ADs, Comanches are unremarkable; most other ADs are minor and/or shotgun directives that apply to many airplanes. 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. Legroom is good for both pilots and passengers, and the cabin is definitely more spacious than the Arrow that followed. Got an existing GTX330 Mode S unit? Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. Once off the ground, inflight handling is responsive and Comanche pilots will attest that its a delightful airplane to hand fly. 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. Its a generous interface. I didnt really want to paint the engine all Lycoming gray, Piehl said. displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. Those owners will eventually spend big money at the avionics shop for new metal panels and modern avionics, including autopilots and engine displays. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. Also note that this engine has some really cool colors. Piper Comanche PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-39 Models. 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. To round out the landing accidents, only one pilot couldnt get stopped on the available runway-well below what we expect to see in our accident reviews. Piper Comanche - Johnston Aircraft Slow it down in the last few hundred feet to land short and turn off at the first taxiway. The only major issues have been a nosegear door repair and re-rigging the trim cable. The fifth and sixth seats, when available, are suitable only for children or the smallest of adults. Its pretty much plug and play. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. 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. Partial plug-and-play with KT76A/C, KT78A transponders, requires WAAS GPS input. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 4 ))); Avidyne was the first with a hybrid user interface, which means you use a combination of touch and button presses. The Piper Arrow has similar engine benefits. 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. The airplane carried 60 gallons, and could be modified to hold 90 gallons. If the G5 attitude instrument fails, the directional instrument reverts to an attitude display. Either way, a realistic budget should be around $100,000. Buying (an airplane) is not as hard as dealing with it in the first few years. At this point the ADS-B buy-in decision should be easy. 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. Only engines for which that ends up with all cylinders well LOP are injected, with well-tuned injectors. [parts], [*parts Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. All of the fuel bladders should be replaced with new ones. A complex light twin, with retractable landing gear, seating 4 (in original models) to 6 (in later models), and cruise speeds ranging from 160-210 mph on twin 150-160 horsepower engines, it competed with the more-powerful Cessna 310 and Beech Baron . 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. 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. 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. Budget Buys: The 'Baby' Comanche - AOPA 2-blade. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. Cowling Kits-Replacement, Conversion, Screw Kits / Piper - Skybolt Click here. CHOOSE YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD: CHEROKEE GUIDE OR DIGITAL ISSUE, How to Disassemble and Transport a Legacy Piper, How and Why to Strip Your Plane Yourself Before it Gets Repainted, Restoring the Interior of a Legacy Piper: How You Can Save Money, Comanche Engine and Mounts: What Happens During an Upgrade, Comanche Reassembly: What a Legacy Piper Looks Like When Its Taken Apart. However, with care (and thats important), costs will be more than manageable and once a system or component is properly repaired, it can be expected to stay that way for a while. There are no downloads available of this content. 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 would always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection. by Scott Sherer | Jan 20, 2023 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. 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. Log in and start reading now. With a gross weight significantly lower than later Comanches, cabin payload with full standard fuel (60 gallons) is about 660 pounds-think three-person airplane. We covered the G3X Touch in a flight trial article in the June 2019 Aviation Consumer so well just recap it here. 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. Money back guarantee on all modifications. I can put 260 hp on a Cherokee Arrow and never fly as fast as a Comanche. We are certified to install Continental TSIO-360KB engines in your Seneca II. 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?. Single-box solution that works with Garmin GNS430W/530W navigators, works with a Wi-Fi module for connecting to tablets. Daytona Beach, FL 32114. 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. 3-blade Scimitar (260, 260B) 3-blade Scimitar . and they ran well doing the pull to rough, push to smooth method. LJ Warren, owner of Zephyr Aircraft Engines, is a friend of Piehls. Aftermarket gear warning systems are also a good investment to supplement the system originally installed. Like the first two installments of this series, were making this article free to all website visitors. Piper Warrior - Aviation Consumer Of course the dense market doesnt make an already difficult buying decision any easier. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 9, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Maintenance, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. The installation was straight-forward with no surprises. Number 3 was ease of use. 24RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24WR Wing Root Fairing Kit. of our High Performance Propellers, Knots The performance change has been incredibleI cant begin to explain how different the plane feels. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. - Piper Speed Modifications That Work! I know that I could save fuel instead of the extra speed, but I really enjoy the speed. Top Efis Upgrades Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. This is a great airspeed for 160 hp and roughly 10 gph of 100LL. Ive found that landing gear bungees generally need replacement at every annual inspection. Its a buyers market with lots of choices. This website contains many older reviews. Installation of the Piper did the turbo 260 installation the right way by providing check valves and a turbo oil sump. Now is a good time to invest, but dont let lower prices fool you into thinking even a basic upgrade will be inexpensive. Well hammer out the difference in the upcoming market scan. Theres good reason to consider going vac-less. Piper then skipped directly to the 400 HP PA-24-400 in . I have over 30 years experience owning, flying, maintaining and modifying aircraft, including Piper Comanches. All upgrades get a fresh two-year warranty. Click here. L3 Avionics product sold by Aspen. 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. Power Flow Systems, Inc. - PA28-140-O320 Cowlings are also offered by Aviation Performance. I subbed out a lot of the work the crankcase, the crankshaft, the rods, all the internal components to a specialist. At long last, this 1959 Comanche that was disassembled and trailered . Shop labor effort and rates are at an all-time high and good shops are busy. *$4495 with Flight Stream 210 (built-in AHRS), version for helicopters. Learn how to repair plastic trim here. And it's fun to recall some Piper engineers, back when it was introduced, boasting that the fat, new, stubby wing was actually every bit as good as the sexier-looking tapered Comanche wing, aerodynamically. Ive seen some IAs do the six-cylinder engine conversion and sign it off with a logbook entry. I get approximately 200 feet per minute in climb increase and 15 knots in cruise. Products (www.aviationperformanceproducts.com), which claims that its Eagle XP cowling increases speed, economy and improves maintenance access. 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. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. The result is essentially a Comanche 250 with a low gross weight. Youll need them for support, including software and hardware upgrades as the systems mature. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. It has excellent technical advisors and sponsors a Comanche pilot proficiency school covering major systems and is complete with an optional checkride, which will be a flight review. The Comanche is gentle when it comes to stalls and is stable for flying instruments. Arch-Warrior, Inc. offers an STC to covert a Warrior to 180 HP. Use the downtime to hit the pilots guides. He headed back to home plate and ran the airplane dry on downwind. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. Ya need to explore the "experimental" side of aviation Greetings fellow fliers and the A&P's that keep us flying. Garmins GFC500 started life as an autopilot for experimental aircraft, but now has a sizable STC list for certified aircraft. 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 Comanche 180 can climb at 700 to 900 FPM after using more than 2200 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle. Cessna's owners manual has for decades had pilots run lop. Continentals are easy to hot start, full throttle, mixture rich, hi pump till you get flow, 1,2,3,4, off. since 1947 and have a reputation for Quality, Reliability, and Service. Itll burn 8 to 10 GPH and cruise at 140 knots. Other than the obvious boost in confidence and reliability, getting rid of all that hardware sheds sizable weight and clutter behind the instrument panel. Insurance runs about $1600 per year. Twelve pilots simply forgot to extend the Firestones before ground contact. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. Its worth mentioning Garmins G500/600TXi PFD/MFD, which came out before the G3X Touch was certified. Then Tropical Storm Agnes drove the Susquehanna River out of its banks and wiped out Pipers Lock Haven factory. For dual installations (maybe an IFD550 and IFD440), the connections are independent for redundancy, but have full synchronization. Comanche is my favorite Piper single. I guess that explains why I have had the same plane for 30 years! 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. Piper PA-24 Comanche Speed Mods by Knots 2U. Display compatibility with several third-party systems for ADS-B In, including Garmin GTX345, L3 Lynx 9000 Series, and FreeFlight RANGR UAT. 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. The cabin itself is roomy and comfortable with good width, if a bit drafty and noisy, say some owners. I basically just had to make the power connections to each component/circuit breaker. The overarching theme for his avionics plan was to make the system interact with other elements and to make everything simple. 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; . Also installed was a new glare- shield and a metal panel. And I purchased six new Superior Millennium cylinders and pistons for the overhaul; I didnt want to use the originals, in fact I sold those off to an airboat shop in central Florida. Still, there were some notable improvements over early models. Piper kept the Comanches electromechanical manual landing gear relatively simple, although it can be a source of woes when not maintained properly. Theres also Knots2U (www.knots2u.net, 262-763-5100) that has, in addition to the wing fillet mod, a dorsal fin kit, speedbrakes and a variety of other mods for Comanches. 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). 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. Call Below are more photos and advice from Piehl as he went through this process. Quotes in the photo captions are from Piehl. The Electronics International MVP-50 is another. The engines are identical, but with a different propeller redline. FAA Approved IO-540-K1G5 Engine Upgrade - Aeronautix Piper Comanche Guide and Specs - Aviator Insider 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. Based on our time in Comanches, we say fly it like its meant to be flown, really, and youll wonder what the barroom chatter was all about. Yes, you can usually run fine with one or two a shade LOP, and the rest at or rich of peak, but not all of them. Upon shutdown, this allows the oil to drain from the hot turbos instead of remaining inside them and cooking. Because of that, I had to choose some remote-mounted components such as the transponder, the ADS-B system, and a second communication radio.. SE 57 WE Installation of two Roto-Master Turbochargers P/N 600572-00 on Continental TSIO-520-D engine. (Set of Two) 2430WT, Gear Lobe Fairing Kit. -Scott Sherer. 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 want to coax Comanche 260 speeds from a 250 model, try using the 260s power settings. 2 U Mods,Weight and Balance, - WHATEVER Have a website login already? Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. You can modify its engine, its look, its handling, its panel and its features. Top Avionics Upgrades: Choices For All Budgets, Shopping For A Seaplane: Pick A Price Point, Sun n Fun 2023: Superior Custom Instrument Panels. Its big on features, small on size and works with the Garmin flight displays. Oh, and it looks good, too. The datalink processor connects in line with the existing transponder antenna and has a built-in WAAS GPS. All rights reserved. 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. PIPER COMANCHE SERIES For Sale - Used & New 1 - 24 - Trade-A-Plane What differentiates the IFD550 from the IFD540 is the IFD550s ARS, or attitude reference system. Even heeding all of my advice, expect to spend money to acquire and keep an aging Comanche. 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. If the aircraft has traditional round gauges, do you want to get rid of the vacuum system in favor of an all-electric suite? Posted by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 13, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish. youre down.. 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. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. O.E.M. Connecting the G5 directional instrument to third-party autopilots and earlier GPS navigators requires the $699 GAD29B nav interface module. 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. Both models had carbureted engines mated to constant-speed props. That didnt mean he went cheap. 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. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. I believe it indicated fuel injection or electric ignition. The TXi is also available with Garmins EIS engine indication system and is available in multiple screen configurations. Garmin Budget Glass Cockpits Remember when a basic. 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. Designed to work with and connects to the existing Mode A/C transponder. The basic airframe proved successful and wasnt changed much during its production run. In its basic form, a single G5 attitude indicator can be installed as primary. Other than accepting a heading input from Aspens Evolution PFD, in addition to Garmins G500/600 PFD, the Avidyne ARS is self-contained. Upgrading a Comanche Panel: Photo Gallery. ON AND UNDERSTAND Top Avionics Upgrades: Choices For All Budgets These mods are available for all Comanches except the 400. Coming next month: Engine, prop, and motor mount. The added seats are in the baggage compartment. Pricing on the base GTX345 (without GPS) is $4995. EVOLUTION MFD, some garmin and avidyne displays. SA 97 SO Installation A, B, or C of . It doesn't take much carb heat to even out distribution. 24GS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. The landing gear on the Comanche gets our attention. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. Display name: Doug. 30RS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. Ive taken the course twice. PA23-250 Aztec. Phone: (386) 253-8833 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.. Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. Kudos to them-we think every retrac pilot should witness a gear swing on the appropriate model. Which of the reductions is smaller is too hard to say, but the difference isn't going to be significant. This time, he had an old Comanche panel to use as a framework for his new panel layout, along with a photo from a magazine ad. After flying the new MAX system in a Cirrus (splashed with bright Florida sun), we think the new display technology is impressive-perhaps one of the most sunlight-readable PFDs on the market. Last edited: Oct 6, 2013. While we were pleased to find that the old wives tales regarding Comanche landings were untrue, we were concerned by the number of landing gear-related incidents. Thats just what Aspen offers with the Evolution MAX displays. This website contains many older reviews. Supports diversity (top and bottom antenna). Insurance will vary with a pilots experience. If youre in the market for a new autopilot, there have never been so many choices at the $10,000 price point. While Comanche engines are generally dependable, beware of top-end overhauls that were accomplished without replacing the cylinders with new ones. 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. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. There is no doubt that your kit was responsible for our taking second place in the race. If your instincts are telling you that formal training is in your future, limit your flying to decent weather. // -->