For training info, try www.comanchetraining.com. Your Garmin dealers most likely top recommendation for a lower-end EFIS upgrade might be Garmins $2249 G5 display, of which there are two. But it's a nice theory. Dont make that mistake with your plane. Its a generous interface. 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! A complete overhaul must also include inspection and measurements on all engine components. 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. 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. In 1961, the gross weight of the 250 was boosted by 100 pounds. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. You can modify its engine, its look, its handling, its panel and its features. Rocky Landsverk is the Editor and Publisher of the Piper Owner Society and PIPERS magazine. Same as FDL-978-XVR but with internal WAAS GPS. 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. 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. 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. Engine Upgrades, What is possible. Never created a website login before? Both models had carbureted engines mated to constant-speed props. 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. 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. 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. 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. A major problem with older aircraft is the condition of the interior plastic trim. 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. Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, 2013. 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. [ag Unlike the G3X Touch, the TXi displays have full TSO approval, plus the system is deeply compatible with analog third-party systems, including legacy autopilots. Has built-in WAAS GPS receiver, diversity (requires top and bottom antenna installation), tablet interface requires Flight Stream wireless Bluetooth module, ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot app. 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). 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. They all seem to run somewhat rough when you get all cylinders LOP. Complete replacement of your exhaust system. 24RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24WR Wing Root Fairing Kit. Learn how to repair plastic trim here. Its a small panel; its wide but not tall. 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. The 180 Comanches load-carrying capacity is ample but modest. Comanche PA-24 Models. I flight plan for 13.5 GPH, but flying from 9500 to 11,500 feet will reduce the fuel flow to around 12 GPH. 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. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. Number 3 was ease of use. Supports diversity (top and bottom antenna). Also installed was a new glare- shield and a metal panel. Once the dust settles, typical dual-screen G5 installations generally run around $7000. The installation requires mounting the GPS antenna on the cabin and wiring the unit. Any thoughts or ideas? 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). These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. 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. Garmin GNC 255A Nav/Comm. 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. This beast had a normally aspirated, fuel-injected, eight-cylinder Lycoming IO-720-A1A fitted with a three-blade prop. Aside from the engine and prop, it involves the engine mounts, some baffling, controls and the exhaust system. The Comanche line debuted in 1958, with the Comanche 180 and 250 models. The overarching theme for his avionics plan was to make the system interact with other elements and to make everything simple. Diversity and the version made for helicopters. Consider that you can buy a cream puff in the $125,000 to $150,000 range, and an airplane that needs serious work for $19,000. Read about the 1959 Piper Comanche that was restored to pristine condition, and what you can learn from the process. Ive seen some IAs do the six-cylinder engine conversion and sign it off with a logbook entry. Dont underestimate the learning curve that tags along with a new suite, especially if it includes a new-to-you GPS navigator. Product Brochure - click here to download Note: if you have an O-360 powered PA28-140, or an early model PA28-150, -160, or -180 (1964 or earlier PA28 The airframe is essentially identical to the 250, except the 400 uses the Piper Aztec stabilizer. facilities and look us over. Engine Upgrades. We are now It offers an excellent blend of speed, fuel economy, control feel, and range. This website contains many older reviews. The added seats are in the baggage compartment. Ive found that many aircraft are compliant. If you wanted to start out with a cheaper airframe, buy a 180-HP model and do a 260-HP conversion with fuel injection. Coming next month: Engine, prop, and motor mount. Those familiar with the Comanche maintain major causes of gear-system problems are poor maintenance or rigging by mechanics unfamiliar with it. To ask questions and discuss these tips, visit our forum here. 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. It expensive enough buying a 40 or 50 year old airplane. 24WS, Arapaho Dorsal Fin. Old models worth getting rid of include the King KT76/78 series and anything made by Narco or Collins. What is the easiest way to swap out the wiring if youre upgrading a Piper panel? Rocky Landsverk is the Editor and Publisher of the Piper Owner Society and PIPERS magazine. there is a definite 15-knot increaseThe numbers show that it has paid for itself in one year. If you pull carb heat and lean the mixture from that condition, you have less power and go slower. Pending TSO certification. 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. [parts], [*parts However, the empty weight is also higher, by 337 pounds. -Scott Sherer. The Comanche market has two price points, really. The 250 and 260 are better performers. Remote control head/processor design, requires. I've yet to see one do that "happily." A side benefit of the standard turbo installation is that its quieter than the normally aspirated Comanche C. The -N1A5 engine, beefed up to handle the boost pressure and higher temperatures at altitude, is just as robust as the normally aspirated engine; both have a 2000-hour TBO. Higher, and Further as well as Repair It, Annual It, Overhaul the Engine(s), He's very difficult to contact but one CPA member reports successfully purchasing the STC in 2006. A prop inspection (AD 2005-18-12) is the most oft-complained about, costing nearly $1000 every 500 hours or five years. PRODUCTS], info@johnstonaircraft.com Garmin GI 106B Course Deviation Indicator. "Piper manufactured the Comanche line as their first all-metal airplane. Engine SMOH: 998. 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. I can put 260 hp on a Cherokee Arrow and never fly as fast as a Comanche. Everything Laminar Flow Systems makes has integrity, a design philosophy which puts the pilot 1st! What about temperatures in the 15-30 degree range? HAS WAAS GPS, touchscreen, displays traffic and weather on some aspen, avidyne and garmin displays. Top Avionics Upgrades: Choices For All Budgets, Shopping For A Seaplane: Pick A Price Point, Sun n Fun 2023: Superior Custom Instrument Panels. youre down.. Its big on features, small on size and works with the Garmin flight displays. On November 24, 1959, Max Conrad landed a Piper Comanche equipped with a Lycoming four-cylinder 180-horsepower engine in El Paso, Texas. If you find the right person and keep them happy, youll be happy. 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).. 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. 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. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. And you cant do it with the mechanic whos already maintaining the airplane. Piper Cherokee Modifications & SpeedImprovements, :uninterrupted flow in which the direction of flow. Thats the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot, which also has a growing STC list and some smart features as standard. Finally, we felt the pain of the pilot who flew to a neighboring airport for fuel, only to find the tanks locked. If theres any doubt about its health, have your shop evaluate it. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. JOHNSTON AIRCRAFT SERVICE, Display compatibility with several third-party systems for ADS-B In, including Garmin GTX345, L3 Lynx 9000 Series, and FreeFlight RANGR UAT. Cowlings are also offered by Aviation Performance. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. } 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. All upgrades get a fresh two-year warranty. We pride ourselves that we can make your Comanche go Faster, Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, . 795 Fentress Blvd [service, repairs] [emco Not many vintage singles in its class can match that. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. 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. 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. Basic annual inspections are done at a full-service FBO and run about $1400 when owner assisted. While many Comanches sport three-blade propellers, some could have old clamp-style propellers. Subsequent Comanche models both single- and twin-engine were built until 1972. All rights reserved. Other than accepting a heading input from Aspens Evolution PFD, in addition to Garmins G500/600 PFD, the Avidyne ARS is self-contained. The 250 can haul 750 pounds with full standard fuel, while the 260s and 400 can lift up to 1000 pounds. 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 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.