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. contact us for horns, installation kits, horn installations in your Comanche, or Budget Buy: Comanche 260 - AOPA Pending TSO certification. 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. Top Avionics Upgrades: Choices For All Budgets Standalone ADS-B Out and In, wireless Bluetooth connectivity with Flight Stream 110/210. WE LIKE ALL OF THEM, ENGINE OVERHAUL 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. install a One-Piece Windshield, our High Performance good looking Wingtips, one Remote control head/processor design, requires. As with a car stereo or home theater setup, you can get help with the wiring harnesses, and Piehl, who didnt farm out very much in this restoration, did use one of those services. He headed back to home plate and ran the airplane dry on downwind. This means in those applications there is limited rewiring required. 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. Piper Comanche - AOPA - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Insurance runs about $1600 per year. If you find the right person and keep them happy, youll be happy. $795 software unlock required to interface traffic/weather with Aspen display. Now is a good time to invest, but dont let lower prices fool you into thinking even a basic upgrade will be inexpensive. 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. Theres also an AD on the vertical fin attachment (AD 75-12-06). Thats more than twice the rate we expect to see on retracts-and is cause for concern for a potential buyer. When compared to a Comanche B, the 400 has a gross weight 500 pounds higher. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. The performance change has been incredibleI cant begin to explain how different the plane feels. It expensive enough buying a 40 or 50 year old airplane. Even heeding all of my advice, expect to spend money to acquire and keep an aging Comanche. PA24-180 Comanche. Mon-Fri:9:00am 5:30pm We have been in the Aviation Support Business Piper Comanche - Johnston Aircraft Subscribe today to read the entire series, which chronicles: What You Will Learn in This Article: Rebuilding a Piper Engine in a Comanche. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Requires Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight tablet app. Its a small panel; its wide but not tall. displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). The idea is to arm you with enough knowledge to talk the talk with your avionics shop when they make suggestions for a package. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. The trick-as it is with any older aircraft-is finding a shop or technician experienced in the type. I would always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection. In this installment, from the May 2022 issue, we move to the panel, and again we see how Comanche plane owner Greg Piehl utilized his skills and his professional workshop to upgrade his plane in a way that teaches us how ingenuity can play a role and allow you to do some of this work yourself. And you cant do it with the mechanic whos already maintaining the airplane. Our journey has reached the engine of Greg Piehls Comanche. In its basic form, a single G5 attitude indicator can be installed as primary. 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. How to paint interior plastic trim, step by step instructions with photos. 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.. Display compatibility with several third-party systems for ADS-B In, including Garmin GTX345, L3 Lynx 9000 Series, and FreeFlight RANGR UAT. of our High Performance Propellers, Knots Moreover, the aircraft are relatively complex-certainly when compared to, for example, a Cessna 182-so dont assume it will be as cheap to maintain. Click here. Belts: Replace / Upgrade; Piper; PA24/30/39 Comanche; PA24/30/39 Comanche FAA/TSO-C114 OEM quality AmSafe 3-point diagonal replacement restraints for PA24 & PA30 Comaches with existing factory installed shoulder harnesses, or a replacement for an STC installation. 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. 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. SKYTRONICS IGNITION HARNESSES, CHAMPION PRODUCTS, LP PLASTICS, WHELEN LIGHTING. Find your Customer Number (its on your mailing label) and register here. The Comanche C was rolled out in 1969, with further refinements, including another gross weight increase and a distinctive shark nose cowl starting with serial number 24-4804. facilities and look us over. 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. For belt-and-suspender backup thats self-contained in the radio stack, we think Avidynes IFD550 navigator is a worth a look, especially if youre looking to step up and out of an aging Garmin GNS530. Higher, and Further as well as Repair It, Annual It, Overhaul the Engine(s), These days, major avionics upgrades include sourcing a new instrument panel to accommodate large flight displays. 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES 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 Lets begin with an ADS-B wrap-up. If a stock Twin Comanche catches your eye, then get a . by Rocky Landsverk | Nov 17, 2022 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. 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. Never created a website login before? 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. Its a buyers market with lots of choices. Production of both the 180 and 250 ended after the 1964 model year. Call your Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he said. There are so many mods available for the Comanche line that probably no two aircraft are alike today. I cannot remember what I read, and where I read it. Also, the inspector must have experience using this equipment.. Plus, it can be well-maintained at a lower cost than aircraft of lesser performance due to the widespread use of generic parts. 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. The landing gear on the Comanche gets our attention. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. Weve see trade values as high as $8000. 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. A major problem with older aircraft is the condition of the interior plastic trim. Money back guarantee on all modifications. Can you rewire and move the circuit breakers on a Piper. 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. Installing a 180hp in a warrior? | Pilots of America Power Flow Systems, Inc. - PA28-140-O320 JOHNSTON AIRCRAFT SERVICE, Theres also a good supply of aftermarket and PMAd parts for commonly needed items. [home] Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Our current best selling and most popular mods. We like that it keeps grime and dirt away from wheel assembly. Call or Write for our Comanche Catalog 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES WE LIKE ALL OF THEM COMPLETE AIRCRAFT SERVICE FACILITIES The airframe dimensions are identical, but the internal fuselage structure was changed to accommodate the additional window. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. In 1961, the gross weight of the 250 was boosted by 100 pounds. Cowling Kits-Replacement, Conversion, Screw Kits / Piper - Skybolt And you should. Below are more photos and advice from Piehl as he went through this process. But it's a nice theory. Read about the 1959 Piper Comanche that was restored to pristine condition, and what you can learn from the process. 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. I get approximately 200 feet per minute in climb increase and 15 knots in cruise. The installation was straight-forward with no surprises. The datalink processor connects in line with the existing transponder antenna and has a built-in WAAS GPS. In fact, the IFD100 app essentially adds a second IFD550 display/control set on the tablet. Well hammer out the difference in the upcoming market scan. The original airplane had a 60-gallon fuel system. Dont underestimate the learning curve that tags along with a new suite, especially if it includes a new-to-you GPS navigator. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. The basic, bare-bones G3X Touch with a 7-inch screen is $7995. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: Avidyne was the first with a hybrid user interface, which means you use a combination of touch and button presses. YOU NEED!!!! Cessna's owners manual has for decades had pilots run lop. Piper Comanche. INC. wants to extend to you an open invitation to stop in at our Other than accepting a heading input from Aspens Evolution PFD, in addition to Garmins G500/600 PFD, the Avidyne ARS is self-contained. Flap / Aileron Gap Seal Kit. 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. Models: 421C. Its a worthy suggestion, in our view. 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. Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. The result is essentially a Comanche 250 with a low gross weight. 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 . Also note that this engine has some really cool colors. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. - Piper Speed Modifications That Work! By then, Piper was already established in Vero Beach, Florida, but neither the single nor the Twin Comanche variants made the transition to Vero. The navigator also connects to a Bluetooth keyboard as yet another option for data entry. 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. 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. The Electronics International MVP-50 is another. *$4495 with Flight Stream 210 (built-in AHRS), version for helicopters. There is no doubt that your kit was responsible for our taking second place in the race. 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. 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. 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. Speeds are up around 155 to 160 knots at cruise, burning about 12 GPH. To ask questions and discuss these tips, visit our forum here. We had requirements, in our MIL specs, that our avionics must communicate with the established protocols. 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. 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. A worn-out fuel cap assembly has a compromised seal around the fuel inlet and could leak fuel in flight or allow water intrusion from a hefty rainstorm into the fuel tank. 30RS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. Diversity Mode S transponder with ADS-B Out when connected with an appropriate WAAS GPS. 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. Engine Upgrades, What is possible. List of STCs - RAJAY Turbo Products I used the company Approach Fast Stack to build the wiring harness for the entire panel, he said. horn/torque tube/balance weight tube 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. For more than five decades, active and dedicated aircraft owners and pilots have turned to AVIATION CONSUMER to answer their most important buying questions. Garmin GTN 750 Touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm. All upgrades get a fresh two-year warranty. 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. Get it approved in advance.. I remember seeing something regarding an upgrade STC for various 4 and 6 cylinder engines (172/182, etc). Adding to the competition are newcomers, with New Mexico-based Aerovonics as one example. Once the dust settles, typical dual-screen G5 installations generally run around $7000. 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. Piper Cherokee Modifications & SpeedImprovements, :uninterrupted flow in which the direction of flow. Apart from the aforementioned ADs, Comanches are unremarkable; most other ADs are minor and/or shotgun directives that apply to many airplanes. ADS-B is old news. What kind of paint do you use to repaint a Piper engine? Piper PA-24 Comanche Speed Mods by Knots 2U. Coming next month: Engine, prop, and motor mount. These days, major avionics upgrades include sourcing a new instrument panel to accommodate large flight displays. 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. Approved Aircraft List Expanded for Autopilots | Garmin Blog ). 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. Step one is to evaluate the existing flight instruments and look toward the future. A few words on avionics projects. 24RS, Wing Root Fairing Kit. Most 250s had carbureted Lycoming O-540-AIA5 engines, but a small number were fitted out with fuel-injected versions of the same engine. Very clean west cost Comanche. Sure, the Piper PA-24 series is old-one of Pipers first metal, non-tailwheel cruisers-and ultimately a competitor to the Beech Bonanza and Cessna 210. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. That engine has an 1800-hour TBO and the current Aircraft Bluebook says the overhaul is around $65,000. Works with a Wi-Fi module for display on tablet computers and select panel displays. Not many vintage singles in its class can match that. Products (www.aviationperformanceproducts.com), which claims that its Eagle XP cowling increases speed, economy and improves maintenance access. The 250 and 260 are better performers. 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. I can put 260 hp on a Cherokee Arrow and never fly as fast as a Comanche. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. 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. Can you hide the transponders if a Piper panel is small? 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. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Electronic Aircraft Ignition Electroair Review, How to Replace Your Piper Door Lock: Medeco Lock Review, Piper PA-24-250 Comanche Review: Restored Plane Flies for the First Time in 34 Years (Series Part 7, Finale), Reassembling a Restored Piper (Comanche Restoration Series Part 6), Rebuilding a Piper Engine in a Comanche (Comanche Restoration Series Part 5), Upgrading a Comanche Panel (Comanche Restoration Series Part 4), Restoring a Piper Interior (Comanche Restoration Series Part 3), How to Save Money When You Get Your Piper Repainted (Comanche Restoration Series Part 2), https://www.facebook.com/PiperOwnerSociety?fref=ts. 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. Its a generous interface. To gain a disproportionately greater benefit in economy. The ICS is extremely resourceful, with a list of qualified instructors and shops familiar with the airplane. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 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. The plane is owned by Greg Piehl and his wife Deb. All of the fuel bladders should be replaced with new ones. 24WR $445.06 Add to Cart sku: 24WF Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. I didnt want any dealer-only installations; that was #2, Piehl said. Speaking of ICS, owners tell us the group is an exceptionally good resource for Comanche owners. 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. The G5 has an STC that currently covers 560 aircraft models-a huge swath. Even if youre not qualified to paint your plane yourself, you can still do most of the work. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. Do you need a field approval to start or finish a panel upgrade? Installation of the and they ran well doing the pull to rough, push to smooth method. Its big on features, small on size and works with the Garmin flight displays. 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. 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. 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. 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. Last edited: Oct 6, 2013. Requires WAAS GPS input (Garmin, Avidyne). 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. Still, these speeds trail contemporary designs of similar vintage and power, such as the P35 Bonanza. Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B Transponder. Beautiful . Cept it works, especially on planes like mine with garbage induction systems. 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. If theres any doubt about its health, have your shop evaluate it. Piper PA24/30/39 Comanche - Alpha Aviation I've yet to see one do that "happily." I would prove that time and again in my Comanche 250. A prop inspection (AD 2005-18-12) is the most oft-complained about, costing nearly $1000 every 500 hours or five years. In flight, the Comanche is smooth, stable and tight, with a climb rate that is impressive and difficult to prevent. 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. TEXAS SKYWAYS HAS THIS STC. Also, the carbureted O-540 found in the Comanche 250 may be upgraded to fuel injection. When deciding on either system, ask your shop what makes the most sense from a compatibility standpoint. Everything Laminar Flow Systems makes has integrity, a design philosophy which puts the pilot 1st! if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn.gif"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload("_derived/comprops.htm_cmp_jas110_hbtn_a.gif"); } 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. Your Garmin dealers most likely top recommendation for a lower-end EFIS upgrade might be Garmins $2249 G5 display, of which there are two. Pilots who dont understand the undercarriage and its various procedures, particularly the emergency extension procedure, also are a source of problems. But unless you buy one thats been particularly well-restored and cared for, getting an old Comanche up to snuff can be a pricey proposition. 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. I could not believe the difference. 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. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. Photos of this 1959 Piper PA-24 Comanche Review by Jack Fleetwood ( www.JackFleetwood.com ). 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. 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. 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). There were eight runway loss of control incidents, low, we think-and one of them involved a student pilot. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. 2 U Mods,Weight and Balance, - WHATEVER Learn how to repair plastic trim here. 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 Piper / Comanche - Barnstormers LYCOMING, BENDIX IGNITION,