Counter rotating with Tip Tanks, complete interior 2021, lots of upgrades and STC's. More Info. and they ran well doing the pull to rough, push to smooth method. Displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). Those familiar with the Comanche maintain major causes of gear-system problems are poor maintenance or rigging by mechanics unfamiliar with it. Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B Transponder. Theres roughly a $6000 greater price delta between the 10-inch G500TXi ($15,995) and the 10-inch G3X Touch. When deciding on either system, ask your shop what makes the most sense from a compatibility standpoint. There are mixed reviews from owners on maintaining a Comanche. 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. 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. Quotes in the photo captions are from Piehl. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. These days, major avionics upgrades include sourcing a new instrument panel to accommodate large flight displays. (Aircraft Sales/General Info), parts@johnstonaircraft.com 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; . 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. Since its important that the flight controls are properly rigged (while ensuring the landing gear and landing gear doors are retracted fully and fit flush) this should be the first step before any aftermarket mods are installed. by Rocky Landsverk | Nov 17, 2022 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. 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. Buying (an airplane) is not as hard as dealing with it in the first few years. 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.. Greg was flying during this flight, with his friend Joe Cumbey co-piloting, and (not seen) dog Beau is piloting from the back seat. 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. Flap / Aileron Gap Seal Kit. Speaking of ICS, owners tell us the group is an exceptionally good resource for Comanche owners. To hold more fuel needed to feed it, there were optional 130-gallon tanks. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) || We think the effort and cost is worth it given the added utility, including minimum callouts when on an approach. WORK Any thoughts or ideas? 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 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. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. CONTINENTAL, Photos of this 1959 Piper PA-24 Comanche Review by Jack Fleetwood ( www.JackFleetwood.com ). LJ Warren, owner of Zephyr Aircraft Engines, is a friend of Piehls. Theres also an AD on the vertical fin attachment (AD 75-12-06). I cannot remember what I read, and where I read it. Why would I want to reduce engine power output by effectively increasing the engine's density altitude? Ive found that landing gear bungees generally need replacement at every annual inspection. specials*] Grass Lake, MI USA Compare. 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. Log in and start reading now. Display compatibility with several third-party systems for ADS-B In, including Garmin GTX345, L3 Lynx 9000 Series, and FreeFlight RANGR UAT. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. 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. Garmin GMA 35c Remote-mount Bluetooth Audio Panel. 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. I subbed out a lot of the work the crankcase, the crankshaft, the rods, all the internal components to a specialist. 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. Cessna's owners manual has for decades had pilots run lop. Piper then skipped directly to the 400 HP PA-24-400 in . // --> . 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. For comparison, an American. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. Some of the engine parts were sent around the country, reconditioned, and sent back to Florida, where Piehl worked on it. I've yet to see one do that "happily." Requires Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight tablet app. He's very difficult to contact but one CPA member reports successfully purchasing the STC in 2006. AVCON Conversions in Udall KS has an STC to upgrade a Cherokee with an O-320 to an O-360 180 HP. This issue (April 2022), the Comanche restoration moves to the interior, where Greg replaced almost everything inside the hull. 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). Piper designed and built the aircraft from 1956 until 1972, when the manufacturing plant was wiped out by a massive flood and production ceased. Buy 3+ Items & Get 10% Off Your Purchase. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. Most of my flight time is in single-engine Cessnas. Its worth mentioning Garmins G500/600TXi PFD/MFD, which came out before the G3X Touch was certified. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. However, the empty weight is also higher, by 337 pounds. 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. Electric flaps replaced the manual ones in 1962 models. The result is essentially a Comanche 250 with a low gross weight. horn/torque tube/balance weight tube function MSFPpreload(img) The airframe is essentially identical to the 250, except the 400 uses the Piper Aztec stabilizer. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. PROPELLER and TEXTRON LYCOMING. But it's a nice theory. (Set of Two) 2430WT, Gear Lobe Fairing Kit. LYCOMING, BENDIX IGNITION, 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. there is a definite 15-knot increaseThe numbers show that it has paid for itself in one year. 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. When temps drop to -40 or lower many carbs must use heat to raise temps up to where the fuel air ratio is rich enough, but that is still way to low for induction icing. My performance improvements are way beyond anything I expected. Garmin GTN 750 Touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm. [general aviation] Theres also a good supply of aftermarket and PMAd parts for commonly needed items. ). JOHNSTON AIRCRAFT SERVICE, ON AND UNDERSTAND The trim is generally in very poor condition, with various cracks in the trim and deformation around the screw holes. 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. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. Everything Laminar Flow Systems makes has integrity, a design philosophy which puts the pilot 1st! The cabin itself is roomy and comfortable with good width, if a bit drafty and noisy, say some owners. 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. A major problem with older aircraft is the condition of the interior plastic trim. 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. To gain a disproportionately greater benefit in economy. Internal WAAS $5795, GTX345-R LRU priced the same and works on G1000 NXi, G2000, G3000, G5000.

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