piper comanche engine upgrade

You need to go to somebody whos trained in that model of aircraft but has not seen it before. -Scott Sherer, Fuel is going to be biggest expense. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. If so, does the products STC include removing the vacuum system? 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. With the plane on jacks, swing the gear and look for loose fits and bushings. The Piper Owner Society would like to thank the following contributors: A sampling of quotes from this first webinar. Aside from the engine and prop, it involves the engine mounts, some baffling, controls and the exhaust system. PA23, PA23-160 Apache. Click here. 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. Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. Requires WAAS GPS input (Garmin, Avidyne). Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry product pricing from the time of the original review. $795 software unlock required to interface traffic/weather with Aspen display. 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. Its a true traveling airplane and I flight plan for 157 knots when at full throttle. Just mows through turbulence, unlike my t-wagging Bonanza. horn/torque tube/balance weight tube The added seats are in the baggage compartment. The Comanche is gentle when it comes to stalls and is stable for flying instruments. The Piper Arrow has similar engine benefits. Thats more than twice the rate we expect to see on retracts-and is cause for concern for a potential buyer. The Comanche market has two price points, really. The Electronics International MVP-50 is another. On November 24, 1959, Max Conrad landed a Piper Comanche equipped with a Lycoming four-cylinder 180-horsepower engine in El Paso, Texas. 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. Learn how to repair plastic trim here. In 1961, the gross weight of the 250 was boosted by 100 pounds. This is part four of seven parts. Rocky Landsverk is the Editor and Publisher of the Piper Owner Society and PIPERS magazine. 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. We have been in the Aviation Support Business We had requirements, in our MIL specs, that our avionics must communicate with the established protocols. 24RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24WR Wing Root Fairing Kit. While many Comanches sport three-blade propellers, some could have old clamp-style propellers. If you have aging fuel senders, expect to either have them overhauled or in many cases replaced with digital senders that may prove far more accurate than older analog senders. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Insurance will vary with a pilots experience. While offering good looks and good performance for the money, the Comanche 260 may be a handful for the first-time owner. Even if youre not qualified to paint your plane yourself, you can still do most of the work. Installation of the Call or Write for our Comanche Catalog 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES WE LIKE ALL OF THEM COMPLETE AIRCRAFT SERVICE FACILITIES Works with a Wi-Fi module for display on tablet computers and select panel displays. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. Recommended: Click on a photo for a popup photo gallery. *$4495 with Flight Stream 210 (built-in AHRS), version for helicopters. You heat the mixture up just enough so that when it goes into the venturi it can now ice up. If youve already invested in a modern transponder upgrade and dont fly above 18,000 feet, one top pick is the uAvionix skyBeacon wingtip unit with LED position and strobe lamps. 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. install a One-Piece Windshield, our High Performance good looking Wingtips, one Comanche is my favorite Piper single. (parseInt(navigator.appVersion) >= 3 )) || The ICS is extremely resourceful, with a list of qualified instructors and shops familiar with the airplane. Counter rotating with Tip Tanks, complete interior 2021, lots of upgrades and STC's. More Info. HAS WAAS GPS, touchscreen, displays traffic and weather on some aspen, avidyne and garmin displays. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. WORK Basic annual inspections are done at a full-service FBO and run about $1400 when owner assisted. Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B Transponder. AUSTRALIAN HORN COMPRISES, Please A complete overhaul must also include inspection and measurements on all engine components. Mon-Fri:9:00am 5:30pm The Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche was designed as a twin-engined variant of the Piper PA-24 Comanche. 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. Engine Upgrades. 2-blade. Thats the 20 to 22 GPH at 75 percent power that engine is consuming. Throttle 1/8 mixture where you set for lean taxi, mags hot, hit the starter. ON AND UNDERSTAND I would always recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection. 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. Garmin GTN 750 Touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm. 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. Engine SMOH: 998. 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. AVCON Conversions in Udall KS has an STC to upgrade a Cherokee with an O-320 to an O-360 180 HP. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Piper Comanche 250, Piper Comanche 250 Reviews, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. The plane is ADS-B Out compliant with a Stratus transponder installed in 2016. 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 . [ag PROPELLER and TEXTRON LYCOMING. Also, the carbureted O-540 found in the Comanche 250 may be upgraded to fuel injection. Its a buyers market with lots of choices. 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. The result is essentially a Comanche 250 with a low gross weight. By the time these models were introduced, the Comanches production run was about to end without warning, so this variant is comparatively rare. There are so many mods available for the Comanche line that probably no two aircraft are alike today. 24LOB, Hub Cap W/Access Door. That engine has an 1800-hour TBO and the current Aircraft Bluebook says the overhaul is around $65,000. The Comanche panel has limited space, vertically, Piehl said. Upgrade & Refurbish. displays TIS-B, FIS-B ATAS (ADS-B Traffic Alerting System), includes Active Traffic (Interrogates Non-ADS-B Aircraft). This beast had a normally aspirated, fuel-injected, eight-cylinder Lycoming IO-720-A1A fitted with a three-blade prop. Grass Lake, MI USA Compare. Also installed was a new glare- shield and a metal panel. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. My engine is carbureted. Production of both the 180 and 250 ended after the 1964 model year. What about temperatures in the 15-30 degree range? They all seem to run somewhat rough when you get all cylinders LOP. Both models had carbureted engines mated to constant-speed props. EVOLUTION MFD, some garmin and avidyne displays. If the G5 attitude instrument fails, the directional instrument reverts to an attitude display. 24RS, Wing Root Fairing Kit. CONTINENTAL, I could not believe the difference. In my opinion, there is no reason to own a 180 Comanche unless you are consumed with fuel range and can tolerate the vibration from the engine being so far out from the firewall. Youll need them for support, including software and hardware upgrades as the systems mature. 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. 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.. I am the second owner of 20 years. . Top Efis Upgrades Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. I remember seeing something regarding an upgrade STC for various 4 and 6 cylinder engines (172/182, etc). 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. Initially the airplane was equipped with hand brakes, but after 1960 most Comanches were delivered with optional toe brakes. Theres roughly a $6000 greater price delta between the 10-inch G500TXi ($15,995) and the 10-inch G3X Touch. My performance improvements are way beyond anything I expected. There is no doubt that your kit was responsible for our taking second place in the race. You might hear some say the Comanche is tough to land smoothly, and that it floats when in the flare, and then drops on. [parts], [*parts 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. 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. Suite A & B Well hammer out the difference in the upcoming market scan. 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. But if you want to connect the new displays audio output feature, your shop will need to wire it in to the audio panel. LJ Warren, owner of Zephyr Aircraft Engines, is a friend of Piehls. Garmin GI 106B Course Deviation Indicator. Other than accepting a heading input from Aspens Evolution PFD, in addition to Garmins G500/600 PFD, the Avidyne ARS is self-contained. How to paint interior plastic trim, step by step instructions with photos. SKYTRONICS IGNITION HARNESSES, CHAMPION PRODUCTS, LP PLASTICS, WHELEN LIGHTING. Use the downtime to hit the pilots guides. 685. 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. A few words on avionics projects. 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. This website contains many older reviews. Call your Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he said. To many pilots, Piper's Twin Comanche represents an apex of light twin design. 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. 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. 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. Adding to the competition are newcomers, with New Mexico-based Aerovonics as one example. 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. Speed gains are reported to be from 5-10 MPH. Itll burn 8 to 10 GPH and cruise at 140 knots. Speaking of ICS, owners tell us the group is an exceptionally good resource for Comanche owners. It doesn't take much carb heat to even out distribution. Whelen Aerospace technologies (formerly LoPresti Aviation) is now at www.flywat.com and offers the $499 Slipper Fairing mod. He's very difficult to contact but one CPA member reports successfully purchasing the STC in 2006. Thats working out to the benefit of avionics buyers, especially ones with lower budgets. . While Comanche engines are generally dependable, beware of top-end overhauls that were accomplished without replacing the cylinders with new ones. 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. (Parts Department). Models: 210G, 210H, 210J, T210G, T210H, T210J. History of the Piper Comanche. Some go as far as installing a smaller nosewheel tire and others simply pump up the main gear oleos to reduce the static angle of attack on takeoff. Read a Piper door lock review with photos of a Medeco door lock installation. 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. Thats the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot, which also has a growing STC list and some smart features as standard. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Sun n Fun 2023: Superior Custom Instrument Panels. Theres also an AD on the vertical fin attachment (AD 75-12-06). Early in my career, I was an avionics engineer in military electronics for a major contractor, Piehl said. 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. Why would I want to reduce engine power output by effectively increasing the engine's density altitude? var a=new Image(); a.src=img; return a; Tail mount version. Its also intended as an easy replacement for the S-TEC 55-series autopilot with minimal rewiring. Speeds are up around 155 to 160 knots at cruise, burning about 12 GPH. Piper kept the Comanches electromechanical manual landing gear relatively simple, although it can be a source of woes when not maintained properly. Piper Comanche PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-39 Models. Top Avionics Upgrades: Choices For All Budgets, Shopping For A Seaplane: Pick A Price Point, Sun n Fun 2023: Superior Custom Instrument Panels. 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. LYCOMING, BENDIX IGNITION, 24DF, Vortex Generator Kit, Piper PA-24 Models, Challenger Air Filter, High Performance (CP-3110). Ask your shop what models are approved for your aircraft and price them all. By then, Piper was already established in Vero Beach, Florida, but neither the single nor the Twin Comanche variants made the transition to Vero. 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. 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?. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. The TruTrak Vizion has a straightforward installation. 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. The installation was straight-forward with no surprises. 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. Flap / Aileron Gap Seal Kit. 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). Once the dust settles, typical dual-screen G5 installations generally run around $7000. Important links and documents needed are provided within the posts themselves. The datalink processor connects in line with the existing transponder antenna and has a built-in WAAS GPS. The TXi is also available with Garmins EIS engine indication system and is available in multiple screen configurations. 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. Theres also the $289 Hubba Hubba wheel cap, with an access door for the tires air valve. Call But it's a nice theory. 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. 180-250-260-400- TWIN COMANCHES 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. SE 57 WE Installation of two Roto-Master Turbochargers P/N 600572-00 on Continental TSIO-520-D engine. Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, 2013. So to help sort it out, in this article well offer an around-the-bases look at the most popular new avionics configurations-from entry-level (for basic aircraft) to higher-budget (for go-places higher-end machines). Upgrading a Comanche Panel: Photo Gallery. Cept it works, especially on planes like mine with garbage induction systems. 6" Wheel (Set of Two) LSM-200-701-1, Windshield Cowler Kit. What kind of paint do you use to repaint a Piper engine? WE LIKE ALL OF THEM, ENGINE OVERHAUL Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. Correct me if I am wrong: Carb icing is less possible with FI and Vapor Lock is more likely with FI so it is a trade off in that department.

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