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. Requires WAAS GPS input (Garmin, Avidyne). Youll need them for support, including software and hardware upgrades as the systems mature. The same goes for the interior, obviously, although weve seen some Comanches decked out with some pretty nice and modern custom leather seating and trim. Engine Upgrades, What is possible. Coming next month: Engine, prop, and motor mount. This website contains many older reviews. It had never lifted off that easily beforeI am now climbing faster with a solid feel to the controls and the ride. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. The Electronics International MVP-50 is another. Parts 1 and 2 of this Piper Comanche restoration series are free to read. function MSFPpreload(img) Why would I want to reduce engine power output by effectively increasing the engine's density altitude? Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. 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. The Ultimate Twin Comanche - AOPA Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, 2013. 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. youre down.. PA24-180 Comanche. Speaking of logs, before buying, examine the logbooks for entries that indicate the airframe has a history of good landing gear system maintenance and repair. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. A major problem with older aircraft is the condition of the interior plastic trim. 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. Also, the carbureted O-540 found in the Comanche 250 may be upgraded to fuel injection. Diversity Mode S transponder with ADS-B Out when connected with an appropriate WAAS GPS. 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. INC. wants to extend to you an open invitation to stop in at our Piper | Hartzell Propeller Inc. However, the empty weight is also higher, by 337 pounds. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. 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. You heat the mixture up just enough so that when it goes into the venturi it can now ice up. Many carb engines will happily run LOP too. 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. I actually contacted them and asked them what color that is. [parts], [*parts