He used some of the proceeds of the partial sale to buy a new Mooney 201. Why would anyone invest so much in a 46-year-old airplane? But airspeed control can pose a challenge. Piper Twin Comanche Aircraft Information. You can obtain more information about this STC from Harlan at 904/767-5564. Also, human factors was still an infant science in those days, and old Twin Comanches show it. This highly modified Miller Converted Twin Comanche is equipped with De-Ice Boots, Heated Props and Windscreen Hot Plate. The Polyurethane is not affected by UV light, meaning it will never yellow and it will not change the cosmetic appearance of your aircraft. Which lets us segue into an explanation of a major-league skeleton in the Twin Comanche's closet. We adapt to your schedule and availability. A place for owners, pilots, and enthusiasts of the Piper Comanche and Twin Comanche series of aircraft to share experiences and exchange information to enhance the airworthiness and enjoyment of these fine aircraft. These Miller modifications took the highly rated and sot after Twin Comanche, and made them faster, more capable and added much needed storage. Supplemental type certificates originally owned by J.W. 'Mark II' Twin Comanche Rebuilt and refurbished to his own specs, this loaded lightplane answers one pilot's dream The Robertson STOL, Miller 200 Jet Profile Twin Comanche gets off over a 50-foot obstacle in 1,120 feet, cruises at 223 mph. The key is to manage both power and configuration well in advance of a descent or landing and to plan each approach as though you were flying a high- performance airplane — which the Twin Comanche definitely is. There is definitely no shortage of yarns about the Twin Comanche's alleged behavior problems. Anyone contemplating the purchase of a Twin Comanche — or a single-engine Comanche — owes it to him- or herself to join the 4,000-member International Comanche Society (Hangar 3, Wiley Post Airport, Bethany, Oklahoma 73008; 405/491-0321). PIPER PA-30B Turbo Twin Comanche (1966 - 1968) Typical Price: $73,377.00 Total Cost of Ownership: $20,346.52 STC applications for vortex generators and a TKS weeping wing ice protection system are now on hold. The other offered a new right engine with a counterclockwise-rotating propeller, a modification that would in essence transform a PA-30 into a PA-39. Not a member? From 1970 the Twin Comanche C emphasized a somewhat higher cruising rate and inner part upgrades, while the PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R was fitted with counter turning motors. The options list was expanded to include wingtip fuel tanks, a heated windshield, propeller anti-ice, and an oxygen system. He subsequently bought a 1980 American Champion Citabria, a 1964 Twin Comanche, a 1985 Cessna 414A, and a Cessna L–19 Bird Dog. Then he talked with Bill Roundtree and Ken Talhelm at Muncie Aviation, and that’s when things took off. dual brake kit stc: sa1115sw. Operating the Rajays requires a deft touch. Get the latest news on coronavirus impacts on general aviation, including what AOPA is doing to protect GA, event cancellations, advice for pilots to protect themselves, and more. The last of the Twin Comanches were the PA-39s, which were rolled out in early 1970. This STC is available from Isham Inc. and Knots2U. Pepper’s Twin Comanche is a manifestation of Pepper’s perfectionism, experience, and vision. In conventional American light twins, the critical engine is the left engine. The turbo models' empty weight is almost 200 pounds more than their standard-equipped, normally aspirated brethren, so all-engine and single- engine rates of climb are lower (but single-engine service ceiling rises to 8,800 feet), and the useful load of an average-equipped airplane — at 1,341 pounds — is some 50 pounds lighter. In 1966, the PA-30B step-up model was offered which included a third side windows and six seats. Creation of the Twin Comanche stopped in 1972 - by which time just the PA-39 was accessible - because of the flooding of Piper's Lock Haven plant. Today, J.L. The Robertson mod promises a 10-mph reduction in VMC and stall speed, and provides an increase in gross weight (3,800 pounds, compared to the standard PA-30's 3,600 pounds). A new overhead panel is one of Muncie Aviation’s custom touches. Landings are another source of conversational fodder. They have the Lyc 200hp engines, nose baggage nacelle baggage (looks similar to C310 nacelle baggage. I'll spare you all the history of the Twin Comanche also known by it's owners as the TwinCo as the grimy details are on wikipedia and other outlets. The spinner is designed for superior aerodynamics by reducing the size of โ€ฆ A good-looking, four- to six-place light twin that goes 170 knots on 17 gph and costs a relatively modest $45,000 to $80,000? Supplemental type certificates originally owned by J.W. Cost of highly modified and "loaded" airplane, which started out as a used 1964 airframe, was significantly less than a new twin. By 1967, 13 fatal training accidents had occurred in Twin Comanches. Currently there is only one Bailey Bullet in existence, and last word was that the Baileys were asking $450,000 for this beauty. STC SA2490SW approves the installation of extended wingspan new-style wingtips, recognition lights and the dorsal fin on the following Piper airplanes: PA-28R-180 (all serial numbers) and PA-28R-200 (serial numbers 28R-35001 through 28R-7135329). PROP TTSMOH 625/625. Pepper also had a fascination for guns, an interest that led to a home-based, part-time gun business. After an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA put out an advisory circular banning single-engine stalls (except when performed by qualified test pilots), discouraging VMC demonstrations in density altitude conditions where VMC is close to stall speed, and requiring that stall demonstrations be done at altitudes high enough to permit spin recovery — and in no case lower than 1,500 feet agl. Airworthy Comanche Forum - Want to buy Deiced turbo PA30/39 - Yes - and some facility is finishing up a Twin Comanche installation as we speak. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. Twin Comanche 1H7-1 & 1H7-2 fuel selector valves. Magneto and starter switches were moved to a side panel, electrical switches were converted to internally-lighted rocker switches, and the circuit breakers were moved to the lower right subpanel. Miller conversion in a nutshell. Multiengine students in the 1960s usually followed a curriculum that would scare the daylights out of today's multiengine instructors. Alas, Snow sold his Twin Comanche shortly after the photographs were taken. Those tempted to buy Rajay-boosted Twin Comanches ought to know that these turbochargers have been linked to corrosion of engine mounts. The ICS is an invaluable source of information about any and everything having to do with Comanche singles or twins. My Twin Comanche was the AOPA 2004 win-a-twin sweepstakes airplane. During transition training Pepper started thinking about avionics options. The airplane is well supported, thanks to a well-organized owners group and a plentiful supply of parts and modifications. Miller Aviation of Texas enable modifications to the Twin Comanche such as an extended nose with a baggage compartment, nacelle lockers, and a 40-horsepower increase per engine utilizing Lycomingโ€™s 200-horsepower IO-360. Many of them involved stall/spin situations, and crash investigations indicated that the airplane had an unusually strong inclination to enter an unrecoverable flat spin after slowing below VMC with an inoperative engine. In other words, the normal 17 to 18" you will get at 12,000' could only be brought up to about 24". Due to upcoming changes in my military career, I am listing for sale N7304Y, my PA-30-200, 1964 Piper Twin Comanche. • Garmin GTX 33ES ADS-B transponder I have a flow a good number of twins and I will say this is one impressive little bird. Not a member? Because the airplane is so clean, it is reluctant to dissipate airspeed. And in any event, many pilots let those tubes grow old and discolored (even though they're inexpensive and easy to replace), preventing a view of anything in the fuel. Because of the drains' design, trapped water can cause the strainer bowls and filters to corrode and clog the system. Buying an airplane, especially for the first-time buyer, is a big event. That would be a great resource for the community. But as it turned out, many unlucky — or unwise — students and instructors learned that Twin Comanches could bite back. Speed Spinners, Set of Two. • Bendix/King KRA 405 radar altimeter The airplane photographed for this article, a 1969 PA-30C owned by Tom Snow of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a more typical example of a Twin Comanche modification. Instructors routinely pulled an engine just after takeoff. Today the cost of acquiring a new general aviation aircraft is prohibitively high for most pilots. Miller Aviation of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, used to hold the STCs for a number of interesting Twin Comanche mods. A clear plastic tube located near the drain knob lets the pilot observe any particulates as they're drained from the sumps and confirm that the flow of fuel has stopped when the drain knob is pushed back in. 7304Y has been modified with Miller and speed modifications and flyโ€™s like a dream. If you installed all the speed mods, it appears the added speed benefit would give you an airplane with 300- knot cruise speeds — if the claims are to be believed. The Society serves as a vehicle for Comanche-specific training programs offered by instructors completely familiar with these airplanes and sponsors regular fly-ins of the Comanche faithful. • Two Plane Power regulators They include the stainless steel bowls [kit 757-187]; fresh cadmium plating, and look as new. However, it's difficult to detect water as it flows by. In 2007 he decided to reenter the gun business by opening Osage County Guns at his rural facility. Manually controlled turbochargers are obsolete now, having been replaced by more goof-proof designs. Snow, who owns a company that manufactures and maintains welding machinery, uses his Twin Comanche to reach distant customers who need urgent repairs. Hans Neubert Anaheim, California. Piper Twin Comanche PA-30 / PA-39. • L-3 Avionics Sky TRC497 traffic advisory system The groups, called "tribes," come together annually to share information and just plain have a good time. Such objectives may seem incompatible in the same airplane, but the truth is that from 1963 to 1972 Piper built about 2,200 airplanes with those characteristics. The C models also earned a few knots' worth of extra cruise speed, thanks to engine beef-ups that included better valves and valve guides, and sturdier and better- lubricated crankshafts and camshafts. Put out two service bulletins aimed at twin comanche miller stc the Twin Comanche items of concern focus on the quick-drain knob airplane! 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