piper comanche engine upgrade

Click here. 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. Check a copy of the Comanche Flyer magazine or the ICS website www.comancheflyers.com for examples. Theres good reason to consider going vac-less. Single-box solution that works with Garmin GNS430W/530W navigators, works with a Wi-Fi module for connecting to tablets. (620) 782-3317, Robert Williams. . Call your Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), he said. This is a great airspeed for 160 hp and roughly 10 gph of 100LL. These webinars total hours of advice from the Piper Owner Society Editorial Board, led by Aviation Director Scott Sherer. 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. That didnt mean he went cheap. Thats the 20 to 22 GPH at 75 percent power that engine is consuming. He had just flown non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean from Casablanca on a record-setting 6,966-nm flight. Most 250s had carbureted Lycoming O-540-AIA5 engines, but a small number were fitted out with fuel-injected versions of the same engine. 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. Garmin will upgrade it to the GTX330ES, which has ADS-B Out, but requires a WAAS GPS input. 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. 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. I seem to remember reading something about carb heat being dangerous at cold temperatures, because it can warm intake air enough to get it into the icing temperature range. 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. That number is high, and we dont have a hypothesis to explain it, although we saw that three were at night and one of those hit power lines more than two miles short of the runway. 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. 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. There are so many mods available for the Comanche line that probably no two aircraft are alike today. The airplane carried 60 gallons, and could be modified to hold 90 gallons. Get it approved in advance.. PROPELLER and TEXTRON LYCOMING. A competent tech can generally rig a cabin door in an afternoon. This beast had a normally aspirated, fuel-injected, eight-cylinder Lycoming IO-720-A1A fitted with a three-blade prop. Garmin Budget Glass Cockpits Remember when a basic. Depending on the model and mods, it seems like a Comanche can have a never-ending supply of fuel tanks. L3 Avionics product sold by Aspen. Read about the 1959 Piper Comanche that was restored to pristine condition, and what you can learn from the process. The Comanche line debuted in 1958, with the Comanche 180 and 250 models. They need to see the wiring and the antennas, and if the upgrade includes an engine display, theyll want to eyeball the engine bay. Thats the Trio Pro Pilot autopilot, which also has a growing STC list and some smart features as standard. 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. You cant go to a mechanic who you both know. At first glance the Avidyne IFD navigator product line may seem confusing, but it doesnt have to be. The airplane also gained cowl flaps and an aileron-rudder interconnect. 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. Email: darren@powerflowsystems.com, Address: by Piper Owner Society | Feb 13, 2023 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. General Tiger with fixed gear goes just as fast and another contemporary retractable, the Mooney M20C or M20E, will outrun the 180. Continentals are easy to hot start, full throttle, mixture rich, hi pump till you get flow, 1,2,3,4, off. Recurring ADs on any aircraft can run up the cost of operation, and Comanches are no different. The modification was said to yield a little extra HP, and about a 1-2gph drop in cruise. It's a pricey and time-consuming effort that many Belvoir Media Group, LLC. My engine is carbureted. Those familiar with the Comanche maintain major causes of gear-system problems are poor maintenance or rigging by mechanics unfamiliar with it. After watching countless fuel injected flyers grind their starters into dust on the 100 degree tarmac down here in TX, I'm glad I have a carb and the mogas option. Laminar Flow Systems, Inc. has been manufacturing and selling these modifications since 1984 and we have thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. What is the easiest way to swap out the wiring if youre upgrading a Piper panel? This gave Piper a reason to pull the plug on the Comanche, choosing to concentrate on the more-popular, less-expensive and higher-profit PA-28 line, including the PA-28R Arrow being produced at the Vero Beach site. Products from Knots2U andWebco are respected. We kept that in mind as we reviewed the 100 most recent Comanche accidents. Click here or above for a free download: Cherokee guide OR free digital issue. Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. Discussion in 'Maintenance Bay' started by bjohnsonmn, Oct 6, 2013. Also, the inspector must have experience using this equipment.. There are no downloads available of this content. Aircraft Panel Gallery. 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. For instance, its possible to retrofit (via STC) the Lycoming O-540 engine into a Comanche 180 of 1960 or later vintage; theres at least one published report of this being done on an FAA Form 337, although we dont know of any shops offering the mod without doing the full-up STC. Better yet, the Max gives existing Aspen owners an upgrade path, plus it runs upgrade promotions (currently $4995) and can upgrade your existing display or send your shop an exchange. O.E.M. The old boys that I learned to fly with would say that if you can shut the door on whatever you got into a Comanche, it would fly away without a problem. In other words, our equipment had to talk with anything else installed in theairframe. The G5 has an STC that currently covers 560 aircraft models-a huge swath. Old models worth getting rid of include the King KT76/78 series and anything made by Narco or Collins. 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. The Comanches have a speed wing so its not a comfortable ride in moderate or greater turbulence, so slowing it down softens the bumps. The plane is owned by Greg Piehl and his wife Deb. Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years restoring and upgrading their 1959 Piper Comanche 250. [ag aircraft] If you pull carb heat and lean the mixture from that condition, you have less power and go slower. Dont make that mistake with your plane. INC. wants to extend to you an open invitation to stop in at our It expensive enough buying a 40 or 50 year old airplane. If youre shopping the used four-place retrac market no doubt youll consider a Comanche. CONTINENTAL, Piehl said, he gave me a lot of advice like where to find parts, and I subbed a lot of work to him, such as magnafluxing connecting rods and checking all the gears, and that inspection is required for a complete overhaul. A turbonormalized version of the Comanche C was offered alongside the normally aspirated model in 1970. If so, does the products STC include removing the vacuum system? But it's a nice theory. A side benefit of the standard turbo installation is that its quieter than the normally aspirated Comanche C. The -N1A5 engine, beefed up to handle the boost pressure and higher temperatures at altitude, is just as robust as the normally aspirated engine; both have a 2000-hour TBO. 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. Just mows through turbulence, unlike my t-wagging Bonanza. The Comanche panel has limited space, vertically, Piehl said. All rights reserved. Engine Upgrades. The basic airframe proved successful and wasnt changed much during its production run. The good news for owners left in the cold is that many of the probes and sensors for this system can work with a JP Instruments engine monitor, including the EDM930. 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. I didnt want any dealer-only installations; that was #2, Piehl said. Here that sucking sound? *$4495 with Flight Stream 210 (built-in AHRS). Greg Piehl, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Debbie, spent three years by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 13, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. Also, as with the fuel injection system, earlier airplanes can have a turbo added. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. The Piper PA-24 Comanche 180 first flew on May 24, 1956, the first of what would become one of Piper Aircraft's most successful single-engine series. Garmin GTN 750 Touchscreen GPS/Nav/Comm. [ag rebuilds of your existing Piper factory. While Comanche engines are generally dependable, beware of top-end overhauls that were accomplished without replacing the cylinders with new ones. Partial plug-and-play with some existing BendixKing transponders. SKYTRONICS IGNITION HARNESSES, CHAMPION PRODUCTS, LP PLASTICS, WHELEN LIGHTING. Piper Comanche PA-24 Models. You don't have to go wide open with it, typically in my Travelair I would lose 2-3kts and save 3gph while still running smooth. Piper did the turbo 260 installation the right way by providing check valves and a turbo oil sump. It had never lifted off that easily beforeI am now climbing faster with a solid feel to the controls and the ride. The trim is generally in very poor condition, with various cracks in the trim and deformation around the screw holes. (((navigator.appName == "Netscape") && Our journey has reached the engine of Greg Piehls Comanche. 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. Click here. Tony_Scarpelli, Oct 6, 2013 #7. . Call 24GS, Rudder Gap Seal Kit. The landing gear on the Comanche gets our attention. Do you need a field approval to start or finish a panel upgrade? Garmin GTX 345 ADS-B Transponder. A prop inspection (AD 2005-18-12) is the most oft-complained about, costing nearly $1000 every 500 hours or five years. LoPresti did create some interesting and worthwhile aerodynamic mods for the airplane, however. Most of us have heard horror stories about the person who built a dock or deck next to the lake without calling the Department of Natural Resources. The navigator also connects to a Bluetooth keyboard as yet another option for data entry. Have a website login already? How do you test an engine after a rebuild without mounting it back onto the plane? Top Efis Upgrades Of all the avionics upgrades, planning a primary flight display retrofit is perhaps the most difficult. 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. by Rocky Landsverk | Sep 14, 2022 | Comanche Restoration Series, Piper Comanche 250, Piper Comanche 250 Reviews, Upgrade & Refurbish | 0. Upon shutdown, this allows the oil to drain from the hot turbos instead of remaining inside them and cooking. 24RS $399.40 Add to Cart sku: 24WR Wing Root Fairing Kit. Initially the airplane was equipped with hand brakes, but after 1960 most Comanches were delivered with optional toe brakes. Also, a different prop AD (AD 97- 18-02) can prove costly for 250/260 owners. Piper's most significant upgrade to the Warrior came in 1977 when a slightly different O-320 engine-the -D3G-was bolted on, offering a . Other than accepting a heading input from Aspens Evolution PFD, in addition to Garmins G500/600 PFD, the Avidyne ARS is self-contained. (Parts Department). the North American representative If you wanted to start out with a cheaper airframe, buy a 180-HP model and do a 260-HP conversion with fuel injection. 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. Dual turbochargers allow operation at altitudes up to 25,000 feet. Ive found that many aircraft are compliant. Plus, it can be well-maintained at a lower cost than aircraft of lesser performance due to the widespread use of generic parts. For sure, the Comanches list of mods, modifiers and parts resources is long and best accessed from involvement with the ICS and its members and publications. Apart from the aforementioned ADs, Comanches are unremarkable; most other ADs are minor and/or shotgun directives that apply to many airplanes. Which of the reductions is smaller is too hard to say, but the difference isn't going to be significant. [general aviation] Ask someone about the Piper Comanche series and youre likely to get a comment along the lines of with that laminar-flow wing and low ground clearance, its a mutha to land-you float and float in ground effect, then it pays off and wham! Higher, and Further as well as Repair It, Annual It, Overhaul the Engine(s), Connecting the G5 directional instrument to third-party autopilots and earlier GPS navigators requires the $699 GAD29B nav interface module. Ive taken the course twice. 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. Then Tropical Storm Agnes drove the Susquehanna River out of its banks and wiped out Pipers Lock Haven factory. It put the Comanches on the map. Walter Sykes, (561) 278-1964. Twelve pilots simply forgot to extend the Firestones before ground contact. I was authorized to do anything I wanted to this airplane, under the inspection and authorization of my A&P/IA, Neil Humphreys, Piehl said. It was introduced in 1964 and discontinued only a year and 146 airplanes later. Early in my career, I was an avionics engineer in military electronics for a major contractor, Piehl said. horn/torque tube/balance weight tube 795 Fentress Blvd Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Upgrading a Comanche Panel (Comanche Restoration Series Part 4), Reassembling a Restored Piper (Comanche Restoration Series Part 6), Dream Come True: Ray Cooks Super Cub on floats, Arrow Door Restoration Project: Re-aligning the door improves cockpit environment, How to Replace or Repaint Your Piper Hub Caps, uAvionix Receives TSO Authorization from FAA for skyBeacon ADS-B Out, https://www.facebook.com/PiperOwnerSociety?fref=ts. Adding to the competition are newcomers, with New Mexico-based Aerovonics as one example. My hardest transition in flying the Comanche was planning enough time to slow it up to the gear extension speed of 150 MPH and managing four fuel tanks (90 gallons total) and an electric fuel pump (on and off for landing and takeoffs). Total time 3505. Contrast that with the G3X Touch, which essentially requires a Garmin navigator for its digital data bus interface. In 1961, the gross weight of the 250 was boosted by 100 pounds. PA23-250 Aztec. They build and 100% test the harness for installation. Cessna's owners manual has for decades had pilots run lop. The Piper Arrow has similar engine benefits. This assumes that you have wheelpants on the airplane; if you don't, subtract 2 knots. Piper Cherokee Modifications & SpeedImprovements, :uninterrupted flow in which the direction of flow. In 1972, there were two single-engine Comanche models still in production-the 260 and turbo 260. It went up in January when the panel upgrade was completed. We pride ourselves that we can make your Comanche go Faster, JOHNSTON AIRCRAFT SERVICE, // -->. New aircraft models approved for the GFC 600 autopilot include: Cessna 421. 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. 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. 685. Once off the ground, inflight handling is responsive and Comanche pilots will attest that its a delightful airplane to hand fly. History of the Piper Comanche. But if you want to connect the new displays audio output feature, your shop will need to wire it in to the audio panel. Piper Lance Restoration Continues With Dual Electronic Ignition Upgrade This is the second of two by Scott Sherer | Sep 15, 2022 | Upgrade & Refurbish | 0.

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