The Polyurethane is not affected by UV light, meaning it will never yellow and it will not change the cosmetic appearance of your aircraft. By having the left propeller turn to the right and the right propeller turn to the left, the C/R models eliminate the critical engine. Author Steve Zaboji is an ATP, CFII, MEI, and Comanche Flyer Foundation/Comanche Pilot Proficiency Program instructor with 12,500 hours. rudder, aileron, flap gap seals. Landings are another source of conversational fodder. For a top-of- the-line "Professional" Twin Comanche, you paid about $41,200. My Twin Comanche was the AOPA 2004 win-a-twin sweepstakes airplane. One accepted technique for coping with this eagerness to fly is to lift off anyway, then fly in ground effect until airspeed rises above the customary VMC-plus-five target. To be near family, Pepper moved to Missouri in 2003, and in 2004 he bought 70 acres of land near Belle, Missouri, where over a few short years he built a home; an airstrip, charted Pepper Field (MU14); and a hangar. He began flying in 1975 and has an airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. The Twin Comanche was developed from the single engine Comanche by Ed Swearingen who at the time operated a facility that specialized in the modification of production aircraft. The tip tanks, which carry an extra 30 gallons of fuel, proved a very popular option, and by the late 1960s most Twin Comanches had either been ordered with them or outfitted with aftermarket tip tanks then manufactured by Brittain Industries. Old- fashioned, black-background attitude indicators and backwards-turning, drum-type heading indicators were used. "But with the way that thing eats gas, I sure wish I had my Twin Comanche back," he said in a recent conversation. The options list was expanded to include wingtip fuel tanks, a heated windshield, propeller anti-ice, and an oxygen system. (He welcomes fellow pilots to his 2,300-foot strip, but does suggest calling ahead to make sure that the runway is in good shape.). The -C and Turbo C models came out in 1968 and brought with them instrument panels laid out in the modern, standard T-configuration for the flight instruments. One tries to hold on to fiscal discipline while being torn by emotions. 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. Manually controlled turbochargers are obsolete now, having been replaced by more goof-proof designs. 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). Those tempted to buy Rajay-boosted Twin Comanches ought to know that these turbochargers have been linked to corrosion of engine mounts. Already a member? Miller conversion in a nutshell. Pepper’s Twin Comanche is truly a one-of-a-kind airplane whose utility and performance exceed those of newer airplanes with higher price tags. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. The paint, engines, and propellers were already whole at the onset of the 18-month upgrade project undertaken by Muncie Aviation. Currently there is only one Bailey Bullet in existence, and last word was that the Baileys were asking $450,000 for this beauty. This STC is available from Isham Inc. and Knots2U. A fuel tank sump quick drain lever is located under a floor panel aft of the fuel selectors. • L-3 Avionics ESI-2000 Trilogy electronic standby instrument Which lets us segue into an explanation of a major-league skeleton in the Twin Comanche's closet. The airplane's laminar flow airfoils shed lift quickly and are more suited for high-speed cruising than exploring the slowest end of the flight envelope. We're talking about the Twin Comanches, possibly the best-looking, best- performing light twins ever built โ€” and certainly one of the best airplanes for the money. General Information Registration Number: N16TW Make: Piper Model: PA-30 Twin Comanche Serial Number: 30-527 Airframe Total Time: 3,888.5 hours L/H Engine: 565.0 SMOH (1991 OVERHAUL) R/H Engine: 1,365.4 SMOH (1976 OVERHAUL) Prop Times: The Twin Comanche Miller conversion in flight. dual 50amp inter-av alternators stc: sa334sw. Already a member? • True Blue Power TA102 USB charging ports. Was this a Miller Twin or a stock 160hp Twinkie? In 1974 Pepper opened a gun store in Bensenville, Illinois, and in 1978 he acquired a business partner. Not a member? Membership in the ICS is $40 per year, and this includes a subscription to the monthly Comanche Flyer, a magazine that does a great job of filling you in on routine maintenance topics, as well as techniques for coping with various ADs and service bulletins, and also providing stories about members' flying experiences. The Piper Twin Comanche is powered by two Lycoming IO-320-B1A engine. These cowls also allow easier access to the starters and alternator belt. Yes, spending a lot on conversions is compromising short-term liquidity, but on the other hand, you can’t take it with you. Another AD mandates inspection of the turbines at 100-hour intervals. You are looking a B55 speeds at 20 gph with those. This puts the airplane in the air at an airspeed that denies the pilot sufficient rudder authority should an engine fail. The Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche (later PA-39) was designed as a twin-engined variant of the Piper PA-24 Comanche. Operating the Rajays requires a deft touch. The ICS sells a great book on Comanche maintenance, and Taylor also stars in a videotape about Comanche technical tips. Pepper’s fascination with airplanes and aviation began at a young age in rural Illinois, where he saved his allowance and earnings from his job at McDonald’s for flight lessons. Numerous Miller, Lopresti and Knots2U airframe mods, speed brakes and 198 gallon fuel capacity are complimented by a Garmin 750 touchscreen with ADS-B. Loaded with mods. Then, the student was made to practice VMC demonstrations and engine-out maneuvering at 500 feet agl — or less. It has the Lopresti cowls and spinners; the last of the Miller nose and wing locker mods; Osborne tip tanks; and an upgraded electrical system and avionics, including an electronic horizontal situation indicator, Stormscope, and weather radar. LE 985 SMOH with millennium cylinders and 30hrs STOH, RE 685 SMOH. • Two Plane Power alternators 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. The drill was to make an initial power setting with the throttles, then screw in the wastegate controls to close the wastegates and raise the manifold pressures to a desired level. Die-hard Twin Comanche aficionados will tell you that the secret to a good landing is maintaining the proper airspeed at the runway threshold (about 90 mph/78 knots). Now that the Twin Comanche is well into its third decade, corrosion and other airframe wear and tear is beginning to take its toll. Perhaps the highest expression of a modified Twin Comanche is the Bailey Bullet. Smitten by aviation, he left the phone company and enrolled at Parks College, in what turned out to be the last class that offered strictly an A&P curriculum. That would be a great resource for the community. A jazzy, super-sleek cowl, festooned with NACA induction air scoops and slit-like air intakes, is also available. 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. It has the Lopresti cowls, spinners, gap seals, spats, and splitters, plus the Miller nose and a Robertson STOL kit. For this reason, many flight schools in the 1960s bought Twin Comanches for use as multiengine trainers. The Twin Comanche Miller conversion extends the nose to include what many say is a truly watertight baggage locker. It is STC'd for both standard and counter rotating models. There's even a Robertson STOL modification for the Twin Comanche. Single-engine stall practice was another ordeal that many students were made to endure. 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