Pilot report - Piper Twin Comanche [Reprinted from Fliteguide / Imperial Aviation] The Twin Comanche is a classic with a reputation. Achieving something of a cult status amongst its followers, it is an aeroplane that in many senses was just too good for its time. The Piper PA-30 and PA-39 Twin Comanche are a twin-engine development of the PA-24 Comanche. The Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche is available for FS2004 and FSX. 1959 model PA-24 The Comanche is a four-seat (or, in the 260C series, a six-seat), single-engined, low-wing monoplane. It is an all-metal aircraft with a retractable landing gear. Two prototypes were built in 1956 with the first being completed by June 20, 1956. The first production aircraft, powered by a 180 hp (134 kW) engine, first flew on October 21, 1957. In 1958 it was joined by a higher powered PA-24-250 with a 250 hp (186 kW) engine; this model was originally to be known as the PA-26 but Piper decided to keep the PA-24 designation. In 1964 the 400 hp (298 kW) PA-24-400 was introduced. The following year the PA-24-250 was superseded by the PA-24-260, featuring the or E engine of 260 hp (194 kW). The 260 was also available as the Turbo Comanche C with a and was introduced in 1970. Production of the Comanche ended in 1972 when torrential rains from caused the, flooding the manufacturing plant and destroying airframes, parts, and much of the tooling necessary for production. Rather than rebuild the tooling, Piper chose to abandon production of the Comanche and Twin Comanche and continue with two newer designs already in production at Piper's other plant in: the twin-engined and the. Variants [ ] Comanche 180 [ ]. 1959 Piper PA-24 180 The original version of the Comanche was the PA-24, which featured a carbureted 180 hp (134 kW) -A1A engine, swept tail, airfoil, and all-flying. The standard fuel capacity of the PA-24-180 was 60 US gallons (230 L). The flaps were manually actuated, controlled by the same actuator as the. The aircraft specifications were for cruise speeds of 116 to 139 knots (215 to 257 km/h) and fuel burns between 7.5 and 10.5 gph at 55-percent and 75-percent power settings. Full-fuel payload with standard fuel was 715 pounds, with a gross weight of 2,550 lb (1,160 kg) and range with 45-minute reserve of 700. [ ] When new, standard, average-equipped Comanche 180s sold between $17,850 (1958) and $21,580 (1964). A total of 1,143 were built. [ ] Comanche 250 [ ] In 1958 Piper introduced a 250-horsepower (186 kW) version using a engine, giving the PA-24-250 Comanche a top cruise speed of 160 kts (185 mph; 298 km/h). Most 250s had carbureted Lycoming O-540-AIA5 engines, but a small number were fitted out with fuel-injected versions of the same engine. Early Comanche 250s had manually operated flaps and carried 60 US gallons (230 L) of fuel. Auxiliary fuel tanks (90 US gallons (340 L) total) became available in 1961. Electrically actuated flaps were made standard with the 1962 model year. The aircraft's gross weight was increased from 2,800 pounds to 2,900 pounds in 1961, making the useful load 1,270 pounds. [ ] The Comanche 250 advertised cruise speeds of 140-157 knots and fuel burns of 10-14 gph (55% and 75% power). [ ] Prices of new Comanche 250s ranged from $21,250 (1958) to $26,900, which was only $3,000 to $5,000 more expensive than the Comanche 180. Some 2,537 were sold. [ ] Comanche 260 [ ]. PA-24-260B with custom paint In 1965 the first of four 260-horsepower (194 kW) versions of the Comanche was introduced. They were: • PA-24-260 (1965) • PA-24-260B (1966 to 1968) • PA-24-260C (1969 to 1972) • PA-24-260TC A total of 1,029 airplanes were sold from the Comanche 260 line, including the 260TC. Thirty-eight Comanche 260s were delivered with carbureted engines; the rest used the fuel-injected engine. [ ] The 260 had an empty weight of approximately 1,700 pounds and a maximum gross weight of 2,900 pounds. It had four seats, and a 90-US-gallon (340 L)-capacity auxiliary fuel system was available as an option.
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