How much FPM does a Twin Comanche have?

Like any light piston twin, the Twin Comanche will eke out a climb with one engine caged, but you won’t suffer a nosebleed during the ascent. If everything is done just right and the weight isn’t too high, look for about 200 FPM of climb, or a bit more.

What’s the difference between a Apache and a Twin Comanche?

The first Twin Comanche shared two things with its slower predecessor, the Apache: It had four seats and the same basic 160-HP Lycoming O-320 powerplant. One difference is that the PA-30 has the injected version of the O-320, the IO-320-B1A.

What was the emergency gear extension lever on a Comanche?

Early Comanches had manual flaps and an arm that serves as the emergency gear extension lever that sticks up from the floor and lays down when the gear is raised. More than one unwary pilot has lost an iPad to that arm by putting the device on the floor in front of and between the front seats.

How many gallons of fuel does a Comanche tiptank have?

With 56 gallons of useable fuel, 500- to 600-mile flights with reserve is easily possible. Tiptanks are an STC’d option that increases the fuel capacity by 30 gallons and in most models, increases the gross weight. The 180/250 came originally with the instrument cluster toward the center of the panel and the avionics on the left side.

What’s the difference between a Comanche 180 and 250?

The 180 came with a carbureted 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine, had a 140-kt cruise speed, and went out the door for $18,000 or so. The Comanche 250 was its big brother. Its 250-hp Lycoming O-540 engine gave this airplane a 20-kt advantage over the 180, and yet the 250’s average-equipped price was only $4,000 more. The result?

What was the cost of the Comanche program?

At the time of its termination, the Comanche program had reportedly spent US$6.9 billion. The contract termination fees involved were estimated to total US$450–680 million for the main program partners Sikorsky and Boeing.

What did the Comanche Indians do for a living?

In the beginning, they were primarily a hunter-gatherer nomadic society, but with horses, they became more daring and aggressive and were soon considered as the best buffalo hunters on the plains.

What kind of engine does a Piper Comanche have?

In its 14-year production run, Piper made numerous changes to the Comanches. Initially the Comanche was certified and produced as a 180 hp version powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1A. The first 100-plus aircraft produced were all Comanche 180s.