Comanche 400?
If you're referring to the one that didn't quite make it over the fence and landed among the approach lights for RWY 23 that was VH-BOO.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Great Southern Land
Age: 73
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Back in the early 70s I went for a flight as a passenger in a black Comanche 400 out of Parafield. Having only flown the likes of 172s and PA28s I was gob smacked at the performance, what a lovely aeroplane and wonder if it still survives today.
I seem to remember that the 400 was difficult to start when the engine was hot.Which also created a battery problem,or was the battery the problem?But the 260c was a beautiful aeroplane.I flew CVY which I think was owned by the Premier of NSW Tom Lewis at the time.
Never flew it but loved the look.
Now could you re engine with - https://eps.aero/the-eps-engine/ ?
Probably not much point or would it be easy and become and experimental???
Now could you re engine with - https://eps.aero/the-eps-engine/ ?
Probably not much point or would it be easy and become and experimental???
Like this
https://buy-ei.com/portfolio/e-6/
Always loved the Comanche breed looks. The only ride I ever had was 18th June 1960 in the first imported into the country. In use at the time to deliver newspapers around SA. Pic courtesy of Geoff Goodall's site.
A bunch of friends and I flew a 260-C around Australia in 1988. AZK. Looks like she’s still on the register. Lovely aircraft.
Recall a doctor in Hamilton, Western Victoria had a 400 back in the late 80's.
Got pissed with a mate one stormy night and they went for a spin. Literally and vertically. Deep hole.
halas
Got pissed with a mate one stormy night and they went for a spin. Literally and vertically. Deep hole.
halas
I have a few hours in one. The heavy engine made it a bit of truck especially in the landing flare but as a cruiser it was outstanding. You could get to a mid teens altitude quickly and with the prop pulled back it was turbine smooth.
The story I heard was that Piper wanted to give the Comanche the ability to cruise high in order to have an advantage over the Bonanza, but turbocharging for the direct drive flat 6 engines wasn't fully developed so they decided to just go with a huge normally aspirated engine which even at 50 % available horsepower at altitude still had plenty of power left to let the airplane step out. The introduction of the Continental turbocharged TSIO 520 in 1965 pretty much killed this airplane.
Still there is no replacement for displacement. I still remember one takeoff with 2 up and 1/3 tanks on a cold day. You just about swallowed your bubble gum when you put the hammer down on that puppy in those conditions
ZS-DZZ
Dave Charlton, the racing driver who died a couple of years ago, had one based at Grand Central, Johannesburg (FAGC) when I was an instructor there many years ago. It was an enormously powerful machine, even at 5,300 ft airfield elevation + on a summer's day at 30c.
I seem to remember that he had a lot of trouble with the aircraft and it didn't have tip tanks which cramped the cruise range.
http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/downlo...a44cc1abc3c321
Dave Charlton, the racing driver who died a couple of years ago, had one based at Grand Central, Johannesburg (FAGC) when I was an instructor there many years ago. It was an enormously powerful machine, even at 5,300 ft airfield elevation + on a summer's day at 30c.
I seem to remember that he had a lot of trouble with the aircraft and it didn't have tip tanks which cramped the cruise range.
http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/downlo...a44cc1abc3c321
A friend of mine has a Commanche 400, fully restored and sitting in primer waiting to be painted and reassembled. It’s been like that for a while now. The engine has been fully overhauled and is also waiting to be reassembled at the engine shop so that the new time starts from the date of reassembly. The owner loves the aircraft and has the vision to complete the restoration, but he may be interested to pass it on to someone that has the drive to complete the restoration. It’s just paint, reassemble the airframe, have the engine reassembled and fitted and all systems hooked up. PM me if you are seriously interested and I’ll put you in touch with the owner.