The Piper Twin Comanche is one of the few successful aircraft types where a twin engine variant was derived from a single.
The single Comanche came in a wide range of versions, right up to the Comanche 400 with a cruise speed of 190kt!
The Comanches were always known as a luxurious, efficient and fast aircraft and these characteristics carried on to the Twin Comanche. As a result, the International Comanche Society has been a strong organisation for many years, and provides a valuable source of information about Comanches, and their owners and pilots! No other similar light twin has such an organisation of devoted followers!
The Twin Comanche has two fuel injected Lycoming IO-320 engines, developing 160HP each. The Twin Comanche has such an efficient airframe design that it comfortably achieves a cruise speed of 160kt.
This airframe design includes gap seals on flaps and ailerons, flush riveted wings (similar to the Mooney - also well known for speed) and an extremely efficient engine cowl design.
Fuel load in the PA30 is excellent, with main, auxiliary and tip tanks giving an endurance of almost 7 hours. Fuel management is simple, with no requirement to transfer fuel from one tank to another.
Cabin room is exceptional, with the PA30 originally having 6 seats. At Basair we operate the aircraft purely as a four seat aircraft, giving a large baggage compartment, and plenty of legroom for passengers. A clever cockpit design leaves the entire floor space clear for nav bags, maps, and equipment.
Single engine performance in the Twin Comanche is no better and no worse than other similar size twins. Any twin pilot will know that the engine failure after takeoff in any of these aircraft is a very dangerous situation, and must be carefully planned for.
our aviation school have two Twin Comanches available for training and hire. The fuel uplift of almost 7 hours endurance makes the PA30 ideal for that long trip you have planned, or that long flight over water you don't want to do in a single!
Specifications
|
Engines |
Lycoming IO-320 160 HP |
|
Oil Capacity |
8 Litres |
|
|
|
Total Fuel Capacity |
453 Litres |
|
Useable Fuel |
430 Litres |
|
Fuel Consumption |
70 Litres / hour |
|
|
|
Cruise TAS |
160 Kt |
|
Best Angle Of Climb |
80 Kt |
|
Best Rate Of Climb |
105 Kt |
|
Best Rate Of Climb (single engine) |
91 Kt |
|
Cruise Climb |
110 Kt |
|
Approach Speed |
75-85 Kt |
|
Crosswind Component |
15 Kt |
|
Vfe |
110 Kt |
|
Vle |
130 Kt |
|
|
|
Max. Take Off Weight |
1633 (1690 with tip fuel) Kg |
|
Max. Landing Weight |
1633 Kg |
Aircraft information link
|
|
|
