![]() PA-24-260 Comanche 260: In 1965 the first of four 260 horsepower (194 kW) versions of the PA-24-260 was introduced. The PA-24-250 Comanche advertised cruise speeds of 140-157 knots and fuel burns of 10-14 gph (55% and 75% power). The aircraft's gross weight was increased from 2,800 pounds to 2,900 pounds in 1961, making the useful load 1,270 pounds. Electrically actuated flaps were made standard with the 1962 model year. Auxiliary fuel tanks (90 US gallons (340 L) total) became available in 1961. Early PA-24-250 Comanches had manually operated flaps and carried 60 US gallons (230 L) of fuel. ![]() Most Piper PA-24-250 Comanches had carbureted Lycoming O-540-AIA5 engines, but a small number were fitted out with fuel-injected versions of the same engine. PA-24-250 Comanche 250: In 1958 Piper introduced a 250 horsepower (186 kW) version using a Lycoming O-540 engine, giving the PA-24-250 Comanche a top cruise speed of 160 kts (185 mph 298 km/h). ![]() 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 nautical miles. The aircraft specifications were for cruise speeds of 116 to 139 knots (257 km/h) and fuel burns between 7.5 and 10.5 gph at 55-percent and 75-percent power settings. The flaps were manually actuated, controlled by the same Johnson bar actuator as the Piper Cherokee. The standard fuel capacity of the PA-24-180 was 60 US gallons (230 L). The remainder of this production run were given the PA-24-180 designation. The initial production run of the 180 hp (130 kW) Comanche singles were given the PA-24 type designation. Designed by Howard "Pug" Piper, the new Comanche was intended to compete in the market with the very successful Beechcraft Bonanza. PA-24-180 Comanche 180: The original version of the Comanche was the PA-24, which featured a carbureted 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, swept tail, laminar flow airfoil, and all-flying stabilator. The self-described junior member of the completion team was Chuck Suma, who 30 years later would become the CEO of The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. After the Susquehanna River receded, Piper moved the last aircraft to Vero Beach and completed construction there. The Comanche production run ended with the disposal of all of the tooling, and completion of the last seven airframes. The Arrow was a retractable gear version of the popular Cherokee trainer its smaller 200 horsepower (150 kW) engine was less expensive and easier to fly than the Comanche sales of the single engine Comanche had faltered after the introduction of the Arrow in 1967. Rather than re-build 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 Vero Beach, Florida: the twin engine PA-34 Seneca and the PA-28R-200 Arrow.Īt that time Piper had already begun to concentrate on its successful Piper PA-28 Cherokee line, which had originally been conceived as a cheaper alternative to the Comanche. Production of the Comanche ended in 1972 when torrential rains from Hurricane Agnes caused the great Susquehanna River flood of 1972, flooding the manufacturing plant and destroying airframes, parts, and much of the tooling necessary for production. The 260 was also available as the Turbo Comanche C with a Rajay turbocharger and was introduced in 1970. ![]() The following year, the PA-24-250 was superseded by the PA-24-260, featuring the Lycoming IO-540D or E engine of 260 hp (194 kW). The PA-24-250 model was added in 1958, powered by a Lycoming O-540-A1A5 engine. Together with the Twin Comanche, it made up the core of the Piper Aircraft line-up until 1972, when the production lines for both aircraft were wiped out in a flood.Ĭomanche production began in 1957 with the PA-24-180 model. The Piper PA-24 Comanche is a four-seat, low-wing, all-metal, light aircraft of monocoque construction with retractable landing gear that was first flown in May 1956 according to a Piper Aircraft Company press release. Variants: Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, Piper PA-39 Twin Comanche.Primary users: Private aviators and Flight schools.Piper PA-24-250 Comanche (N6240P, s/n 24-1345, 1959) c.1994 at the MCAS El Toro Airshow, MCAS El Toro, California (John Shupek photo) Single-engine four-seat low-wing cabin monoplane Piper PA-24-250 Comanche four-seat low-wing cabin monoplane
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