Piper PA-24 Comanche
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The Piper PA-24 Comanche is a four-seat, low-wing, all-metal, light aircraft with retractable landing gear that was first flown in 1957. Together with the twin-engine version of the same airframe, 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. At that time Piper had already begun to concentrate on its successful Piper PA-28 Cherokee line, which were originally conceived as cheaper alternatives to the expensive Comanche.
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[edit] Comanche 180
The original version of the Comanche was the PA-24-180 which featured a 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360 engine, swept tail, laminar flow airfoil, and all-flying stabilator. Designed by Howard "Pug" Piper, the new Comanche was intended to compete in the market with the very successful Beechcraft Bonanza.
[edit] Comanche 250, 260 and 400
In 1958 Piper flew a 250 hp (186 kW) version using a Lycoming O-540 engine, giving the PA-24-250 Comanche a cruise speed of 160 kts / 185 mph (298 km/h). Later versions of the Comanche were the 260 hp (194 kW) Lycoming IO-540 PA-24-260 version and the PA-24-400 Comanche 400, which featured the very powerful 8-cylinder Lycoming IO-720 engine under the cowl, an engine developed specifically for the Comanche. High insurance premiums and engine cooling problems, due to the rear two cylinders receiving poor airflow, resulted in a limited production run for this somewhat rare aircraft.
[edit] Development
It is reported that Pug Piper made many of his design choices based on existing aircraft. The laminar flow wing was a feature found on the P-51 Mustang fighter. The swept tail was evocative of the current fighter aircraft, and the stabilator was a prominent feature of the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. Stable flight characteristics made the Comanche a popular airplane for IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flying. Dual Nav/Com radios and an optional auto-pilot made long-distance flying comfortable.
In 1967 a single Comanche was modified by Edward Swearingen to pressurize the cabin. Designated the PA-33, it was decided not to put this aircraft into production.
Production of the Comanche ended in 1972 after a flood in the manufacturing plant destroyed the tooling necessary for production. Rather than re-build the tooling, Piper chose to move on with newer designs such as the Saratoga.
The Comanche production run ended with the disposal of the last seven airframes. After the Susquehanna River receded, Piper moved the last aircraft to Vero Beach and completed construction there. The self-described junior member of the completion team happened to be Chuck Suma, who 30 years later would become the CEO of The New Piper Aircraft, Inc.
[edit] Fuel capacity and modifications
Factory-installed auxiliary fuel tanks in the wings gave the Comanche a fuel capacity of 90 US gallons (341 litres) and a respectable range of nearly 1,125 miles (1,800 km) for some models. Later, the Brittain Industries Company produced a wingtip fuel tank modification that gave the Comanche an extra 30 US gallons (113 litres) of fuel. Brittain Industries sold their tip-tank division to J.L. Osborne Company which still produces these tip tanks. Some Comanche aircraft have all six tanks installed giving a fuel load of 120 gallons. The addition of the wingtip tanks had the added advantage of increasing the useful load to 3000 pounds. With the 250 and 260 models burning roughly 14 US gallons (56 litres) per hour at sea level, the mid-model Comanches have an impressive range.
[edit] World Record
Perhaps the most impressive display of the Comanche's performance and economy was the record breaking long distance flight of Max Conrad in a Comanche 250 in June 1959. Having removed the interior seats and replaced them with fuel tanks, Conrad flew non-stop from Casablanca, Morocco to Los Angeles, a distance of 7,668 statute miles (12,340 km). When the aircraft took off from Casablanca, it was loaded 2,000 pounds (910 kg) over its production gross weight limit, demonstrating the ruggedness of the Piper design.
[edit] Today
Today the Comanche remains popular in the used aircraft market and is appreciated for its attractive lines.. The 250 and 260 models especially are respected as economical machines which perform well, though parts are increasingly difficult to find. Comanche owners remain loyal fans, and the aircraft's aircraft type club The International Comanche Society, hosts fly-ins, prints a monthly magazine, and offers training specific to the model.
[edit] Famous fatalities
Country music singer Patsy Cline was aboard a Comanche when it crashed in 1963, killing all passengers.
