Hello from Jim the Newbie

[Jim Golden]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here. I've been a member for a few weeks now, lurked a bit, read a lot, and appreciate all of the knowledge I'm seeing here. I have seen some excellent posts on here.

I am an Aerospace Engineer and have had my private pilot's license since 1989. I've got lots of Cessna time including a bunch in a 206 and a little in a 177, along with the 150/152/172 time we tend to get early on. I've also got some Stearman time (my favorite to date!), a little Waco time, and even flew the RV-7 prototype out at Van's. I love airplanes.

A good friend of mine turned me on to the Piper Comanche. I cannot believe I overlooked this plane! I wish I had bought one 20 years ago when I was single and had more disposable income The only Piper I've ever flown was a Cherokee Six. It was nice, but sure lacked the pizazz of a Comanche!

Seriously though, I would like to buy one now. I am pretty knowledgeable about aircraft. But, I want to learn as many ins and outs of the Comanche as I can before I buy one. I read about a gent in Sport Aviation that bought a Bonanza for $40k, thought he got a great deal, got it home and discovered it had so much serious corrosion that it would cost another $140K to make it airworthy. I don't want to end up in that boat. All of the reading I did pointed to the ICS as THE organization for these birds. So I joined up.

I'm trying to read as much as I can before I post a bunch of questions, as I'm sure most everything has already been answered. Nevertheless, I'm sure I will have many dumb and silly questions for you guys that are obvious to those that have owned these planes. Please don't throw too many pies at me

From my engineering/hot rod point of view, I think Pug really got it right with this design. It looks to me like he had his folks take what they could from the WWII era fighters and make a real winner of a civil plane. Tapered wing with a laminar flow airfoil, zinc chromate on the internals to prevent corrosion, electro-mechanical landing gear that is simple and reliable, and a solid airframe. They got it right. Even if it was a bit complex. I want one!

Glad to join your crew, and hope to be flying with you soon.

Jim

[Charles Schefer]

Jim,

Let me be the first to say welcome! You've definitely come to the right place and in your post you hit all the highlights that make Comanches awesome and quite frankly... ahead of their time.

You are a smart man to join the ICS and research in advance of buying a plane. Like you, and many others, I did the same. I joined and made many, many posts asking many questions about the type before finally deciding a Comanche was definitely for me (a twin in my case). The great support of the ICS and many companies out there supporting these planes (Rockford Aero, Clifton Aero, Webco, Comanche Gear, Knots2U, etc...) was a great encouragement and influencing factor for me.

So welcome and ask away.... you will find searching the forms a very helpful method of research as well as just asking via posts.

Best Regards,

- Charles

[N3322G]

Jim,

We were all newbie's once - so as Charles said - Hi and ask away.

I'll add to plan on getting a good pre-buy from a Comanche knowledgeable shop and then go to class - two different options - cptp or cppp, by the CFF DVDs

[Ed Asmus]

Jim,

You have taken the best first step you can in joining the ICS. Take your time, find the right plane, get a good pre-buy inspection from an appropriate shop, and you will not be disappointed. Every time I look at a Comanche, it amazes me the design is almost 60 years old. It could have been designed today.

Good luck and welcome!

Ed

[William Hughes]

As someone who has been fixing up a 1960 Comanche for almost a year now, I can assure you there will be odd (and expensive) things discovered during the trip. The trip has been worth it so far. There is also a wealth of information and assistance available to deal with it. Wish you the best.

[Andres Darvasi]

Welcome Jim,

I am a new Comanche owner (not quite two years) came from a Cessna T210 (loved it!) and I am extremely happy with the Comanche. As I operate our of an airport in Mexico that is at 8,120 feet and has only a 4200 ft runway, I miss the turbo dearly, but other that that it is a great airplane.

I had the chance of buying a very good plane, knowing that I had the landing gear inspection and the horizontal stab coming up, and paid accordingly in my first annual which also included all the "wanted to have" items.

The members of this forum have been very helpful, as well as the publications and videos which I have studied in detail.

As others have said. You need a very good pre buy inspection by a Comanche expert.

[Jim Golden]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I appreciate it

I will do my due diligence here. And when it is time to get serious, I'll definitely enlist the aid of a Comanche expert. I hope it is sooner than later, but I plan to take my time, learn all that I can, and try to buy one that is at least good and solid mechanically.

take care,
Jim

[George Kretschmann]

Jim, where are you located?

[Jim Golden]

George,

I'm in Berkeley Springs, WV. That's right where WV, VA, MD, and PA all come together. About two hours from D.C.

[Charles Schefer]

I know Berkeley Springs! I've been there to the hot springs for an overnight and dinner more than a few years back. Car club went on a rally there. Nice area!

- Charles

PS - I am just outside DC at HEF. Not too far from you in a aviation sense.

[Jim Golden]

Charles,

That's awesome! What's that, about a half hour to a Twin Comanche Maybe we could hook up sometime. I'd love to look at your plane!

Take care,
Jim

[Charles Schefer]

Jim, I'd be happy to connect. You can reach me at charles dot schefer at gmail dot com.

- Charles

[Timothy Poole]

Welcome Jim!

[Steve Marcozzi]

Welcome Jim,

Some of us other hillbillies bought Comanches too. I grew up between Morgantown and Clarksburg and will likely retire in that area in a couple years. We bought a 180 in 2006 from a guy in Eastern PA who took good care of it. We've likewise been good stewards and love flying and owning it.

There are lots of good folks with well over a century of knowledge and experience in all things Comanche. Good luck in your search. Which variant are you searching for?

Happy New Year,

Steve Marcozzi

[Jim Golden]

Hi Timothy and Steve,

Thank you for the well wishes! I don't know that I know enough to choose a model yet.

There is a 250 that I know of fairly close to home that I think I want.

But, from what I've been reading, the 180 can be a real pocket rocket with a few aero mods.

And, I REALLY like the 260C with the "Tigershark" cowl a whole big bunch! Especially with it being a little heavier up front to give you more CG room and cargo capacity. And with a turbo (not sure if they're more trouble than they are worth....but sure do like the high altitude performance) it's a real hot rod. I like this model a lot.

And if I had my druthers, a 400 would be the one for me

I even like the Ravin kitplane.

I'm leaning toward a six cylinder single, but I like them all.
My buddy has a C-177RG with a tuned exhaust on a new IO-390 and we were getting 190mph with it at 75%, so who says a 4 cylinder can't rock and roll! Just trying to learn all I can about them before I pull the trigger. I think Piper did a lot right with these planes. I'd sure like to have one! All you folks that already have one....just know I am jealous of you, but in a good way

Take care,
Jim