Horn AD

[Chief]

I have no idea whether any of this will be SB, AD or nothing at all. I do believe 1160 and 1189 will be addressed in similar fashions because they are have a close impact on each other. And to prove that point, the Torque Tube and the Horn are SB's. Hard to imagine they get separated as they move forward in whatever fashion they move forward.

AD's do impact the sale of a plane as do engine overhauls, condition of paint, interior, avionics, etc. Try and buy a Cessna 401 with out of time engines and a wing spar AD that has not been done. You can buy a $250,000 plane for $80,000. But that is just simple business. The seller suffers, the buyer benefits. The engines you may replace, they paint you can do or not do, same with avionics and interior, but the wing spar AD, you have to replace. No question!

All that said, and here is the bottom line, if you bought our Comanches new today, based on their performance and operating envelope, they would cost $400,000+. And remember, a new plane owner has to absorb not only the cost of a new plane but all AD's that follow. The best plane to own and fly is one that has been in operation for years. The AD's have been discovered and absorbed. There are no squawk free planes. AD's are a part of keeping planes safe. The key to all this, in my opinion is OEM support. And OEM does not mean just Piper, it could be any "Original Equipment Manufacturer" of any part on a Comanche. Webco makes a great teflon-coated landing gear conduit. They are the current OEM of that product. We need Webco to stay healthy. We need Lycoming to stay healthy. We need Piper to stay healthy. AD's should reflect and roll up under that philosophy in how they are addressed from the FAA and the product supplier. Approved parts for required fixes!

That is my take. Enforcement of all this an annual inspection and a sign-off on a logbook, all of which is required. The FAA enforces, we comply. Liability hangs in the balance. As long as you spend less than $400,000, consider yourself fortunate to have such a great plane for such a bargain.

[tomburke1]

All that said, and here is the bottom line, if you bought our Comanches new today, based on their performance and operating envelope, they would cost $400,000+.
I would say that a new Comanche today would sell for more then that. I think $550,000 or there abouts would be more accurate.

[tomburke1]