6 PAX

[Mark Anderson]

Are there any true 6 place Comanches, single or twin ? I have a 250 an often find myself needing another seat. I have a 4 and 8 year old and a mother in law that likes to travel with us. We are able to squeeze in now, but will be a problem in a few years? Any STC's to add another seat? It would be hard to part with my Comanche, but would be easier if I was trading for another one.

Thanks

Mark

[N3322G]

Mark,

When my parents bough the Twin in 1970, we often flew with 6 on board and skis down the middle. We were 10, 13,15 and 17 but all six of us were on the short side. I didn't fly at the time but suspect we were short fueled - if we went to Denver from Chicago, we stopped at grand Island NE for fuel. We drove into the mountains as Eagle didn't exist then. Prior to the Twin we did the same in a Big Six Cherokee.

As we grew up, two kids were sent commercially and the other 4 flew in the Twin.

Hope this helps.

[9089P]

Hi Mark,

In answer to your question about a "true 6 pax" Comanche, I would say no with a caveat. The B and C model singles and twincos do have two small cushion like seats in the back as well as foot wells for those seats. I have them for my plane but have never used them and doubt I ever will. The seats would only be good for small, adroit, people ie children.

I have friends at the airport who used theirs for that purpose until their boys started shooting up at around 12 years old. At that point they bought a Lance which is the retract version of the Cherokee 6 before piper went to the taper wing and called it a Saratoga. Not as fast as a Comanche and the 300 hp eats much more gas based on a few joint trips we have made to Mexico. But it can literally legally haul just about whatever you can stick in it. It is very roomy.

Good luck, Don

[Mark Anderson]

Thanks for the insight. I guess we will keep squeezing in for now. According to the FAA, kids can share a seat until they are a combined weight of 170 pounds. We are only half way there. After getting everything the way I like it on my 250 it would be difficult to part. I too like the Saratoga, although to go slower on more gas would be a bitter pill to swallow. If the right opportunity ever presents itself on a 6 place Twin CO, I would give it some thought.

Thanks

Mark

[steen]

Mark,
I may be the only owner who has flown a trip in seat #5 in a Twinkie!
My son flew with his fiance up front and my wife and mother in law in seats 3 & 4.
I did it to see what it was like.
My observations:
1. More comfortable than anticipated. I am 6'1" and 230lbs. and I was comfortable for the :40 minute flight. The footwell makes a difference.
2. The noise level on take-off is really high as you are behind the wing and the exhaust blasts off the runway cook your ears until lift-off.
3. The noise level during climb is about double what it is in the front row, but becomes normal when cruise power is set.
4. Not a bad ride at all and my grandson's enjoy it with the heater outlets keeping the third row as comfortable as the front or middle rows.
Hope this helps.
Steen

[David Pyle]

Several years ago I purchased a PA24-260B in PA which had the 5th and 6th seats in the baggage compartment. I asked the seller if he had ever used them. He said that he and his family of six had recently flown to the Bahamas. I asked where he stowed the baggage. He said they "wore" it. As has been noted the 260B/C is not a true six place airplane. In 1966 Piper introduced that configuration to compete with Beech who had the extra seats in the V35 and 33. That created a problem for the Bonanzas which had a rear CG limitation.

[John Fuller]

I waited on buying my PA-39 until I found a source of Miller wing lockers and a Miller nose, then went for the works. With my wife and kids, we used the six seats but I trained everyone to pack light in duffle bags and, with 1:45 max legs for our usual trips in California, W&B worked fine. That long nose is great for packing some tools up front to get the CG where you want it.

[N3322G]

Congratulations!

Hope everyone is having fun in the Twin. Another CPPP just got scheduled and hope you can take advantage of it - in addition to the info, you get to chat with a bunch of interesting Comanche owners.