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 Post subject: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 04 Sep 2018, 12:03 
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Joined: 01/22/17
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Aircraft: DA-40-180, B767
Does anyone have a good prepurchase checklist for a 1967 Twin Comanche?

Thanks
Andrew


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 04 Sep 2018, 16:18 
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Joined: 10/28/12
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Company: IBG\Altapraem M&A Advisors
Location: Kerrville, TX (60TE)
Aircraft: SR22-G2 GTS
No but I’m interested in your analysis on selecting that plane. Have had several people say recently “have you considered a Twinkie?” Has a lot going for it.

:popcorn:


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 04 Sep 2018, 18:39 
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Joined: 04/18/10
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Aircraft: bonanza 35j
Aviation consumer had excellent write up about Twinkies last issue, seems like the asking prices go up and a lot of owners put their planes up for sale right after aviation consumer does an article on any plane if they give good reviews. International Comanche Society would be my first stop(1-888-300-0082) or www.comancheflyers.com.


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 04 Sep 2018, 19:20 
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Joined: 03/04/13
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Location: Little Rock, Ar
Aircraft: A36 C560 C551 C550S
Search for Kristen Winter.
She can answer your questions.

RT


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 01:25 
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Joined: 03/14/15
Posts: 218
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Aircraft: Piper Cheyenne II
Like any other airplane....spend a little time a few bucks with someone who is a tried-and-true expert on the type (Kristin Winter certainly is). There are several scattered around the country. The best money you will ever spend.

A well-sorted Twin Comanche is a terrific ride....single engine economics with a real second engine that will fly you somewhere safe to land if the other quits, but they're Lycoming IO320's..... which almost never quit.

Too many good things to say about them, I still miss the one I had.


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 09:55 
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Follow-up to previous post....

Kristin Winter is a well known expert, she's in California. Cliff Wilewski and his crew at Heritage Aero did a fabulous job for me and are hardcore Comanche experts. They're in Rockford, IL. Check into the Comanche Society and get recommendations for your region or close to an airplane you are looking at.

Specific areas that Twinkies can hide large bills.....

Landing gear system: including gear motor, cable conduits, gear leg cracks and wiring harness. Everything can seem to operating normally but someone that knows what they're looking at can tell you if it's about to fall off a cliff.

Stabilzer horn: There's a corrosion inspection that is a little invasive and if replacement parts are needed can be a little spendy. IIRC the single has a bigger issue than the twin and I can't remember why.

My experience is some years old now, but everything else was just age related, which will be a big factor but vary heavily from unit to unit dependent on how it's been cared for. To steal someone elses' line, it's not how pretty it was in high school it's how much it's been goinig to the gym all these years.


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 11:13 
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Location: Little Rock, Ar
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Username Protected wrote:
Follow-up to previous post....

Kristin Winter is a well known expert, she's in California. Cliff Wilewski and his crew at Heritage Aero did a fabulous job for me and are hardcore Comanche experts. They're in Rockford, IL. Check into the Comanche Society and get recommendations for your region or close to an airplane you are looking at.

Specific areas that Twinkies can hide large bills.....

Landing gear system: including gear motor, cable conduits, gear leg cracks and wiring harness. Everything can seem to operating normally but someone that knows what they're looking at can tell you if it's about to fall off a cliff.

Stabilzer horn: There's a corrosion inspection that is a little invasive and if replacement parts are needed can be a little spendy. IIRC the single has a bigger issue than the twin and I can't remember why.

My experience is some years old now, but everything else was just age related, which will be a big factor but vary heavily from unit to unit dependent on how it's been cared for. To steal someone elses' line, it's not how pretty it was in high school it's how much it's been goinig to the gym all these years.


Steve is correct. It's been a while since I owned 8871Y, but I remember having Matt Kurke replace conduits, wire harness, gear motor etc on mine. The stabilator issues, I believe, were cracks. This seemed to be more so on singles than twins. Maybe due to propwash. Think long run ups. In removing the stab, there was usually corrosion, but it could be cleaned and treated and you would be good for another 40-50 yrs:). If I recall, all of the Comanche's skins and stringers were coated with corrosion proofing paint PRIOR to assembly.
RT


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 12:09 
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Joined: 02/04/10
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Company: Northern Aviation, LLC
Aircraft: C45H, Aerostar, T28B
First step is to come up this a list of what you want the airplane to do, from there it should be pretty easy to evaluate a particular aircraft's potential. Stuff like gear motors and transmissions are important, but pale in comparison in terns of cost and downtime to stuff like an autopilot.

All the twin Comanches are basically the same airplane, with most all the changes over the years being primarily cosmetic, so a lot of the evaluation process is based on what has, and has not, been done to the aircraft over the years.

I wouldn't call myself and expert on the twin Comanche like the boys at Wecbo, but after having owned on and maintained one for the past 25 years I have learned a few thing that may be helpful. Comanches do have a few quirks, such as worlds dumbest fuel cap design and no fuel tank sumps... Or "rubber band" gear, but for the most part they are a simple robust little airplane that is without equal in terns of performance and styling. While the other "pocket twins" of the era are rather quaint in appearance the little twinkie" still looks the part of what a "personal twin" should look like.... The squat tail low stance due to Pug Piper's insistence the main gear be short enough to negate the need for a boarding step notwithstanding...

Feel free to PM or call if you have any specific Comanche questions, otherwise simply evaluate the breed as you would any other legacy aircraft.

Jeff


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 12:33 
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Joined: 10/10/14
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Location: St George UT
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Had one for a while Great little twin
Make sure to check the gear for the 1000 hr AD overhaul and how well it was done
IIRC 3 years life on the gear rubber bands also. Need a special tool to put them on.


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 12:48 
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Quote:
Need a special tool to put them on.


For the first 15 years or so I used a piece of rope and a suitable handle such as a 1/2 breaker bar and would simply pull them on... Age, and a touch of wisdom, prompted me to buy the tool... :D

I am amazed how many mechanics with "Comanche experience" still don't know that the bungee roller un-screws from the attach point in the wing, making the entire process for both sides take less that 30 minutes to complete.

Jeff


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2018, 13:44 
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Joined: 08/21/13
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Company: Horizon Aviation
Aircraft: T303, Pitts M12, T-6
I've owned three Comanches - a single 260 and two of the Twin Comanches. My last was superb. Sold it three years ago to a friend. The last twin would do 180 KTAS on 17.2 GPH all day long. Electronic Ignition - almost every speed mod - good rigging - super tight baffles. Great plane.

As previously said, Kristin is an expert as are the folks a Heritage. Clifton Aero in TX is very good, too.

There is no stab issue with the Twin Comanche. It's limited to the singles. But, I pulled mine apart anyway. If the airframe is beat up, you would want to check. If the airframe is otherwise clean and healthy, I wouldn't pull it apart.

The only part of the plane that is other than vanilla is the gear system. Otherwise, any good mechanic can maintain it. Specialty knowledge is required to take good care of the gear. Matt Kurke owns a company called "Comanche Gear." Yes, he's a specialist. If a friend bought one of these I would have them fly it to Matt and have Matt go through the gear system from soup to nuts and remove and replace anything that is even close to marginal. Then you never have to worry about the gear for another 1,000 hours. Yes, there are ADs you still have to comply with but you'll have a sound system. The "1000 HR" AD has three paragraphs. One says to mic all the bolts and bushings every 1000 hrs, the other says to remove and replace the bungee cords every 500 hours (or three years - whichever comes first) and the last paragraph says to repeat all of this every x, y, z time limits. There is also a separate AD on the gear side-brace studs. Do it at the time you do paragraph A and it's no problem.

The gear is well worth doing right. Lots of folks have the "1000 Hr Gear AD" complied with - and it's done poorly or incorrectly.

There are a couple of easy 50 HR ADs on the fuel strainer and bowl. No biggie. The Lycoming 100 Hr AD on the fuel injection lines.

If the cabin size meets your needs, it's tough to go faster, farther, for less money.

I sold my last PA30 to get a larger cabin with known-ice and turbos.

Zeke


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 07 Sep 2018, 00:20 
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Joined: 08/03/08
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Username Protected wrote:
Does anyone have a good prepurchase checklist for a 1967 Twin Comanche?


Here is your checklist:

[ ] Hire Comanche expert


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 07 Sep 2018, 10:49 
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Joined: 01/29/09
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Company: retired corporate mostly
Location: Chico,California KCIC/CL56
Aircraft: 1956 Champion 7EC
I just looked at Comanche Gear, as Zeke said... Hell of a resource.

http://comanchegear.com/index.php

_________________
Jeff

soloed in a land of Superhomers/1959 Cessna 150, retired with Proline 21/ CJ4.


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 07 Sep 2018, 11:01 
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Joined: 03/04/13
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Location: Little Rock, Ar
Aircraft: A36 C560 C551 C550S
Matt @ Comanche Gear is a smart guy. Engineering background.

RT


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 Post subject: Re: Twin Comanche Prepurchase checklist
PostPosted: 11 Sep 2018, 15:43 
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Joined: 02/09/18
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Location: Brownsville TN
Aircraft: Aerostar 601P/700
I enjoyed a turbo twin Comanche for 21 years; very reliable fast airplane.

Kristin is based in Alaska now, however your can use this forum which she hosts for Comanche information:

https://forums.delphiforums.com/Comanches


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