Piper Navajo/Chieftain in Australia
RUH and RUI were unloved out on the grass at Archerfield at one stage
Seem to remember they were sold for a song when Union Air fell over
Seem to remember they were sold for a song when Union Air fell over
Mike Jones in the US does a nice refurb on Chieftains and Navajos.
1983 PIPER NAVAJO CHIEFTAIN Piston Twin Aircraft For Sale At Controller.com
1983 PIPER NAVAJO CHIEFTAIN Piston Twin Aircraft For Sale At Controller.com
Mike Jones does a nice job with his 'Lock & Key' aircraft. I've been flying &/or managing one here in the US for the last 6 years or so. Expensive though. This one is a low time (~2500 hrs when purchased) 1980 PA31-325 with the Colemill Panther upgrades. I really like what Colemill have done to improve the PA31 series and the Mike Jones' stuff adds a nice touch.
Mike Jones bought the Colemill STCs after Colemill were flooded.
Mike Jones bought the Colemill STCs after Colemill were flooded.
Last edited by Tinstaafl; 12th Nov 2013 at 18:12.
It's interesting there's not much more talk on the inter-coolers fitted as part of the lock & key mods. I heard they add quite a significant performance boost alone without the other additions such as 4 blades and winglets.
Have a few hours in RUH before its refurb, always flew straight, no VGs so a little extra speed, low basic weight, was a good little workhorse. The previous tail art made it stand out a little.
Have a few hours in RUH before its refurb, always flew straight, no VGs so a little extra speed, low basic weight, was a good little workhorse. The previous tail art made it stand out a little.
This one is an earlier Lock & Key so no intercoolers. It was prior to the glass panel revolution so the only flight instrument that's electronic is the HSI. No EDM either but I had the owner put in a JPI unit when I took over looking after it. Interestingly, it's factory approved for LOP. I didn't like doing that on the single point EGT & CHT it had, hence the JPI EDM-760. 170 kts @ 27-28 GPH is great.
The only other thing I added is an assigned altitude indicator I made from an electro-mechanical digit selector I bought at an electronics surplus shop. Just like the ones I'm used to from Oz!
The only other thing I added is an assigned altitude indicator I made from an electro-mechanical digit selector I bought at an electronics surplus shop. Just like the ones I'm used to from Oz!
