Comanche 400?

[On eyre]

Originally Posted by Peter Fanelli

If you're referring to the one that didn't quite make it over the fence and landed among the approach lights for RWY 23 that was VH-BOO.

And AMI is sitting in a hangar at Port Lincoln. Hasn’t flown for many a long year. 😳

[Dora-9]

If you're referring to the one that didn't quite make it over the fence and landed among the approach lights for RWY 23 that was VH-BOO.

Thanks Peter. Apparently had a rough-running engine, but positioned himself so high that he deemed that he couldn't get in off a straight-in approach and then the engine failed during the subsequent circuit. The details came to me via the owner's daughter, an Ansett FA.

[Offchocks]

Back in the early 70s I went for a flight as a passenger in a black Comanche 400 out of Parafield. Having only flown the likes of 172s and PA28s I was gob smacked at the performance, what a lovely aeroplane and wonder if it still survives today.

[mates rates]

I seem to remember that the 400 was difficult to start when the engine was hot.Which also created a battery problem,or was the battery the problem?But the 260c was a beautiful aeroplane.I flew CVY which I think was owned by the Premier of NSW Tom Lewis at the time.

[Global Aviator]

Never flew it but loved the look.

Now could you re engine with - https://eps.aero/the-eps-engine/ ?

Probably not much point or would it be easy and become and experimental???

[Peter Fanelli]

Originally Posted by Lumps

LeadSled, what did a 6 point EGT look like pre digital? Assuming talk of DCA etc means it was a while ago,, where there were six little gauges? 6 needles?

It looked like a single cylinder EGT with a switch. You looked at one cyliner at a time.
Like this
https://buy-ei.com/portfolio/e-6/

[megan]

Always loved the Comanche breed looks. The only ride I ever had was 18th June 1960 in the first imported into the country. In use at the time to deliver newspapers around SA. Pic courtesy of Geoff Goodall's site.

[Clinton McKenzie]

A bunch of friends and I flew a 260-C around Australia in 1988. AZK. Looks like she’s still on the register. Lovely aircraft.

[halas]

Recall a doctor in Hamilton, Western Victoria had a 400 back in the late 80's.

Got pissed with a mate one stormy night and they went for a spin. Literally and vertically. Deep hole.

halas

[Big Pistons Forever]

Originally Posted by mates rates

I seem to remember that the 400 was difficult to start when the engine was hot.Which also created a battery problem,or was the battery the problem?But the 260c was a beautiful aeroplane.I flew CVY which I think was owned by the Premier of NSW Tom Lewis at the time.

The hot start problem was due to the fact the airplane had the same 12v electrical system and battery as the 250. There was not a lot of capacity so if you blew the hot start and hat to crank a flooded engine it would poop out before it started. The solution was a STC'd 2nd battery and a 24 volt starter. When the starter was engaged the batteries would go to series and you had lots of starting torque.

I have a few hours in one. The heavy engine made it a bit of truck especially in the landing flare but as a cruiser it was outstanding. You could get to a mid teens altitude quickly and with the prop pulled back it was turbine smooth.

The story I heard was that Piper wanted to give the Comanche the ability to cruise high in order to have an advantage over the Bonanza, but turbocharging for the direct drive flat 6 engines wasn't fully developed so they decided to just go with a huge normally aspirated engine which even at 50 % available horsepower at altitude still had plenty of power left to let the airplane step out. The introduction of the Continental turbocharged TSIO 520 in 1965 pretty much killed this airplane.

Still there is no replacement for displacement. I still remember one takeoff with 2 up and 1/3 tanks on a cold day. You just about swallowed your bubble gum when you put the hammer down on that puppy in those conditions

[lonkmu]

Originally Posted by cavortingcheetah

ZS-DZZ
Dave Charlton, the racing driver who died a couple of years ago, had one based at Grand Central, Johannesburg (FAGC) when I was an instructor there many years ago. It was an enormously powerful machine, even at 5,300 ft airfield elevation + on a summer's day at 30c.
I seem to remember that he had a lot of trouble with the aircraft and it didn't have tip tanks which cramped the cruise range.

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/downlo...a44cc1abc3c321

Dave was a very good friend of my uncles (Barry Harrison) who had a beachfront property at Shelly Beach. Dave and Barry would often fly down from Grand Central in the 400 on a Saturday afternoon and head out to sea then turn and head straight for the house at wave height and flat out. A very loud climb out over the house then head to Margate. That was the signal for Barry's wife to get in the car and fetch them from the airport.. Great memories as a 10 year old!

[Amiri01]

A friend of mine has a Commanche 400, fully restored and sitting in primer waiting to be painted and reassembled. It’s been like that for a while now. The engine has been fully overhauled and is also waiting to be reassembled at the engine shop so that the new time starts from the date of reassembly. The owner loves the aircraft and has the vision to complete the restoration, but he may be interested to pass it on to someone that has the drive to complete the restoration. It’s just paint, reassemble the airframe, have the engine reassembled and fitted and all systems hooked up. PM me if you are seriously interested and I’ll put you in touch with the owner.