1967 PA-30 Twin Commanche

1967 PA-30 Twin Commanche. Donated by: Steve Weller of Elizabethville, PA. , Howard Piper, who was head of product development at Piper, asked Ed Swearingen to create a twin version of the PA-24 Comanche. Howard didn't always get what he wanted from the engineers inside Piper. Accordingly in June 1960, Ed Swearingen collected PA-24 Comanche 24-888/N5808P and flew it to San Antonio, Texas for conversion into a twin Comanche. Two 160 hp Lycoming 10-320-B1A engines were installed and first flew in April 1961 at San Antonio. Piper loved the aircraft and officially designated the design as the PA-30 in March 1962., Piper built the prototype PA-30 Twin Comanche aircraft 30-1/N7000Y at Lock Haven and it first flew with test pilot Jay Myers on November 7, 1962. FAA type approval A1EA for the PA-30 was granted on February 5, 1963 and the first production aircraft 30-2/N7001Y was completed in April. Piper announced the Twin Comanche on May 2. The extended propeller shafts and the absence of a carburetor in the fuel-injected flat-packed Lycoming engines enabled the engine nacelles to be very sleek and long, earning the description 'Tiger Shark' nacelles. The Twin Comanche was made to five levels of equipment, Standard, Custom (with added instruments) Executive (with further radio equipment and instruments), Sportsman (Palm Beach interior/exterior and AltiMatic II) or Professional (full IFR panel). The Palm Beach option consisted of an exterior scheme with choice of three-tone color combinations and an interior with top grain leather upholstery. The Standard version was priced at $33,900 and could cruise at 194 mph at 75% power., Between December 24 and 26, 1964, Max Conrad set a Class 4 World non-stop distance record in Twin Comanche 30-4/N7003Y (with 720 gallons of fuel on board), flying 7,868 miles from Cape Town, South Africa to St. Petersburg, Florida in 56.8 hours., In 1965 Piper opted for minor changes to both the single-engine Comanche and Twin Comanche consisting of extra cabin windows (3rd on each side) and 5th and 6th seats in the baggage compartment of the existing cabin with the baggage door relocated to the left side. The six-place Twin Comanche was approved in May 1965. It had improved interior and sound proofing and a new exterior paint design. The first model "B" production aircraft was 30-902/N7827Y completed in September. Piper announced the Twin Comanche B on September 20, 1965 and deliveries started in November, priced at $34,990. In addition, a turbo-charged version was available with 160 hp Lycoming I0-320-C1A engines and standard wing tip fuel tanks and a gross weight increase., Piper developed an updated Twin Comanche for 1968 with further minor improvements including a new interior with reclining seats, a new exterior paint design, redesigned panel and faster cruise speeds obtained from I0-320 engines with higher output. The use of modern tougher alloys and heavy-duty components throughout the Lycoming power plants permitted customers to use more of the rated power for cruise operations. Piper announced the Twin Comanche C on August, 15, 1968. The first production aircraft 30-1745/N8605Y was manufactured in October 1968 and deliveries started in November, with a suggested list price was $39,900., Production of the PA-30 was discontinued in November 1969 when it was replaced on the production line by the PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R. Piper manufactured 2,001 PA-30 Twin Comanches at Lock Haven with more than 55% still registered in 2024., This piper Twin Comanche is serial number 30-1676 and registered N8515Y. It has a manufactured date of December 14, 1967. It was delivered to Piper Dealer North States Aviation, in Michigan in January 1968.