twin comanche

[E Andersen]

Hi guys

I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
here in Florida for around 70-80k, it looks
to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of yours?
What about installing an autopilot, is
that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?

Anyone looked at any of those Twinco's here in Florida?

Erik

[Dan Luke]

How about it, Michael: yours still for sale?

[Robert M. Gary]

On Feb 19, 11:17 am, "E Andersen" > wrote:
> Hi guys
>
> I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
> here in Florida for around 70-80k, it looks
> to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of yours?
> What about installing an autopilot, is
> that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?

Personally, I would be very careful about buying a plane and
installing an autopilot right away. Buy the plane with the equipment
you want if you can because it costs about twice as much to install it
yourself. Also, once you buy the plane, I would avoid any "extras" in
the first year because really, really expensive stuff tends to come up
that will prevent you from flying. After the first year, if the wings
haven't fallen off and you still have any money in your checking
account, consider the upgrades.

-Robert, CFII

[CriticalMass]

E Andersen wrote:

> What about installing an autopilot, is
> that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?

"Way to expensive" to me, is just round-off to Bill Gates. What is it
to you?

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
"E Andersen" > wrote:

> Hi guys
>
> I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
> here in Florida for around 70-80k, it looks
> to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of yours?
> What about installing an autopilot, is
> that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?

What kind of autopilot do you want? 1-axis or 2-axis?

btw - I would expect the two engines on the twin to dominate your
expenses, much more so than the cost of an autopilot.

note that I installed an STEC 20 autopilot in a cherokee 140
(as part of a significant panel upgrade - cost, including labor,
was about the retail cost of the STEC 20).

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

[E Andersen]

> note that I installed an STEC 20 autopilot in a cherokee 140
> (as part of a significant panel upgrade - cost, including labor,
> was about the retail cost of the STEC 20).
>
2 axis would be my preference, so it ended up costing?

[E Andersen]

Like this one

http://www.aircraftdealer.com/aircraft_for_sale_detail/Piper_Twin_Comanche/1964_Piper_Twin_Comanche_PA30-428/10656.htm

[Ronnie]

An autopilot is either "nice to have" or "very nice to have"
depending on the flying you do. I operate a 1964
Aztec which has the orginal Altimatic II autopilot
system still installed and maked as "INOP" when
I bought the airplane. I flew it 400 hours without
even trying it. I fainlly decided to see it I could make
it work, and did. It is definately much nicer to fly with
the autopilot working, but I flew it for 400 hours without,
so it can be done.

Concerning cost, I'd guess the minimum would be around
$5K for a simple single axis wing leveler system. A quote
for a new S-Tec fully-featured system for my Aztec came in
at $25K as of Nov 2006.

In general, it cost less to buy an airplane with the equippment
that you want already installed as compared to having to pay
for the installation.

Ronnie


"E Andersen" > wrote in message
...
> Hi guys
>
> I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
> here in Florida for around 70-80k, it looks
> to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of
> yours? What about installing an autopilot, is
> that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?
>
> Anyone looked at any of those Twinco's here in Florida?
>
> Erik
>
>

[Dico]

We bought our TC last summer. We made sure that we found a TC with
the options we wanted... 2 axis A/P, Garmin 430, HSI, Leather, and a
couple other things. You'd be way better to pay 20k extra for the
options you want cause it seems as though once installed, they are
only worth about 30% of what they cost new.

-dr


On Feb 19, 3:17 pm, "E Andersen" > wrote:
> Hi guys
>
> I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
> here in Florida for around 70-80k, it looks
> to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of yours?
> What about installing an autopilot, is
> that way to expensive, or should I go up in price a bit?
>
> Anyone looked at any of those Twinco's here in Florida?
>
> Erik

[Michael[_1_]]

On Feb 19, 1:17 pm, "E Andersen" > wrote:
> I'm still searching for a twin comanche, there is quite a lot available
> here in Florida for around 70-80k

Be careful - the salt air does ugly things to the stabilator spar.
There was a guy in Florida working on an AD with the FAA on this - it
never happened, turned out the internal corrosion was strictly a
Florida problem.

> it looks
> to me that most do not have an autopilot, would this be a concern of yours?

I lew my Twin Comanche for over a year, single pilot, hard IFR without
one. But after that I put one in. I made it happen for under $2500,
but it's single axis, older, I bought it as parts and did all the work
myself. Going to a shop, you won't make it happen for less than five
figures.

$70-$80K seems high for a Twinkie without A/P. I'd sell you mine for
$65K...

Michael

[Dan Luke]

"Michael" wrote:

> I'd sell you mine for $65K...
>

And a good Twinkie it is, too.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM