3. Maintenance. The Pathfinder wins here, hand's down. Both planes
utilize the Lycoming O-540, but the Pathfinder's is de-tuned to 235
horses. The Comanche's is pushed a bit harder, running at 250 horses.
We burn a bit less fuel, and the engine (should, in a perfect world) last
a bit longer.


Not sure I buy this--but I am NOT an expert on engines (and obviously
still learning airplanes). My thought is, the engine is "pushed" however
far the operator pushes it--if a Comanche 250 is only run at 94% of power
(max) and cruise at 70.5%, wouldn't that be the equivalent "pushing" and
burn the same gas as running the Pathfinder at 100% and 75%? Not that I'm
suggesting that technique would be used, just that it seems like it's more
a case of having more "available" power than a case of "pushing." Unless
235 is the max that engine "should" be used for?

Agreed, if you don't run at 100% this is a moot point. But, all things
being equal, a detuned engine *should* last longer than one that's running
hotter and harder.

This seems like an extremely valid point, one with which I've been
wrestling. In my original round on this board (long before I'd looked at
specific models), I addressed this question. One person who helped me
(Elliott Drucker, news:cDIvf.287$sa4.102@trnddc07) gave me some data that
seems to indicate that, on a 100/yr flying schedule, it's about a wash.

How can retractable gear *ever* be "a wash" with fixed gear? There's just a
lot more "stuff" in there to be maintained.

Excellent point. Is there any commonality between Comanche and other,
more current Piper products?

I don't believe there are any common airframe parts, but I could be wrong.

However, this is the heart of the matter: bang-for-the-buck. So long as
I'm not shelling out a lot of bucks on bang I don't need/want/use, I want
to maximize that (duh!). Look at it this way: from what I've read (and
your discussion), I can do everything in a 260C you can do in your 235,
for about the same operating cost--or, I can push it up and use those
extra 25 horses when called for (and pay for the privelege). Do I have
that about right?

Whoops -- forgot one more thing: Soft field capability. I know several
Comanche owners who won't fly into Amana's grass strip, which is an awful
shame. We fly in there -- and several other excellent grass strips -- all
the time.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"