MARCH 2015 VOLUME 42, NO. 3

The Official Membership Publication of The International Comanche Society Engine Baffles • Landing Gear Wire Harness Kits • Conduit and Harness Installation Service Let’s Keep ’em Flying! Scan for YouTube video of landing gear transmission

www.comanchegear.com 877-593-6944 Toll-Free 239-404-7524 Cell The Comanche Flyer is the official monthly member publication of the International Comanche Society P.O. Box 1810 Volume 42, No. 3 • March 2015 Traverse City, MI 49685-1810 U.S.: (888) 300-0082 Other: (231) 946-3712 www.comancheflyer.com Fax: (231) 946-6180 E-mail: [email protected] www.comancheflyer.com Published By the International Comanche Society, Inc. Managing Editor Melissa Frisbie E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS Senior Advertising Director John Shoemaker 2 (800) 773-7798 Fax: (231) 946-9588 Letter from the President Bob Cretney E-mail: [email protected] Comanche Spirit Advertising Administrative Assistant Trading Post & Classified Advertising 4 N143VP — Our Love for 15 Years Charles Littwin Betsy Beaudoin Ph: (800) 773-7798, Fax: (231) 946-9588 10 ICS Membership Form Email: [email protected] Graphic Design 12 ICS and Tribe Officers Brandon Hoffman Board of Directors, E-mail: [email protected] Tribe Chiefs & Tribe Representatives Printer Village Press ICS Standing Committees 2779 Aero Park Drive Traverse City, MI 49685-0629 13 Maintenance Resource Advisors www.villagepress.com CFF-Trained CFIs President: ICS Tool Loan Program Bob Cretney, ICS #2269, SC Tribe 428 McDaniel Rd, Ferris, TX 75125 Online Intelligence Cell: (214) 725-6584 Email: [email protected] 14 PA30 Fuel Flows and Exhaust Popping During Landing Vice President Feature Berl Grant, ICS #10704, NC Tribe 426 Mutton Creek Drive, Seymour, IN 47274 20 Orientation = Presence = Stabilized Steve Zaboji Ph: (812) 522-2587 Approach = Safe Landing Secretary: Ron Keil, ICS #7001 22 ICS Name Badge Order Form 1135 Christine Dr., Lapeer, MI 48446 Ph: (810) 406-2065 Cell: (810) 834-0168 Convention News Email: [email protected] 24 2015 Convention LaVerne Stroh Treasurer: Pat Donovan, ICS #12246, MS Tribe 26 Registration Form 421 Piper Ct., Troy, MO 63379 Phone: (636) 462-8370 32 ICS Items for Sale Email: [email protected] CFF President: (non-voting) 34 Comanche Joe Mike Foster, ICS #14077, SC Tribe 970 Flightline Dr., Spring Branch, Texas 78070 36 From the Tribe Chiefs Cell: (210) 701-6795 Email: [email protected] 37 Map of Tribe Boundaries Maintenance Resource Advisors & Feature ICS Tool Loan Program Contact (located on Page 13) 40 Needs your Stories, Tips and Tricks! The Comanche Flyer (ISSN 08994223, USPS 2-324) From the Logbook is available to members; the $25 annual subscription rate is included in the Society’s Annual Membership 41 Voyage to Madagascar — Part Two Stephan Hodgson dues in US funds below. Comanche Flyer is published monthly by Village Press 46 Comanche Classifieds U.S., Canada, Mexico One year $72, Two years $136 47 Advertisers’ Index UK, Europe, Asia & Africa One year $98, Two years $188 All Other Countries One year $86, Two years $164 Spousal Members One year $36, Two years $72 Cover Photo Charles Littwin’s 1967 Piper Cherokee 140 Copyright Notice The act of making a submission for publication is an express warranty that such contribution does not infringe on the rights or copyright of others. Nothing appearing in the Comanche Flyer shall be reproduced or distributed without the express permission of the publisher. INTERNATIONAL Postmaster Send address changes to the above address. COMANCHE Periodical postage paid at Traverse City, MI 49686 SOCIETY, INC.

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­1 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the March issue of the Comanche Flyer. hope you are making it through the Moving on, here are other events late winter/early spring weather you might consider placing on your Iwith as little inconvenience as pos- calendar: The 2015 Annual Convention sible. A trip to the “sunny south” would will be held in Oklahoma City on June be a good way to use the Comanche this 17-20. Each issue of the Flyer will con- time of year. Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, tain updated information about the Florida, April 21-26 would be a good convention, attractions and schedules. place to start. Also, some of you have Remember, in an effort to keep things already taken advantage of the South’s simple, nearly all expenses connected warm weather by participating in the with the convention are included in CPPP training event that was held in the registration fee. Because of this, Lantana, Florida, February 21-22. And most of your total convention cost is CPTP will conduct a Comanche train- contained in it as well. Additionally, ing session in Hinesville, Georgia next Sundance Aviation at Sundance Airport month. These are great ways to just has very low fuel prices, which will save “get away,” beat the cold, enjoy the you $50 to $100. This promises to be camaraderie of your fellow Comanche a great venue and I encourage you to pilots, and improve your flying skills plan on attending it. and knowledge ... all at the same time. The ICS Spring Board Meeting Look for dates and locations of addi- [SBM] will be held in Santa Fe, New tional training opportunities in the Mexico, April 18, 2015. We will use “From the Tribe Chiefs” section of Landmark Aviation, located at the this magazine. Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), as

Comanche Flyer Submission Guidelines

All members are encouraged to submit articles for publication in Although submissions are reviewed for technical accuracy, the the Comanche Flyer. If you have an article about a maintenance event, information in this magazine is meant for reference only. Any trip, piloting technique, or anything else pertinent to Comanche modifications, alterations, or major repairs to U.S. aircraft require ownership, please share it with your fellow members. FAA-approved data as a basis for beginning work, and as such should not be based solely on information contained in this magazine. The For those with access to the Internet, please submit the article International Comanche Society does not endorse any piloting via e-mail, preferably in Microsoft Word. You may also include the adverse to published FAA regulations. article in the body of your e-mail message. Include your full name, as you would like it published, and your ICS number. Submissions are subject to editing and revision unless specifi- cally requested to be published as submitted. The right is reserved Please attach digital pictures, if applicable, in jpeg format. to publish or not, any submission. For best results, use the highest resolution setting your camera will allow. Photo files under 500 kb in size typically do not Deadline for all submissions is the 20th of the month, approxi- reproduce well. mately 40 days prior to month of publication. Send to: Melissa Frisbie, Managing Editor at [email protected] Articles and photos may also be sent via U.S. Mail to: Melissa Frisbie • 125 N. Turnberry St., Wichita, KS 67230

2 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 the FBO, while utilizing the Doubletree Comanche Flyer cover is my N8769Y. by Hilton for rooms and the board It was used, not because it was mine, meeting. I encourage you to attend — but as a result of needing a winter back- Get Oiled in addition to meeting old friends and ground with snow, and that criterion Before You Start! gaining new ones, you will learn a lot really limited available Comanche pic- Install an Oilamatic about ICS and the issues that generate tures. With that being said, as you can Aircraft Engine Preoiler what you, as a member, experience. see, cosmetically speaking the plane leaves something to be desired. I have The CFF will conduct a CPPP event owned 69Y for 10 years and Lucky in Lancaster, Texas, October 9-11 Louque, who manages the maintenance hosted by yours truly. As done in the of the plane, has been working dili- previous training events I have hosted gently for three years to get it to the at LNC, the top shelf hangar and class- point of being painted. That day has room facilities of the Cold War Aviation finally arrived and it will go to Renue Museum (CWAM) will be used for Aircraft in Cleveland, Oklahoma on ground school. The Dallas area offers March 24. I’m really looking forward REDUCE ENGINE WEAR! a variety of airports in close proximity to this and will keep you posted as Up to 70% of engine wear to LNC, as well as lots of open, uncon- time goes by. gested areas for flight training. Fuel is caused by insufficient at LNC is some of the lowest in Texas Tales from the Wide Side lubrication during start. and maintenance is available if needed. You have to make up your mind Certified on Comanches A great speaker will address us at the about growing up or becoming a pilot. and Twin Comanches Saturday night dinner. As the date gets You can’t do both. closer, watch for details in the “From the Tribe Chiefs” section. http://www.oilamatic.com For what it is worth, the aircraft P.O. Box 5284 • Englewood, CO 80155 displayed on the December 2014 Bob Cretney (303) 770-0175, 1-800-343-7623, FAX (303) 793-0493

ICS Past Presidents

2011-2012 Zach Grant 1998 Harley McGatha 1987 Pat Rowe 1976 Mike Keedy 2009-2010 Bernie Mazurek 1997 Charles Wiseman 1986 Ted Peifer 1975 George Smith 2007-2008 Dave Fitzgerald 1996 Bryce Campbell 1985 Bill Shank 1974 Paul Rechnitzer 2006 Lawrence Paratz 1995 Jess Bootman 1984 Jerry Irvin 1973 Andy Speer 2005 Karl Hipp 1994 Chuck Medicus 1983 Bill Stanyer 2004 Skip Dykema 1993 Dale Vandever 1982 Norn Berneche 2003 John Van Bladeren 1992 Bill Jackson 1981 Ben Kitchens 2002 Larry Rackley 1991 Martin Busch 1980 Jack Holaway 2001 Robert Noble 1990 George Burson 1979 Larry Larkin 2000 David Buttle 1989 William Creech 1978 Clifford Younger 1999 Roy Roberts 1988 Jim Fox 1977 Art Shriver

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­3 COMANCHE N143VP — Our Love for 15 Years

by Charles Littwin, ICS #14089

he story begins in October important feature of an airplane … improve her have been relentless. of 1999 when I started to SPEED! So with his advice I dropped N143VP has truly been a wonderful consider upgrading from back 25 years and started looking at aircraft in all regards — performance, a 1967 Piper Cherokee Comanches. Living on the east coast comfort, looks, endurance, load capa- 140. I was looking for an a normally aspirated engine made the bility, and mission versatility. Like a Taircraft with better avionics and nicer most sense to avoid the maintenance fine bottle of wine that improves with paint and interior. Since my first flight cost associated with turbos. In my 15 age I still stare at her in amazement in a low wing I was hooked, so I started years of owning this wonderful 1965 in how beautiful she is while thinking looking for an early ’90’s Archer. My PA-24 260, the love for each other has about the tremendous capabilities and mechanic in Cortland, NY pointed mutually blossomed. She has never wonderful lifestyle she has brought out that I was overlooking the most left us stranded and our efforts to into our lives.

4 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 COMANCHE

COVER STORY

When I found N143VP in Trade- buying the Comanche. The IFR ticket My first upgrade right away was a A-Plane, it was based in Watsonville, has enabled me to increase mission ver- Hartzell top prop to eliminate the reoc- California. It fit my criteria well — new satility and sharpen my piloting skills curring prop AD. I initially considered paint and interior, nicely equipped, through increased pilot proficiency painting the polished aluminum spin- and only 475 hours SMOH. After and improved communication capa- ner but have endured years of polishing reviewing a copy of the logbooks my bilities. I now fly IFR 90% of the time (I estimate a half hour per month is mechanic and I flew out commercially even in VMC. The feeling of breaking spent polishing so I now have about 90 to California to see the aircraft. The thru an overcast layer to get on top or hours devoted to that spinner!). But I airplane looked just as good up close as executing an approach to minimums still admire the gleaming appearance it did in the pictures, and after passing still delights me! of the polished aluminum. the pre-purchase inspection, the deal was closed. I still remember Gary’s face (the previous owner) as we taxied out, he was nearly in tears. The flight home to New York was eventful to say the least. It was the high- est I had ever flown (16,000 feet), the longest leg I had ever flown (5 hours), the first time I had used oxygen, and the first time the engine sputtered and surged (we ran a tank dry). Only moments before the engine burbled I was saying how we would be #$@^% out of luck with an engine failure, as I marveled at the sheer cliffs of the Rockies below us. Upon my return, I immediately started IFR training and received my instrument ticket in June 2000. Getting the instrument rating was my second smartest decision in aviation, right after

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­5 My first avionics upgrade consisted of While the plane was down for over- The GTN is wonderful with the touch a King KT76C transponder, CD player/ haul the prop and governor were also screen data entry, huge map presenta- stereo and a Garmin 430. Fortunately, the overhauled, and two fuel cells were tion, and the capability to enter airways last owner installed an STEC 50 autopilot, replaced. I also took the opportunity to (especially since entering airways on a which I utilize all the time. Subsequent have a fresh set of “Comanche expert” 430 is a bit of a chore). And a big attrac- upgrades included an Electronics eyes do an annual inspection. Herman tion to the Aspen as well as the G500 International engine analyzer, fuel flow at Zephyr Engines and Cliff of Heritage is they offer GPS steering. In 2014 I meter, tachometer, manifold pressure Aero kept me informed throughout the pulled out the GDL 69 XM receiver and gauge, volt/amp meter and clock, Sky- entire process with emails and pictures. had the GDL 88 ADSB box installed. Needless to say I am very pleased with Tec lightweight starter, copper cables, During the upgrade in May 2011 my all these shops. I always try to support standby vacuum, Tannis engine pre- avionics shop, Twin Lakes Avionics in our advisers and these are some of the heater, GAMI fuel injectors, M20 Oil Mocksville, NC, called to ask if I wanted top shops in the country. separator, nylon flap rollers, GTX 330 my engine gauges moved to a modern Mode S Transponder, and a new landing For the engine teardown report I vertical layout. How brilliant! That is gear wiring harness. The GAMIs have needed a mechanic to explain some of something I had not thought of and been a big cost savings (yes I know the the discrepancies found on the engine, is another wonderful improvement. LOP ROP is an entire debate in itself, like “crankcase fretting and intake tube Against the advice of John Van Bladeren but I am still a fan of LOP). After all I’ve nipples leaking.” One interesting fact I had the Aspen flush mounted. While got 2400 hours on my engine operating I noted during the break-in procedure I am glad I did because it looks so LOP without doing an overhaul on any is that Zephyr recommends reducing much cleaner, it involved a lot of panel cylinders! But I also attribute the longev- pitch first then power on climb out. butchering, re-supporting and a form ity to religiously preheating when needed. This is to keep pressure high in the 337. Thus, the drop-in advantage of engine during break in. They also rec- the Aspen was lost. Therefore, if I had Flash forward to 2011 — I had 2,400 ommend (during break in) applying this job done again the Garmin 500 hours on the engine without ever doing power slowly during the takeoff roll so might have been a better choice. It’s a top overhaul! So a decision had to be as to reach full power at rotation speed. amazing how looking from the Aspen made ... sell the plane and get a twin? to the GTN750 now seems like a higher Keep going? Overhaul? There are so workload as compared to having all many opinions on what to do. While the info on the two huge panels of the I know recommended TBO is 2,000 Garmin 500 directly in front of you. A hours, what brought me to this point metal panel overlay and moving the was Zach Grant’s advice. I always reach circuit breakers were the finishing out to Zach with my technical questions touches — I am very pleased that I when he graciously volunteers as an went with grey instead of black. I also ICS technical advisor. When I asked his had an interior shop re-cover the front opinion on when to overhaul, his rec- seats — 17 years of use had shown ommendation was to not exceed 2,400 its age. After the panel upgrade I no hours. After all, if a crank went bad longer call myself a pilot, my new title or a camshaft could not be reground is Cockpit Automation Manager! to specs there goes most or all of the Well now I am totally committed to savings in exceeding TBO. this aircraft and the idea of paint that In January of 2011 the aircraft was began nearly 10 years ago at the ICS flown to Heritage Aero where the engine Tampa convention in 2006 resurfaces. was removed for shipping to Zephyr It was Dick Guenther of Dial Eastern Engines. It seems that most if not all Now with a fresh engine and another States Aircraft Painting, Inc. (DESAPI) of the cylinder ADs are for aftermarket 15 years or so of life on the engine that got my attention during his pre- cylinders, so all-new Lycoming cyl- I turned my attention to an avionics sentation. He was so full of information inders were used. The engine mount upgrade. With so many choices and and it was obvious he ran a top-rated was shipped to Kosola for repair, which integration possibilities it is essential shop. But it was two sentences into his turned out to be much needed with to get a total plan established. The presentation that grabbed my attention many sections cut out and replaced. Aspen Pro PFD and Garmin 500 were — he said, “Think of all the mainte- To facilitate future crack identification, closely evaluated. Ultimately, I selected nance you do on your aircraft, engine, the engine mount was painted light grey the Aspen PFD in conjunction with a airframe, avionics, and well don’t forget instead of black. Garmin GTN 750 and GDL 69 XM box. about the paint. Don’t just think of paint

6 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 Before heading to the paint shop I went gung ho on Aveo LED lights. My mechanic was raving about them and this new company. It started with wingtip nav/strobe/position lights, one rear position light, and replacing the rotating beacon. It took the shop 40 hours to run the strobe wires to both wing tips for the new lights! An inter- esting fact is that these lights come in TSO’d and non-TSO’d versions. Since the Comanche was not on the list at that time we were able to use the non- TSO’d version at a big cost savings. My understanding is some FSDOs on the west coast require using the TSO’d version. When I learned that Ralph, the examiner at our local FSDO that signed off on the job, was soon retiring I hurriedly had my shop replace the belly strobe making the entire exterior lighting all LED. If you need a copy of the 337, please contact me.

On the top of page 8 is a shot taken in 2007 before the paint job, which was used as the cover shot for the March 2007 Flyer. In January of 2014 I flew N143VP up to Cadiz, Ohio for the paint job and 11 weeks later I picked her up. as strictly cosmetic, think of it as an winning 400. It became immediately I am so impressed with the quality exterior maintenance item.” Those two apparent I could not do the design on of work DESAPI did. There is a paint sentences caused me to fly up to his shop my own, and even with the price tag of shop 20 miles from my home base to look at my Comanche which sealed the the design it was well worth the cost. but I trusted DESAPI — their work is decision to paint and this was the shop I The final layout was the fifth revision meticulous! The wheel wells are just would use. Dick retired in January 2012 of one of the five initial schemes pre- as beautiful as the exterior. Over 30 and sold the business to his longtime sented. Three of the initial five were hours were spent sanding and prepar- employees Darrin and Mark. revised but the one ultimately selected ing the landing gear, wheel wells, and When I finally decided to pull the continually rose to the top. Since I wheels. This is a delicate area where trigger on paint I contacted Scheme have OCD I wanted the wings, with the a stripper cannot be used. Designers (Cresskill, NJ) to learn more exception of the tips, to be all white. Another example of their excep- about their services. My design started Going with Scheme Designers was tional work is how they repaired where with Bob Williams’ 180 scheme, which well worth it. After all you only get the bottom rear position light was was a variant of Lee Hussey’s award one chance to get it right! abandoned.

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­7 8 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 The cowling transformation was equally impressive as they repaired many cracks in the gel coat of the fiber- glass cowl that accumulated in 20 years. These guys were a pleasure to deal with and it was an amazing fact that no deposit was taken. All you needed for pick up was a handshake and a personal (yes, personal) check. I have heard horror stories of shops that take deposits then take forever to finish, ask for more money, and on and on. Essentially those shops are operating a Ponzi scheme. Not the case with DESAPI, this is a shop you can trust to deliver. One thing I love about the paint job is that it makes bug identi- fication so easy during bug removal. especially when loading the aircraft for Before it was difficult to tell if the spot trips. It only requires a simple 50-foot was a bug or a chip! journey from home to the hangar. When I told my friend John Dennis, The Comanche’s performance never who is a flight instructor/neighbor/ ceases to impress me. From its long military background/retired air traf- range, speed, load carrying capability, fic controller, of my photo shoot for stability in IMC, to getting us out of the the cover shot he immediately told me (continued on page 11) I needed to use Dick James, a fellow pilot and EAA guy that made his career as a photographer. My other neighbor Pat offered his Lance for the photo plane. With Pat’s back door off and John flying the right seat of N143VP (he has more right seat time than left seat), we moved into formation. Pat flew lead and with Dick’s instructions we followed, essentially posing the Comanche for Dick. Using his 24 to 70mm zoom lens, Dick shot away while John maintained 60- to 100-foot sepa- ration between wingtips (plus some vertical separation … thank goodness). At one point John asked me if I wanted to fly and my response was “No way, this is way too close for me, I will leave it to your expertise.” Plus it was bumpy that day which added another challenging dimension. N143VP has changed home bases several times since I purchased her back in 1999. From Cortland, NY to Rochester, NY, and as of July 2004 she lives in our backyard hangar at the Lake Norman Airpark in Mooresville, NC. Living in an airpark is a true blessing

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­9 INTERNATIONAL KEEP YOUR COMANCHE SOCIETY, INC. MEMBERSHIP GOING!

You know how valuable the International Comanche Society has been to you for helping you learn about and enjoy your Comanche airplane, both singles and twins, providing a high-quality magazine, and for the camaraderie you’ve experienced among your fellow members. Don’t let your membership lapse or miss a single issue of Comanche Flyer! And for convenience, we are now offering multiple-year memberships! Fill out the renewal form below, and e-mail, fax, or mail it back to us, and keep enjoying the International Comanche Society!

Name:______ICS Number:______Address:______City:______State:______Zip:______Country:______Telephone:______Fax:______E-Mail:______Aircraft Model:______Based Airport Identifier:______

Registration/Tail #:______Serial #:______

Renewal Selection Spousal Renewal U.S., Canada, Mexico* UK, Europe, Asia, and Africa** All Other Countries Spouse’s ICS#______One year – $72 One year – $98 One year – $86 One year – $36 Two years – $136 Two years – $188 Two years – $164 Two years – $72 *Includes second-class mailing of the Flyer **Includes $9 returned to the EU tribe for communications ------PLEASE PRINT ------

YOUR SPOUSE CAN JOIN, TOO! One of the beauties of owning and flying your own airplane is the quality time you get to spend with your spouse, traveling to new destinations or social events, and filling the memory book for years to come. Your spouse can also join the International Comanche Society for only $36! With a spousal membership, your spouse will receive a Membership Kit containing a folder, membership card, membership certificate, a cloth ICS patch, ICS decal, access to the popular ICS website and discussion forums, and voting rights! Simply fill out the form below and return it with payment to start your spouse’s membership today!

Your Name:______Your ICS Number:______Spouse’s Name:______Address:______City:______State:______Zip:______Country:______Telephone:______Fax:______E-Mail:______Spousal Membership One year – $36 Two years – $72

PAYMENT INFORMATION (Please total all selections) MC Visa Check or Money Order Credit Card Number:______Exp. Date:______Amount Paid (U.S. Funds):______

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Please mail to: International Comanche Society, P.O. Box 1810, Traverse City, MI 49685-1810. 10 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 not-so-good flights where we picked up I have never gotten into owner Bob Williams and many other long-time ice, it is simply outstanding! In 2002 we maintenance or assisted annuals. All ICS friends over late night beers. made a nonstop flight of 5.5 hours from I do are oil changes mostly for the Meeting the many folks at Fly-Ins Florida to the Dominican Republic, convenience of getting it done at the and Conventions who have owned their then onto Jamaica where I proposed 50-hour mark, cleaning (when people Comanches for 20 to 30 years or more to my wife. We use the plane mainly tell me “keep the shiny side up and the while exciting, does not surprise me. I on the east coast and travel from NY greasy side down” I say “there is no remember several years ago when I met to Florida. But our main use of the greasy side”), and I used to take care of Phil Boyer at a pilot meeting where he Comanche over the last three years is light bulb changes. But now that I have told me of a “very wealthy person he to turn a seven-hour drive to the Outer converted to all LEDs (including land- knew” who could own any aircraft he Banks of North Carolina into a 1-hour ing lights) that chore has gone away. wanted but chose a Comanche. What a 45-minute flight out and a two-hour compliment to our fleet! A good friend flight home westbound. We go to our Being a member of the Comanche of mine, a Cirrus owner, thinks my beach house every two weeks for a long Society continues to be a tremendous decision to upgrade N143VP does not weekend for me to partake in my obses- value in Comanche ownership. I feel make financial sense when compared sion for kitesurfing. Only a GA airplane privileged to be part of such a won- to buying a Cirrus, but if I had to do it can make that lifestyle happen! The derful organization and always try to all over again I still would! Outer Banks is a recreational mecca attend the annual convention when so I named our house “4play.” (Yes I my schedule permits. As I write this know, the mind wanders with that kind article I recall many great conversa- of name but that’s OK!) tions at conventions with Zach Grant,

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Newton, Kansas 67114 FAA Repair Station YYBR664L / EASA.145.6472 316-283-7929 • www.webcoaircraft.com ­­800-397-8181 815-544-2300 [email protected] www.poplargroveairmotive.com e-mail: [email protected] 11619 Rt. 76, Poplar Grove, IL 61065 Please mail to: International Comanche Society, P.O. Box 1810, Traverse City, MI 49685-1810. MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­11 2014-2015 ICS and Tribe Officers President: Secretary: CFF President: (non-voting) Bob Cretney, ICS #2269, SC Tribe Ron Keil, ICS #7001 Mike Foster, ICS #14077, SC Tribe 428 McDaniel Rd 1135 Christine Dr. 970 Flightline Dr. Ferris, TX 75125 Lapeer, MI 48446 Spring Branch, Texas 78070 Cell: (214) 725-6584 Ph: (810) 406-2065 Cell: (210) 701-6795 Email: [email protected] Cell: (810) 834-0168 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Vice President Berl Grant, ICS #10704, NC Tribe Treasurer: 426 Mutton Creek Drive Pat Donovan, ICS #12246, MS Tribe Seymour, IN 47274 421 Piper Ct. Ph: (812) 522-2587 Troy, MO 63379 Phone: (636) 462-8370 Email: [email protected]

Southeast: Northwest: E. Canada: Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Phillip Hobbs, ICS #10509* Tribe Chief Dennis Springer, ICS #10237 Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Tim Stain, ICS #168357* Ph: (704) 651-9417 4796 Drew St. N.E. Laurier Avenue Email: [email protected] Salem, OR 97305 Toronto ON M4X 1S2 Canada Ph: (503) 390-9444 Ph: (647) 341-9100 (home) Northeast Tribe Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep CJ Stumpf* East Randolph, VT Tribe Rep Bill Case, ICS #16889* P.O. Box 549 Europe: Ph: (617) 816-8766 Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Kate Burrows, ICS #17285* Email: [email protected] Lebanon OR 97355 Ph: (541) 259-5557 Ramsey Road, Rockwood North Central: Cell: (503) 260-2473 Laxey, Isle of Mann IM4-7PY United Kingdom Tribe Chief Bob Williams, ICS #13853 Email: [email protected] Ph: 44 1624 861957 (h) 647 Robins Gate Email: [email protected] Akron, OH 44319 South Central: Ph: (330) 867-6711 S. Africa: Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Bob Fox, ICS #13650* Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Russell Knowles, ICS #16469* Cell: (330) 592-3111 1630 W 35th North St. Email: [email protected] Box 1114, Halfway House Muskogee OK 74401 1685 South Africa Tribe Rep Zach Grant, ICS #15515* Cell: (918) 607-6880 Ph/Fax: +27 11 8052902 Indianapolis, IN 46214 Email: [email protected] Cell: +27827809228 Cell: (317) 201-4293 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] W. Canada: Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Ken Mori, ICS #3894* (Email preferred contact) Australia: 1433 Copper Mountain Court Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep George Mills* Mid States: Vernon BC V1B 3Y7 Canada Panshanger P.O. Box 269 Tribe Chief/Tribe Rep Carl M Talkington, ICS #3208* Ph: 250-545-2491 (home) Longford, TAS 7301 Australia 180 Peregrine Circle Email: [email protected] Ph: +03-6397-6500 Broomfield CO 80020-1275 Email: [email protected] Ph: (303) 460-8127 Cell: (720) 560-4862 Email: [email protected] Southwest: Tribe Chief Craig Varga, ICS #12906 1365 S. Reed Rd. Chino Valley, AZ 86323-6598 Ph: (928) 899-4139 Cell: (928) 899-4139 2013-14 ICS Standing Committees & Chairpersons: Email: [email protected] Tribe Rep Scott Myers, ICS #16819* Historical – Chair: Bruce Thumann, SC Flagship – Chair: Cliff Wilewski, NC 1041 Jasmine Ct. Information Technology – Chair: Vista, CA 92081 Elections – Chair: Sally Williams, SE Ph: (760) 727-7444 (w) Dave Fitzgerald, NC Cell: (760) 519-8604 Technical Resources – Chair: Editorial Review – Chair: Email: [email protected] Zach Grant, NC Bob Cretney, SC Finance & Budget – Chair: Editorial Committee: Pat Donovan, MS Pat Donovan, MS Dave Fitzgerald, NC * Member ICS Board of Directors Bylaws, Standing & Special Rules – Chair: Zach Grant, NC Chair: Scott Myers, CA Bernie Mazurek, SE Don Nelson, WA Hank Spellman, NC Nominating – Chair: Dave Fitzgerald, NC Fleet Airworthiness – Chair: Nominating Committee: Dave Fitzgerald, NC Ken Mori, WC Annual Convention – Chair: Dennis Springer, NW Shirley Nelson, NW Bruce Thumann, SC

12 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 MAINTENANCE RESOURCE ADVISORS Comanche-trained Instructors The International Comanche Society (ICS) publishes this list in the spirit of member information. The opinions, statements and claims made by the Advisors are their own and not those of the International Comanche Society (ICS). ICS assumes no responsibility for any actions between its members and the listed Advisors. It is incumbent upon the member, when using Certified flight instructors who have this list of Advisors, to do due diligence in researching and selecting an Advisor. completed a Comanche training program. Pat Barry Karl Hipp The International Comanche Society, Inc. (ICS) publishes this Ph: (949) 362-1600 on Pacific Time Ph: (970) 963-3755 list in the spirit of member information. The opinions, state- E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] ments and claims made by the instructors are their own and not those of the International Comanche Society (ICS). The Dave Clark Lucky Louque listed CFIs have undergone a Comanche-specific Training Ph: (817) 860-4393 Ph: (903) 345-9198 Program. ICS assumes no responsibility for any actions Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] between its members and the listed CFIs. It is incumbent upon the member, when using this list of instructors, to do due Zach Grant Cliff Wilewski diligence in researching and selecting a qualified instructor Cell: (317) 201-4293 Ph: (815) 395-0500, Cell: (815) 979-7785 for the type of training desired. Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Bill Archer - AZ (Phoenix/Mesa) (Email preferred contact) Single/Twin, (480) 203-3043 [email protected] Dennis R. Carew – WI Twin & Single, (920) 749-9558 COMANCHE FLYER FOUNDATION, INC. [email protected] MAURICE TAYLOR VIDEO PROGRAMS Malcolm Dickinson - CT/NY Take advantage of Maurice’s expert knowledge, captured on these Single & Twin, (203) 698-2600 [email protected] professionally produced videos. Great tools for mechanics, too. Zach Grant - IN (Indianapolis) Program 1: Preflight Walk-around Single/Twin, (317) 201-4293 Program 2: Tech Tips: A Closer Look [email protected] Program 3: Comanche Landing Gear William Harris – VA Program 4: Single Comanche Flight Tips Single & Twin, (540) 731-4772 Program 5: Twin Comanche Flight Tips [email protected] (Programs 1-3 apply to both the single and twin models.) Craig Mussman - IL Single/Twin, (815) 450-3692 All five programs on one DVD. [email protected] DVD each $101.00 plus shipping (North America $7.00, elsewhere $11.00) Donny Nelson - WA VHS and PAL tapes are no longer available Single/Twin, (360) 305-0689 [email protected] BOOKS Myron Oakley - IL Twin only, (815) 985-7894 Into the Wind: The Story of Max Conrad by Sally Buegeleisen [email protected] Enjoy this account of the life and feats of legendary pilot Max Conrad, George Richmond - NE (Omaha) including his record setting flights in our own Comanche N110LF. pb, 264 pp. Single and Twin, (402) 350-1915 Price: $21.50 plus shipping (North America: $8.00; elsewhere: $15.00) [email protected] PA-30 & Multi-Engine Flying by Alice S. Fuchs. pb, 68 pp. Steve Smith - MT Price $9.00 plus shipping (North America: $5.00; elsewhere: $7.00) Single/Twin, (406) 425-0754 [email protected] These merchandise purchases and/or your donations can be Mike Stich - OH made through CFF on the ICS website with either a credit Single/Twin, (330) 283-1857 card or our newly availabe PayPal option. Please visit: [email protected] Todd Underwood - AZ (Phoenix/Prescott) www.comancheflyer.com Single/Twin, (623) 202-6910 [email protected] TO ORDER BY MAIL PLEASE FILL OUT Larry Whitbeck - IL Single only Cell: (217) 737-6074 Office: (217) 732-9704 [email protected] Mail to: CFF c/o Shirley Nelson, Kristin Winter - CA (Northern) 925 Ludwick Avenue, Blaine, WA 98230-5109 Single & Twin, (707) 477-4727 [email protected] Telephone: 360-671-7388, Fax: 360-671-7388 Steve Zaboji – VA Single & Twin, (571) 228-3420 Enclose check or money order made payable to CFF. [email protected]

ICS TOOL LOAN PROGRAM Matt Kurke 8192 Sanctuary Drive, Unit 1 Naples, FL 34104 Ph: (239) 593-6944 [email protected]

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­13 ONLINE INTELLIGENCE www.comancheflyer.com

From the Comanche Website Maintenance Forum PA30 FUEL FLOWS AND EXHAUST POPPING DURING LANDING have a ’69 PA30C (non-turbo). I the money trying to troubleshoot the open, and about 200 to 210 with cowls have a Shadin Fuel flow meter and cause? If I find out that the gauge is off, open about 25%. CHTs are all 350 and II consistently show between 1-1.5 what would be the steps to check that? below. These temps are shown on my GPH ff more on the left, during takeoff, The Shadin gauge was installed about digital engine analyzers. cruise and decent from cruise altitude. 10 years ago. By the way, I have just ______This is even after I lean both engines to about all the Knots2U mods, including Welcome to Twinkie country. You the same rich of peak temp at cruise. the nose cowl. will love the bird. I haven’t checked actual fuel used yet The second thing I’m curious about You don’t say which engine is high but will do that the next time I fill up. is when I am pulling back the power on ff but you should know that the This is my first twin and I didn’t really just before landing, there is quite a Shadin will show a higher ff on the used to pay close attention to the ff dif- bit of exhaust popping. I was told that right when the heater is running, but ference on the twins that I rented. I just this is because of the short exhaust only about .5 gph. Other than that, I know the ff’s were pretty close on the stacks that this aircraft has. Is this have no clue ... my Shadin is about stock analogue gauges on the Seminole true? My stacks are cut about one inch the same age and when leaned to the and Senecas that I flew previously. beyond the cowl opening and do not same egt they read within .1 ... and I guess my first question is: If it have extentions. they are dead accurate. turns out that I am actually burning 1 My third and last concern is that NT Twinkies are not known for to 1.5 GPH more on one engine than both oil temps are about 220 to 230 being hard to cool and your high the other, would it be worth spending during climb out with cowl flaps wide oil temps are worrisome. Even in

14 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 extremely hot temps my oil temps rpm rise as the mixtures are closed. plane for the last ten years. I usually and cylinder temps stay cool during More than that, you are rich. climb out at about 130 mph all the way ONLINE INTELLIGENCE climb with the cowl flaps closed except I suggest you turn the idle mixture to cruise — I’m getting 210 to 220 on when it’s above 90-100f and still hot at knobs a half turn toward lean and see climb out, and about 200 in cruise. www.comancheflyer.com 8000', then I might have to open the what you get. Cht’s are all 350 or below. cowl flaps a little. I suggest you make Let us all know what you find out What are your typical oil temps sure your engine baffling is really tight about the high oil temps and fuel flows. during climb and cruise? Do you have and well sealed; then consider when ______the Knots2U or LoPresti nose bowl your oil coolers were last overhauled. mods? Mine is showing the left engine You might check the vernitherms, ______burning more than the right. I’m but for both to have failed would be a going to fill it up and check the fuel I have seen some of these things in big coincidence. By the way, book says in both tanks so see where they’re my ’69 twin. You are going to have to climb at 125 but I use 150 to about at. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of approach it scientifically. 6000'; then 140 to 9000 and 130 on up adjusting the K-factor in the Shadin As for the fuel flow, set up in cruise to my usual 12,500' cruise. meter. Other than that, maybe the and switch both engines to their The rate is about the same; you fuel servos if in fact they are not burn- respective aux tanks and run for a cover more ground and cooling is good. ing the same amount. period of time. The longer, the more Excessive popping (after firing) on It’s been about 90+ degrees here accurate. I would recommend at least throttle close for landing is an indica- in Fresno, CA and the oil temps can an hour. Fly the rest of the flight on tor that idle mixtures are too rich; can reach 230 while sitting on the ground other tanks. When you fill the test be easily corrected and easily checked too long. The previous owner said his tanks (usually aux) you can see now by careful notice of rpm rise on shut- oil temps have run between 200 and if it is burning more and get an idea down ... you should have about 50-75 220 on both engines since he’s had the of the accuracy of the Shadin. (continued on next page)

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­15 One thing to check, were your fuel would bet the ideal mixture has not I agree with Pat and other respond- servos last overhauled at the same been reset in a while (very few are). ers comments here. Zach is on target in time? If not, they may not be set up ______his post regarding the idle adjustment. exactly to match each other. The popping you hear is simply too I realize this topic has been well much fuel making it thru the cylinder As for the popping, I am guessing discussed, and I have read everything unburned, going into the exhaust pipes too rich an idle mixture. I can find in the archives, but here and then detonating in the exhaust. In As for oil temp, check baffling. I goes: I have just restored a 1969 PA-30 a car we’d call this a “backfire.” When used a digital camera up on top of that has been setting for a while and you land you bring your engines to idle the engine, with the cowlings on, to we are getting the popping on land- and the RSA’s idle mixture should then inspect the baffle seals. Next, check ing. I have heard some say “yeah the come into play. If it’s set too rich you the actual temperature. If you get the twin Comanches do that because of will end up with the popping. oil hot, try physically taking the tem- the short stacks” and I am thinking perature of the oil, either through the that might be true. The idles are set Here’s some more food for thought dipstick or by draining some. perfectly, the idle mixtures are set per- ... when I did my multi-engine train- ing it was in a Twin Comanche. I was That should be enough to start with. fectly, injectors are clean, fuel burns ______look right on both engines, temps are taught to always bring the mixtures all in the green, everything is straight back half-way during taxi or the plugs Welcome to Twin Comanche and true EXCEPT we get that slight would foul by the time you got to the ownership. popping on landing (only) when you run-up block. I also found that during Have had several of the issues you pull back power for the flair. Should I landing there was a lot of the popping mention and Kristen’s advice is right search deeper for the cause, or is this you describe. By way of comparison on target. Also, you might check what just normal for some of our engines? my Twin Comanche does NOT do any have been termed the sniffle valves at Other data: Engines are at TBO but of that. The idle mixtures are adjusted the bottom of the engines. After main- good compressions and appear to be properly. I do NOT lean at all during taxi and I get NO popping whatsoever tenance, I have found that mine were in good shape. Mags are timed. Plugs on landing or during idle. The length frequently disconnected and recently are clean and gaps are set. No obvious replaced them and their hoses/tubing. of the exhaust stacks has nothing to leaks in the exhaust or intakes. One ______do with it. of the RSA units is over 20 years old, I minimize this by not going to full but seems to be doing its thing cor- Here’s something else to check: rich on the approach to land. I know rectly, but other than that, I can’t find How dirty/sooty are your gear doors? that you have to remember to push a reason for the backfiring on landing. I clean mine and the gear after every flight. A year or so back I was finding the mixture up if you have to do a go Other ideas? Just keep flying? that the left door was always sootier around, but it does for the most part get ______rid of the popping on my plane anyway. than the right. Also my IA, watching ______So glad you have restored the Twin. me do a run-up from outside, com- Forty-four years of Twin in the mented that there was visible soot in I am pretty sure the book on mine family. When all is correct, no popping the exhaust on the left side during a says leave the mixtures leaned (which I on landing — that being said — we full rich runup. To further this my fuel do) and leave the props in cruise. Push flow on the right engine at idle (1K or ’em all up at once if you need to go! frequently just fly with it. IRC Zach lower RPM) was around 1.5 - 2.0 gph ______Grant, Comanche guru, says it is a idle richness thing and he adjusts his whereas the left engine was exactly The Piper book says that the props seasonally. I’m not a mechanic so we twice that. Furthermore, at idle if I should be at minimum “high cruise” don’t. slowly leaned the mixture to cut-off, RPM on short final in case of a go the right engine would show no more IMHO has nothing to do with length around. In my book high cruise is than 50 rpm (if that) rise before the of exhaust stacks — we flew with short 2500 or more RPM. Like you, I don’t engine died. This is correct. My left ones and for a decade now, with the think that going to full rich is a real engine, on the other hand, showed an extensions — we can have popping in good idea on short final, or any other almost 500 rpm increase before the either case. time in decent or the pattern. Why engine cut-off ... not correct. accelerate engine cooling when it is Things that have helped are: fuel I thought we’d need to overhaul not needed? pumps off during taxi, lean during taxi, the left engine RSA unit but they were and fine wire plugs. As for the popping on the landing both overhauled with the engines not when the throttles are closed, that is Hope this helps. too far back. Anyway, my IA and I definitely a too rich mixture, and I ______(continued on page 18)

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www.lighthawk.org were able to adjust the left engine RSA Thanks Charles and Pat. I have unit to get the idle mixture correct. done all of these things you suggested referred No more soot, no more rpm rise (no prior to my post with the same results, PILOT’S OPERATING HANDBOOK more than 50) when leaning to cut-off but I will do the idle mixture control at idle and the fuel flows at idle on procedure again and see if I can get P the two engines are within 0.1 gph of any change in performance. AND FAA APPROVED irparts each other, and more typically they Just a reminder, the idle mixtures A are identical. are not density compensated in any AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL Chosen for value and service Do the test others have described. way. A 20°F difference or a 2000' “Formerly Published And Produced by the late Douglas L. Killough” With your engine(s) idling, slowly pull pressure altitude difference could be New Surplus Parts the mixture back to cut off and note enough to cause this to happen even the max RPM rise. You should not if the engines were set up properly for all Pipers see more than 50 or so rpm increase at the then current conditions. Most PA-18 through Cheyenne before the engine dies. More than people complain of this if they set the that and you will need to adjust your engines up in the winter and fly into 25-85% idle mixtures. If there isn’t enough summer. Going the other way is usually SAVE adjustment then the units need to be not noticed very often as the engines off list price! overhauled. Call Heritage Aero — they run, but they are lean on the ground know a good local shop that does this at the lower density altitudes. I sug- very well. gest taking the engines to extremely lean mixture (engine almost unable One more comment on adjust- to run) and working gradually richer ments ... the way we did it was that from there. As was mentioned before in my IA and I used wireless two-way the thread, it’s a two-man job and you • Airframe Parts radios with headsets. With me in the should be able to advance the thumb cockpit and him on the ramp under/ • Accessories, bellcranks wheel one flat at a time and check with- behind the engine, we slowly made out having to restart every time. • Bushings, cowling adjustments with my IA making the ______• Cables, gears, spars adjustment while I called out read- ings on fuel flow and idle RPM during • OHC Rotables These postings are provided for full rich, and pull to cut-off on the informational purposes only. The views • Propellers mixture. It took us about an hour to expressed in these postings represent • and a whole lot more! get it perfect but we did get it quite the opinions of individual Comanche perfect. Download the service manual owners and have not been vetted by from the ICS home page tech pubs and the ICS technical committee. look up the procedure. The procedure Free online inventory Search! As a responsible pilot and aircraft for adjustment is important. The idle www.preferredairparts.com owner, you should always seek advice speed and mixture settings must be from an experienced, trusted source, adjusted in the correct order to get Preferred Airparts, LLC such as your A&P or CFF-trained CFI, Div. of JILCO Industries the right result. It’s not hard but do before applying any of the techniques follow the procedure or you will not 800-433-0814 or recommendations presented in Toll Free, U.S. & Canada get what you’re looking for. these postings. Tel. 330-698-0280, FAX 330-698-3164 Good Luck! The postings are printed as they [email protected] ______appeared. Due to space consider- SALES HOURS ations, sometimes only selected posts 7:15am to 6:30pm EST. have been published.

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18 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 PILOT’S OPERATING HANDBOOK AND FAA APPROVED AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL “Formerly Published And Produced by the late Douglas L. Killough”

Piper Aircraft ceased production of the Comanche and Twin Comanche in 1972, several years before the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) established specifications for the contemporary Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH). As a result, the Owner’s Handbook published by Piper is incomplete by modern standards. Now available EXCLUSIVELY from the INTERNATIONAL COMANCHE SOCIETY, INC., through it’s licensed agents, is the upgraded Pilot’s Operating Handbook and FAA approved GAMA format Airplane Flight Manual.

Discounted to current ICS members at $75.00 each, plus shipping (must ask for ICS member discount and provide ICS membership number when placing order). Available only through Webco Aircraft at 316-283-7929 or www.webcoaircraft.com. Available Bound or Unbound/Un-punched.

There are SIXTEEN different GAMA format manuals available for the Piper Single and Twin Comanche. Please order your manual by “Manual Number 1-16” from the chart below.

TO ORDER CALL WEBCO AIRCRAFT AT 316-283-7929 OR WWW.WEBCOAIRCRAFT.COM. Specify “Bound” or “Unbound/Un-punched.”

Order Manual Gross Year(s) Flight Manual SN SN Model Qty Number Weight Mfg Report Number Begin End Singles: 01.) 180 2550 1957-64 1047 24-1 3687 02.) 250 2800 1958-60 997 103 2298 03.) 250 2900 1961 1127 2299 2843 04.) 250 2900 1962-64 1179 2844 3687 05.) 250 2900 1962-64 1220 (FI) 2844 3687 06.) 260 2900 1965 1334 4000 4299 07.) 260 2900 1965 1333 (Carb) 4000 4299 08.) 260B 3100 1966-68 1359 4300 4803 Not Avail 09.) 260B 3100 1966-68 1358 (Carb) 4300 4803 10.) 260C 3200 1969-72 1545 4804 5028 11.) 260T 3200 1970-72 1640 (Turbo) 4901 5028 12.) 400 3600 1964-65 1295 26-3 148 Twins: 13.) PA30 3600 1963-68 1269 30-2 1744 1969 1515 1745 2000 14.) PA30T 3725 1964-68 1269 (Turbo) 143 1744 1969 1515 (Turbo) 1745 2000 15.) PA39 3600 1970-72 1605 39-1 155 16.) PA39T 3725 1970-72 1605 (Turbo) 1 155

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­19 U 20 FEATURE that could represent any number of The MagicoftheOBS safe landing. establish astabilizedapproachfor presence, whichinturnisneededto that willhelpyouestablishasenseof method thatisavailableonyourGPS I wouldliketosuggestafairlysimple environment. Ifyouhavethisdilemma, required to operate in a disciplined IFR opportunity todeveloptheskillset infrequently andjustdon’t getthe that theoutcomewillnotbepretty. hope orlackofskillgetsintheway ing themission. prescription forsuccessfullycomplet approach plates,offersanobjective combination withairwaychartsand IFR operationisthataflightplan,in ful landing.Oneofthesecretsan article’s titleholdskeystoasuccess CAVU or LIFR, the sequence in this Why does it happen? Whether it’s involves afatality. Sobering!Tragic! Stabilized Approach = • It isonlywhenemotion,delusion, Pictured hereisaGarmin530, one Let’s faceit:many ofusfly ­Comanche Flyer day. At least one of them aircraft accidentsoccur nfortunately, threeorfour

every S - - AFE LANDING AFE erenced tonorth,andyour depicted then yourmaporientationwill beref Conversely, if you selected North-Up, will beatthetopofGPS’s map. tation (mypreference)your waypoint If themapissetupasTrack-Up orien your aircrafttotheenteredwaypoint. magenta line goes from the nose of navigation modeofaGPSsystem,the even hills. by surroundingbuildings,lightsor airports that are visually obscured especially fornightVFRflyinginto the OBS(OmniBearingSelector), and onethatIhighlyrecommend,is tion, butotherusefulonesdoexist. get veryfarbeyondtheDirect-To func that manyGPSusersorownersdon’t popular GPSsystems.Itisinteresting In theuniversallyknown One ofmyfavoriteGPSfunctions, Orientation = Orientation = Presence = Presence = Direct-To - - -

will nolongerpointfromthenoseof on the GPS, the magenta courseline relative tonorth. aircraft willflyitsheadingdepicted your finalapproachcoursewill appear. giving you a nice orientationofhow radial 9 of the waypoint (airport), line willextendoutonthe 30 degree GPS NAV map that the magenta course degree bearing.You willseeonyour your GPS/OBSradialselectthe210- push the OBS function, and then on is programedasyourwaypoint.Next, then firstmakesurethattheairport runway 21 (Magnetic Heading 210), For example,iftheconditionsfavor from the ATIS/AWOS or other source. tion, determinethedesiredrunway the selectedwaypoint. magenta course line’s orientation from indicator orHSIwilldeterminethe your OBSselectoronVOR/GPS is alsoyourdestinationairport,then waypoint selected.So,ifyour will now reference itself point. Instead,themagentacourseline your aircraft toward When youpresstheOBSfunction To usetheOBSforflightorienta by SteveZaboji (continued onpage 22) the selected way- away from MARCH 2015 the the -

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An extremelyrewardingexperience • areas Explore newgeographical • Gain flightexperienceandlogmorehours • Expand yournetworkofpilot/aviation • Flights aretax-deductible501c3 • flyingwhilehelpingaworthwhile Enjoy • NETWORK? WHY JOIN THE PILOTSNPAWS 3. 2. Go towww.pilotsnpaws.org 1. and takesjustaminuteofyourtime. it’s extremely rewarding. Joiningiseasy please joinusnow! It’s easy, it’s fun, and If youlovetofly, andyouloveanimals, required! No bothersomepaperwork 1-2-3 SIMPLE AS Pilots NPaws every time every contacts andotherprofessionals non-profit organization www.pilotsnpaws.org with others Wait forcontacts / make contact other posts Post andread yourinformation and register ® oaceFyr • Comanche Flyer ® ­21 There’s More… usually works well to give you time to lawyer’s feeding frenzy. And to make With a little planning and visual- establish a stabilized approach and the accident even more unsettling, ization, you can set up a virtual FAF time to adjust for optimum airspeed the ATP/CFI doctor/jet pilot crashed (final approach fix) by determining for arrival. and totaled a TBM-700 four years ago a point about 4-5 miles out on the Case In Point when he lost control landing on the very same runway. I am confident that final approach course as depicted A few months back at a local air- if in both cases the pilot would have on the GPS map and magenta line. port near Washington DC, a light flown by the numbers, all this horrific Furthermore, on a real ILS or LPV business jet apparently stalled and grief could have been avoided. approach, at the FAF you are usually crashed two miles short of the pilot’s about 1,600 -1,800 AGL. intended 4200' runway. While the Master the stated GPS/OBS pro- In Review official report has not yet been com- cedure and you’ll create a blueprint If you select OBS, crank in the pleted, we know that the single pilot for landings that should dramatically final approach course, start the final operation got too slow on final. The mitigate debilitating anxiety, which approach to the runway about 4 miles control stick not only shook a stall is often the root of disorientation, out at about 1,700' AGL, reduce to warning but actually moved forward confusion and fear. Fly the numbers approach speed, drop the landing in an attempt to guide the pilot’s criti- and the landing will work out safely, gear and come down at about 500 ft./ cally needed action. Reacting with every time. flawed instincts, the pilot overrode the min, then you should be oriented well Keep The Blue Side Up! having a clear sense of presence and warning, pulling back on the yoke and a stabilized approach to the correct deepening his problem. Three were Steve is an ATP, CFII, MEI point on the runway. You don’t always killed in the airplane and three, includ- and a CFF/CPPP instructor. He can be contacted via email at: need to be four miles out to use this ing two kids, in the house that the [email protected] function, but if you relish a degree of post-crash fire destroyed. Six lives and comfort in knowing that you are not millions of dollars of damage incurred; going to be rushed, then that distance all before what I am sure will be a

Help Us Get to Know You! Order an ICS Name Badge Today Wear an ICS name badge at fly-ins, air shows and all aviation events. Actual size is 2 X 3 inches. Blue on white plastic with 3-color ICS logo. $10 includes shipping in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Overseas, add $1 per order. For additional badges, use this format on plain paper.

Enclosed is $______for _____ badges Type or print CLEARLY (What we see is what you’ll get.) 1. Nickname______2. Name______3. City & State______4. Plane #______Tribe______ICS #______Nonmembers should leave ICS # blank or show crew title. Choice for above badge (circle one) SAFETY PIN ALLIGATOR CLIP Please make checks payable to Doris Click and send to: 228 Doolittle St., Orlando, FL 32839-1474

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­23 CONVENTION NEWS 2015

Convention / YURKAIMMORTAL Inc. © Can Photo Stock by LaVerne Stroh

Prior registration forms are outdated due to an unexpected caterer change at the Oklahoma History Museum. We had to make an alteration for the meal. The pecan incrusted chicken and vegan choices are the same, but the beef selection has been changed from prime rib to New York strip steak. If you have already sent in your form and selected prime rib, we will contact you about the new option or you can get in touch with Linda Baker at (940) 683- 4540 or [email protected]. GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER OKLAHOMA the GREATER of courtesy Photo If you haven’t made your hotel res- ervations yet, you can call the Marriott toll free at 800-217-9905 or contact the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown directly at (405) 232-2290. If you would rather make your reservations online, Skyline view taken from Bricktown there is now a link on the ICS website under the 2015 ICS Convention section t is hard to believe it is already March. Before we know it, it will be Convention to help you get to the online reserva- time. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and are confirming final tion site easier. We really appreciate plans so everything will be in place for your arrival and enjoyment. the time Dave Fitzgerald has put in to I If you haven’t sent in your registration form yet, please use the updated improve the link as well as updating form in this issue of the Flyer. You can also print it by going to the 2015 Convention the registration form. section of the ICS website. If you would rather register online, that option is now You will find an abbreviated conven- available on the ICS website. There is a link in the 2015 ICS Convention section tion agenda in this issue. We’re sure that will take you to the electronic version of the registration form. After you there will be something to interest have made all of your selections, you will be able to pay online. you each day. For those who enjoy

24 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 the social aspect of ICS and the con- a wealth of knowledge and they are If you know your itinerary when you vention, we have allotted plenty of time always willing to share it with others. register, please include the times on for you to visit with old friends and We are hoping to have several ven- the registration form. If you do not make new ones. If your main interest is dors/exhibitors at the convention. know your arrival information at the obtaining technical information about We’ll keep you updated on who will time you send in your form, contact your Comanche and/or aviation-related be attending as the date gets closer. Chuck or LaVerne Stroh as soon as you topics, we have numerous planned We’ve allotted time for you to spend have it ([email protected]). Please seminars as well as a visit to the Mike some one-on-one time with them. put “2015 Convention” in the subject Monroe Aeronautical Center (local For those of you flying your line to ensure your email isn’t missed, FAA training academy). Some of the Comanche to the event, we will pro- especially if it happens to go into the planned stops on the tour include acci- vide transportation to/from Sundance SPAM box instead of the Inbox. With dent investigation, flight inspection, Airport. If you are arriving commer- so many people trying to steal personal and the Civil Aeromedical Institute. cially, please provide us with your information, everyone is a little leery about opening email if he/she doesn’t Others stops may be added depending arrival/departure times and we will take you to/from Will Rogers World Airport. know what the content is. on time. We’ll provide more detailed (continued on page 27) information for the tour in one of the next issues. Even if you’re unable to attend all

of the seminars, another really effec- READ GEORGIA © Can Stock Photo Inc. / YURKAIMMORTAL Inc. © Can Photo Stock tive way to learn about your aircraft along with picking up other information about flying, updating avionics, which Photo courtesy of of courtesy Photo modifications work well, etc., is to visit with other owners. The group holds

Sandridge Sky Zip – Oklahoma City’s new 700-foot zip line across the Oklahoma River.

Sundance Airport and FBO. EDWIN CHANDAPILLAI EDWIN Photo courtesy of of courtesy Photo

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­25 2015 Convention Registration Form Annual Meeting & Convention • June 17-21, 2015 • Host Airport: Sundance Airport, (KHSD) • Yukon, OK

Name: Email ICSlt Spouse: ICS#

Address: Cit~ State: Zip:

IIom e Ph: Cell Pl1~ Country:

List a~~uest below Guest: Guest: Guest:

Arrival Information Comane.he to: HSD Arriv:'tl Date: N# PA 180 PA250 PA260 PA400 PAJ0/39 Comimche to: Arri val Date: N# Car: Arrival Date: Airline lo; OKC Arrival Date: Transportation to/from (HSD) provided by ICS - From (OKC) ICS wiJl provide van if advanced iuformabou provided. For ride arrangemenl"i contact: La Verne Stroh at 405-373-2627 or clslroh@ yahoo.com and put 2015 convention in subject line.

Transportation induded fol' 1111 events Number Price Total Attending Registration before April I S'b Per Adult IZnter If attending-+ £450.00 Registration after April 15w Per Adull Enter N attending-+ $475.00 Wednesday, June 17th Breakfast, Lunch & )llllludcJ Old Hoard Mtg at hotel lncluded Welcome Reception Heavy hors d'oeuvres Included Tltul'sday, June JS'b Included B1icktown Water Taxi Enter # attending-> $10.00 FAA Tour Enter ff attendi.ng-+ )ncluded OkJal10111a Outlet Mall Trip Enter # attending--? Included Fl'iday, June 19•h - Seminars - At Hotel Breakfast & Lunch Included Myriad Gardens Tour Enter ff attending-+ $7.00 Oklahoma History Muse1un Enter # attending-. Included Strip Ste:ik Enter # meuls­ )ncluded Pccnu Cmsted Cbickcu MuseumAdroissiou & Enter ti meals-+ !!wludeQ Veg:in Mc:al lncluded Enter # meals-+ Sllturday, June 19th - Airporl Day 13reakfast & Lw1ch Included Seminar at Airport Included Nlltional Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Enter# attending-> SJO.Oo Banquet Cboice,s )ncludcd Pork Tenderloin Enter # meals­ Included Roast Chicken Breast At Cox Convention Center Enter # meals-+ Included Veg au across street from Hotel Enter ti meals-+ Shirts Ladies (circle one) S M L XL XXL XXXL XX...~XL Enter I/. of s hirts ~ $38_00 Men (circle one). SM L XL XXL XX.XL XX.XXL Enter tt of shirts -. £38.00 Calculate X numbt:r attending TOTAL Please fill out this fonn and send fonn & check to: South Central Tribe 1216 Outtertield, Bridgeport, TX 76426

26 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 As we’ve mentioned in previous your hangar space request in the com- issues, the registration fee includes all ments section of the registration form; meals, snacks, gratuities, etc., except or you can email Chuck or LaVerne Update for Tribe Night. Your tribe will choose Stroh at [email protected]. If you a local restaurant for that particular plan to send an email, please provide Your meal. So, come and enjoy yourself, the type of airplane, N-number, and learn about our Comanches, visit with any other information you think will SUN VISORS! new and old friends, and receive infor- be important. mation about the 2016 convention. • Provides maximum protection Sundance is also asking that you from disabling glare Sundance Airport is continuing to let them know prior to landing when update their FBO. They have remodeled you are flying in for the convention. • Uses your existing mounts the majority of the interior and added That will help ensure you are directed • Affordable a sunroom for visiting and watching to the Comanche parking area when As an optometrist and Comanche Owner, (ICS# 13091), airport activities. Many other projects you arrive. We will provide transporta- I wanted better sun visors for my Comanche, so I obtained field approval for my anti-glare sun visors. are planned or already underway. With tion from the parking area to the FBO, all of these changes as well as having where you can quench your thirst; grab $10 plus S & H includes plans and 337 Field-Approved paperwork. A perfect sample pair for your use as some of the lowest fuel prices in the a snack, etc., before we take you to a pattern to make your own is available for a $197 area, Sundance is becoming a busy little the hotel. The airport staff will keep deposit, refundable IF returned within 15 days. Call or email for details. airport. The airport manager would a record of each Comanche along like for us to provide as much advance with information such as if/when you notice as possible for anyone who will want fuel, a contact number if there be needing hangar space during the is an emergency, etc. We will provide Dr. Steven A. DeGroff convention. This will allow Sundance to more information about the airport DeGroff Aviation Technologies rearrange things to help accommodate (i.e., frequencies, approaches) in the 150 Forest Park Drive hangar needs (as a reminder, the hangar June edition of the Flyer. At the end of Berne, IN 46711 fee is $25/night). You can either put (continued on next page) 260-466-2848 • fax: 260-589-2911 email: [email protected] TIP TANK KITS

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­27 Here are a few more trivia facts about Oklahoma: • Oklahoma Railway Museum – The museum serves as an educational experience of railroad travel in pas- • WKY AM 930 was the first radio station to transmit west of the senger trains that operated across Mississippi River, and was headquartered in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma. You’ll find a variety of locomotive, passenger and freight • KOMA AM1520 was a major radio station whose signal was equipment, and many other rail- transmitted nationwide. Listeners would call in from all across road-related items. There are also the nation to request songs to be played. numerous items from the trolley • Oklahoma City’s capitol was the only one in American history system that was used in Oklahoma to have a working oil well on the premises. City until 1946. They have a restored 1905 depot as well. The • The machine invented to automatically apply the twist tie to seal museum is continuing work on a bread bags was invented and first used at the Sara Lee Bakery section of track from downtown to in Oklahoma City. their building in order to provide people with the actual train experi- ence, even if it is just for a few miles. • Harn Homestead Museum – This January, the fuel cost at Sundance was take on her final flight ... maybe she is a historic land run property that $3.22 per gallon for 100 LL. should have. The number of explor- was maintained and preserved in ing women in aviation items is one In the December issue, we listed a few the heart of Oklahoma City. The of the largest in the world, and they things to see and do in the downtown/ Harn’s became very important in the recently added a flight simulator Bricktown area. If you would like to ven- history of Oklahoma City. You can where you can practice your take ture further out, there are many other take a guided or self-guided tour of off from Will Rogers World Airport. museums and attractions available: the Harn’s mansion, a 1900’s dairy • Firefighters Museum – This museum Museums barn, a one-room schoolhouse, and houses many old firefighting engines • 45th Infantry Museum – You will find beautiful gardens. and equipment. You will learn about military scenes, items, and artifacts • Oklahoma Museum of Telephone firefighting, chemicals used, train- from the Civil War, World War I and History – Although it has limited ing involved, etc., as well as why II, the Korean War, the Gulf Wars, hours, you will find the history of Dalmatians were used to escort the and other conflicts. There is a large telephones and telephone equip- horse-drawn equipment. There are collection of Bill Mauldin’s World ment from Alexander Graham Bell fire trucks located outside that you War II cartoons, which were popular to present-day telephones. You’ll can climb on, along with a play area with soldiers overseas. There are learn about the first telephone call, with simulated fire safety escapes. things from Adolph Hitler’s Munich how things have advanced through apartment as well as the world’s • Gaylord Pickens Oklahoma Heritage the years, and how telecommunica- largest public collection of items Museum – You will find a museum tions has changed history in the once owned by Hitler. There is a siz- full of information about Oklahoma state and the world. able collection of military weapons, history and its natives such as • Museum of Natural History – Located including a large area outside of the Reba McEntire, Wiley Post, Martin in Norman, which is a suburb of building with the bigger weapons. It Tallchief, and many more. You’ll Oklahoma City, this museum has is the third largest collection of U.S. learn about the Oklahoma Hall of history from the dinosaur era to military firearms. Fame inductees, as well as everyday now. You will find skeletons of • 99s Museum of Women Pilots – The Oklahomans who have helped shape numerous dinosaurs that have been museum is located near Will Rogers the State’s history. excavated over the years. World Airport. It was started in 1929 • Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame – • Science Museum – Along with and got its name from the original 99 The museum is a tribute to Jim seeing and participating in live sci- members. The museum has a library, Thorpe and houses a collection of ence shows, there are two floors of

many exhibits, and historic collec- memorabilia, artifacts, and records science-related exhibits and art that CITY ZOO OKLAHOMA THE tions including items from Amelia of Oklahoma’s sports heritage. include a section of aviation and Earhart and female aviation suits There is information about sports space exhibits. Most of the exhibits dating back to 1910. You’ll see the in Oklahoma schools, universities, are hands-on. It’s a great way to

lucky bracelet that Amelia did not and other sports organizations. learn about science while having a of courtesy Photo

28 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 great time. You can also test your Additionally, we have the Oklahoma Close to the zoo and science skills on riding a Segway and going History Museum and the Cowboy and museum, you will find Remington Park, through an obstacle course. There Western Heritage Museum on our con- which is a home to live Thoroughbred is also a Planetarium Theatre where vention agenda — there are many more and Quarter Horse racing as well as you will participate in some engi- that we haven’t listed. some off track gambling. If you like casi- nos, there are many in the local area. neered stargazing and learn about Located right next to the Science the solar system. Museum is the Oklahoma City Zoo. It If you love horses, there is usu- ally a horse show at the fairgrounds. • Red Earth Museum – This museum is continually expanding and is now Oklahoma City has one of the best- is located in downtown Oklahoma voted No. 3 in the nation. Along with known show and competition venues City. It is full of Native American the normal zoo exhibits, you will find in the country. If Clydesdale horses are artifacts. You will find pottery, an elephant habitat that has been of interest, the Express Clydesdales basketry, beadwork, and art. The expanded to almost 10 acres, allowing Welcome Center allows you to get up museum is free, and has a retail the elephants a place to roam. The close and personal with the horses, and outlet where you can purchase some newest member of the elephant habi- you have a chance to see the horses in unique handmade items. tat is only a few months old. If you their daily routines. They are housed in are lucky enough to be there when it’s a barn that was originally built in 1936 feeding time for the giraffes, there is a and has been completely restored by platform where you can give them food. a group of Amish barn specialists. It In the Great EscApe section you will see sits on the old Chisholm Trail route. gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans You can also see the wagons and the up close. In the Noble Aquatic Center, show harnesses the horses wear during you will see marine life from around the national competitions, parades, and GILLIAN LANG PHOTOGRAPHY LANG GILLIAN world. You can watch them swim right community events. in front of you. In Stingray Bay, you If you are bringing kids to the con- can touch a stingray, safely of course. vention or if you are a kid at heart, Photo courtesy of of courtesy Photo

Venture into the Great EscApe, a world-class primate facility that features two troops of gorillas (with a new infant), one pair of orangutans, and a lively group of chimpanzees including these three youngsters.

Make time to visit Achara, the newest addition (for the second time) to the Oklahoma Zoo. THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO OKLAHOMA THE Photo courtesy of of courtesy Photo

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­29 2015 Convention Agenda on the many training platforms and courses. For the younger visitors, there Tuesday, June 16 is a youth zone that is a smaller ver- Arrivals sion of the Sky Zip and bungee, along Wednesday, June 17 with a 40-foot bounce pillow. The • Old Board meeting boathouse district is within a mile or • Arrivals to hospitality and registration so of the hotel we are staying at, so you can either hike there or use the • Hospitality open for snacks and visiting hotel shuttle. • Lunch buffet in hotel restaurant At the National Cowboy and Western No excursions planned but will have information for numerous sightsee- ing and/or shopping options — many within walking distance or using the Heritage Museum, the Children’s free downtown shuttle Cowboy Corral will allow kids to dress • Welcome Reception at hotel up like little cowpokes and enjoy other Thursday, June 18 western fun. • Arrivals to hospitality and registration At White Water Bay, there are more • Hospitality open for snacks and visiting than thirty rides, pools, and other • Lunch buffet in hotel restaurant water fun to entertain you. It is a great place to keep cool in the nice warm • Seminars at the hotel in the morning Oklahoma sun. Speaking of Oklahoma • Tour of Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (FAA) in the afternoon sun, there is usually over 300 days of • Outlet Mall shopping excursion in the afternoon sunshine in Oklahoma. • Group water taxi ride with Tribe Night to follow Just outside of the metropolitan Friday, June 19 area is Frontier City, which is a large • Arrivals to hospitality and registration amusement park. There are more than • Hospitality open for snacks and visiting 50 rides and attractions, including four • Seminars at hotel morning and afternoon different roller coasters, an outdoor • Exhibitors at hotel water park, and lots of things to eat. • Crystal Bridge/Myriad Gardens tour in the morning If you like concerts, they have them almost every weekend. • Lunch buffet in hotel restaurant • Early departure to Oklahoma History Center for those wanting to spend There are several places that have more time touring the museum indoor fun for all ages. At Main Event • Meal and General Meeting at Oklahoma History Center Entertainment, you can play video Saturday, June 20 and arcade games, bowl, play billiards, laser tag, and much more. Of course, • Airport Day – early and late departures to Sundance Airport they have plenty of food and drinks • Judging of airplanes available. • Seminar at airport At Pole Position Raceway, you can • Lunch at airport test your driving skills at the indoor • Leave airport for National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum go-kart tracks. It has one of the largest excursion tracks in the world. You can drive, or • Return to hotel just watch while you are enjoying some • Closing Banquet at Cox Convention Center across from hotel food and drinks. Sunday, June 21 If you are driving to Oklahoma City, Departures – transportation provided to Sundance and Will Rogers World don’t forget that the old Route 66 goes Airport directly through Oklahoma City. If you Note: Agenda subject to minor changes prior to Convention follow it through the state you will find many Route 66 museums and attrac- tions. Just outside of Oklahoma City there is plenty to keep everyone occu- At the Oklahoma Boathouse, you you will find Pops, which has become pied. In the Bricktown area, there is can walk the trails, climb the 80-foot a Route 66 landmark. Pops hosts a a rock-climbing wall where you can tower, take the Sky Zip across the 66-foot-tall pop bottle that can be seen learn to climb or hone your skills on river and back, rent kayaks or stand for miles around at night when it is lit the more advanced walls. up paddleboards, or test your skills up with LED lights. They have over 500

30 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 cold bottles of soda in as many flavors expansion and had many friends in Another widely quoted comment as you can think of. They also have a aviation, but his best known friend was was “I don’t make jokes. I just watch small diner, and a shopping area with Wiley Post. Being fast friends, he turned the government and report the facts.” Route 66 merchandise and souvenirs to Wiley to take him on his trip around Wouldn’t he have a heyday in this era? of all kinds. the world where, as you know from the He even provided his own epitaph previous issue, the trip ended when the As you can see, you won’t be bored when he said his gravestone would read, airplane went down in Alaska. While in Oklahoma City ... so, get your regis- “I joked about every prominent man tration in soon. The first thirty people alive, Will Rogers used his status to of my time, but I never met a man I to do so will receive a cap from Boeing. help push aviation whenever he could. didn’t like.” He joked that he was so The cap is in honor of the Boeing 737 Will Rogers was known as a legend- proud of that, he could hardly wait to MAX, which will be debuted in 2017 ary cowboy, roping performer, actor, die. Unfortunately, that death came with some of the first planes to be deliv- and humanitarian. He was born in much too soon. He was only 55 years ered to Southwest Airlines. Indian Territory in Oklahoma to par- old when he and Wiley Post had their In last month’s issue, we provided ents who were both part Cherokee. unfortunate airplane accident. Some you with some Oklahoma aviation One of Rogers’ famous lines was that accounts say the nation mourned his history, along with information about his ancestors didn’t come over on the death in a fashion only rivaled by the Wiley Post and a little bit about Will Mayflower, but they met the boat. death of Abraham Lincoln due to his Rogers. Here is a brief history of Will Rogers was also well known for using wit, humor, and ability to deal with the Rogers — he had many things named his humor. He used it to poke fun at politicians. Although he was continu- after him, including a submarine, and gangsters, politicians, government pro- ally asked to become a politician, he the Will Rogers World Airport here in grams, prohibition, and many other never would run. Oklahoma City. controversial topics. By presenting his Will Rogers was known for his topics with humor and his “folksy” We will provide you with more interest in aviation. He was an avia- style, he was able to get his point across of his famous quotes in the next few tion enthusiast who pushed for aviation without offending people. issues. ProPellerS

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32 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 Code Item Price Qty Total ICS11 Tips Manual $65.00 Easy to use, fold flat spiral bound, 365 pages. Updated version due soon. ICS23 Care and Maintenance of the Piper PA-24-180/250/260/400, PA-30 Comanche Single (Creech Manual) $25.00 Donated by Maintenance Director and life-long member, the late Bill Creech. Tips on care and maintenance of your REVISED Complete Kits Single Comanche. 2013 edition revised by Cliff Wilewski PA-24-180/250/260/400 ICS35 Landing Gear DVD $25.00 PA-30, PA-39 Watch complete gear removal from the airplane and 1000 hour gear AD performed and hosted by Hans FAA/STC, PMA Neubert and George Mahurin. 2 hours. Approved ICS09 Mens White Polo Shirt with pocket $35.00 $859 Fixed Strap Kit Circle selection: Single S M L XL XXL Twin S M L XL XXL $1059 Inertial Reel Kit Both S M L XL XXL Rear lap belts available. ICS14 Ladies Light Blue Knit Polo Shirt $35.00 Circle selection: S M L XL XXL Circle selection: Twin Both Single ICS24 Mens Light Blue Knit Polo Shirt with pocket $35.00 Circle selection: Twin: S M L XL * Slide Under Fit Single: S XL * Rugged Construction LIMITED SUPPLY * #6000 Capacity Ram ICS27 Mens Ultramarine Polo Shirt with Pocket $35.00 * Range 24" – 41" Circle selection: Single: S M L XL XXL * Locking Safety Collar ICS28 Stone Washed Denim Shirt $35.00 * Three Leg Design Circle selection: S M L XL XXL Circle selection: Single Twin MODEL 324 $249.00 EA. Circle selection: Long Sleeve Short Sleeve Tail Stand / Weight Available ICS36 Men’s (New Style) Light Blue Polo Shirt $38.00 Easy Care 60/40 cotton/poly blend, stain release, wrinkle resistant, uv protection, curl free collar, 6.7 ounce, 3 button placket, bone horn buttons, straight bottom, rib knit collar Online -alphaaviation.com & cuffs, reinforced side vents, taped neck & shoulders. ICS32 Ball Cap $14.00 Circle selection: Tan Blue Circle selection: Twin Single ICS34 Visor $14.00 Ultramarine (blue) Sun Visor with ICS logo. 1-800-653-5112 Fax 1-952-856-5158 Hook and loop type closure. 100% cotton. ICS26 Coffee Mug $7.50 Circle selection: Single Twin ICS10 Lapel Pin $5.00 Circle selection: Single Twin Logo Heritage Aero, Inc. ICS05 Decals (price for 2) $5.00 ICS06 Cloth Patch $6.00

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­35 functions and experience the camara- derie and knowledge of other owners. FROM THE TRIBE CHIEFS Some events are purely social, others include seminars (mostly technical and/ or knowledge-based), and the remaining are a combination of both with attrac- MID-STATES TRIBE SOUTH CENTRAL TRIBE tions for the entire family. If it is difficult Saturday Lunch Fly-Ins Weekend or Saturday for you to attend a full weekend fly-in, Lunch Fly-Ins you may find a Saturday lunch gathering Saturday Lunch Fly-Ins will be with that same Comanche camaraderie posted in our new Comanche Winds One of the most enjoyable aspects of sharing flying stories, hangar talk, and newsletter which will come out every of owning and flying your Comanche lunch more to your liking. Make plans to other month. is the ability to travel to Comanche attend as many of these events as you can. Whether your own Tribe or any of DATE TRIBE EVENT/LOCATION INFO SOURCE/HOST the other Tribes are hosting it, you are welcome to attend. The friendships you March 20-22 SW Annual Laughlin Fly-In Lorne and Peggy Harmon will make at these events will be lasting Laughlin, Nevada (928) 925-1225 / Lorne memories. If you have a favorite destina- (928) 925-1054 / Peggy tion in your region, think about hosting [email protected] one of these events yourself. If it’s not March 21 (22*) NE Lunch Fly-in Ron and Lynn Ward in your area, just contact the fly-in Williamsburg-Jamestown [email protected] coordinator in that particular region Airport, Williamsburg, VA Register at: http://www.quietcornerbands.org/ Forms/ICS-NE Flyin RegForm.htm and discuss it with him/her. Should you need a little help getting started and/ April 11 (12*) NE Lunch Fly-in Ron and Lynn Ward Easton-Newnam [email protected] or tips on organizing either type of fly- Field Airport – Easton, MD Register at: http://www.quietcornerbands.org/ in, please contact Bruce Thumann at Forms/ICS-NE Flyin RegForm.htm [email protected] or April 17-19 CPTP Comanche Clinic Express Registration: Dennis Carew at (713) 875-3056. Midcoast Aviation (KLHW) (920) 749-9558 Hinesville, GA Online Registration: www.comanchetraining.com Tribe Email Updates April 21-26 SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo If you are not receiving the South Lakeland Linder Regional Airport Central Tribe’s Fly-In and/or Tribe- Lakeland, FL specific email notices and would like May 16 (17*) NE Lunch Fly-in Ron and Lynn Ward to, please email Bruce Thumann at Joseph Y Resnick Airport [email protected] Ellenville, NY Register at: http://www.quietcornerbands.org/ [email protected]. Forms/ICS-NE Flyin RegForm.htm He will make sure to amend the SC Tribe June 6 NE AOPA Fly-In/Open House email list to include your address. Most Restaurant on site updates will be for upcoming events Frederick Municipal Airport that will also be located in the ICS Frederick, MD National Newsletter; however, some may June 13 (14*) NE Lunch Fly-in Pete Morse be important last-minute details not Parlin Field Airport [email protected] appropriate for the National Newsletter. Newport, NH Register at: http://www.quietcornerbands.org/ Forms/ICS-NE Flyin RegForm.htm June 17-21 ICS ICS Convention South Central Tribe SOUTHWEST TRIBE Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma Downtown Oklahoma City, OK March 20-22, 2015 Sundance Airport – Yukon, OK Annual Laughlin Fly-In July 20-26 ICS EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Laughlin, Nevada Wittman Regional Airport “Down on the River” is once again Oshkosh, WI calling for the Southwest Comanche Oct 9-11 CPPP Training Clinic Bob Cretney Tribe. We will be staying at Harrah’s Lancaster, TX (214) 725-6584 (cell) Casino & Resort again (they provide [email protected] free transportation between the airport/ * The following Sunday is the raindate. hotel) — a Mexican-themed facility

36 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 with not only a beach, a Starbuck’s and toward completion of his RV-10, he for our copilots, but this year we have five restaurants, but access to the water determined there were no flat-panel a winner. We will drive to Kingman taxi between all the casinos up and displays on the market that met his for lunch in the beautiful Hualapai down the river. Come join us to experi- requirements; so he built his own flat- Mountain Lodge which has a very ence nice weather and great hospitality screen panel. That’s right, folks, he large picture window that frames elk, (temperatures usually range in the didn’t just install the equipment, he elk, elk ... tame elk grazing outside mid 80s during March). The Laughlin/ built the equipment! Bill will give a while you dine. After lunch, we will be Bullhead International Airport (KIFP) three-hour presentation on ADS-B, travelling about 25 minutes down the is located on the opposite side of the thanks to financial support from the mountain to an alpaca farm. There will Colorado River from the casinos. Comanche F lyer Foundation (CFF). be no individual charges for entry to Time permitting, he will advise each the farm as it is only $6/vehicle. You For the Pilots of us individually, based on our spe- may feed the animals and take advan- We have arranged for an ADS-B tage of “Kodak moments.” Afterward, cific panel, as to what equipment we seminar on Saturday morning (3/21). you will find their gift shop of interest need for our Comanches to satisfy the As all pilots know, we have a loom- ... alpaca socks that are warm in the ADS-B requirements. We really appreci- ing deadline to equip our airplanes winter and cool in the summer (even ate having Bill at this seminar. for complying with the new upcoming diabetic socks), shirts, etc. Don’t worry, requirements. We are very fortunate For lunch, we plan to take all we will be returning to Laughlin in time to have Bill DeRouchey as our instruc- the pilots to a highly recommended to dress for dinner! tor — he is an “expert” on the subject. Mexican restaurant that just happens to Bill currently flies a RV-10, which is be across the street from Don Laughlin’s Fly-In Details the only Vans aircraft that seats four Riverside Casino. What many may not Landmark will again be our host people. He has a long career working know is that Don Laughlin (by the way, FBO. Weekend parking will be free if in the electronics/software fields. He an aviation enthusiast) has quite a car you purchase at least 15 gallons of fuel began developing and selling software in collection in the casino, which we will or top the tanks, and they will give the 1980s and was an engineering man- tour in the afternoon. us a 10-cent per gallon discount. This ager for Symbol Technologies’ wireless FBO, like all Landmark FBOs, charges division during the ’90s. Symbol is one For the Copilots a one-time $5 security fee. of six companies that developed what It’s always a challenge to find some- Transportation will be provided by is now known as Wi-Fi. As Bill worked thing new around the Laughlin area Harrah’s Casino between noon-5:00pm

TRIBE STATE ORGANIZATION

AK WA ME VT MT ND NH OR MN NY MA Northwest Tribe WI ID SD MI Northeast Tribe RI WY CT PA Mid States Tribe NJ IA DE NE MD North Central TribeOH WV DC IN VA NV IL CO KY UT KS MO CA NC Southwest Tribe TN HI SC Southeast Tribe AZ OK NM AR MS AL GA

South Central Tribe LA Australia Tribe AU FL European Tribe EU TX South Africa Tribe SA Eastern Canada Tribe EC Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland Western Canada Tribe WC British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­37 net. They can be reached via phone at either (928) 925-1225 for Lorne, or (928) 925-1054 for Peggy.

SOUTHWEST TRIBE April 17-19 CPTP Comanche Clinic Hinesville, Georgia The clinic seminar will begin in the conference room at Midcoast Aviation in the Hinesville, GA (Ft. Stewart KLHW) airport on Friday April 17 at 8:00am, and run to approximately 5:00 pm. A Comanche will be up on jacks Saturday morning for a hands-on sys- tems lab. Dual flight instruction will be on Saturday and Sunday. Ground transportation will be provided between LHW airport and the hotel. Optional rental cars are available (see below): Savannah Car Rental (912-370- 1169): Ask for Shandale Mills — tell her Charlie Martin sent you from Midcoast and you'll get a special rate of $25.00 plus taxes per day for a mid- size car. Cars will be delivered to LHW and may be returned there. Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (912-877- 5611) — ask for the special Comanche Group rate of $70.00 plus tax per night. Rate includes a hot breakfast buffet. There are special registration rates for this CPTP clinic: • Full Course includes dual flight instruction in your aircraft. The regular registration fee is $850.00, which has been discounted for this clinic to $650.00 • Ground School without dual flight instruction has a regular fee of $425.00 — the discounted fee for this clinic is $375.00 on Friday, and they will return us to dinner, we will have a very short tribe The FBO is Midcoast Aviation, Inc. the airport on Sunday morning between meeting that includes a raffle drawing located at LHW, Hinesville, GA and Ft. 8:00am and noon. If your arrival/depar- for gifts and a cash prize. Stewart, GA airport shared military ture is not in this time range, cab prices Harrah’s reduced room rate is base (912-877-4359). For additional range from $12 to $14. $59.99 per night. For reservations, airport information, see AirNav.com, We will once again have our buffet call (866) 781-9572 and ask for group Foreflight, or the AFD. dinner in the Vera Cruz Room at code: S03SWC5. Please visit the www.comanche Harrah’s. The cost for the dinner is Lorne and Peggy Harmon will be training.com web site to download $40 per person (includes tax and tip) as hosting the event again this year. If a registration form and mail it in as well as a $5 registration fee per person. you have any questions, please feel directed; or for Express Registration A cash bar will also be available. After free to email them at flying@cableone. call: Dennis Carew at (920) 749-9558.

38 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 SOUTH CENTRAL TRIBE Update Your Old Comanche Panel October 9-11 CPPP Training Clinic Lancaster, Texas Make Room for a MFD The CFF will conduct a CPPP event in Lancaster, Texas, October 9-11 hosted by Bob Cretney. As with previous train- ing events at LNC, the top shelf hangar and classroom facilities at the Cold War Aviation Museum (CWAM) will be used for ground school. The Dallas area provides a variety of different types of airports in close proximity to LNC, as Update your panel to a standard “T” configuration. Add space for well as lots of open, uncongested areas new electronics. All panels computer drawn and laser cut. for flight training. Fuel at LNC is some ‘58-60 Centerstack Conversion $950.00 (Fully STC’d) of the lowest in Texas and maintenance ‘61-68 Single or Twin $825.00 (Fully STC’d) is available if needed. A great speaker will address us at the Saturday Night Recuts left side – $250 • Recuts right side – $100. (Prior Panels) dinner. Additional details will follow Contact: John Van Bladeren at: in future issues. Contact Bob Cretney at: [email protected] or (214) 725-6584. Ron & John’s Comanche Service 2007 SE Ash Street • Portland, OR 97214 (503) 329-8512 (Day or Night) • Fax: (503) 234-0677 e-mail: [email protected]

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­39 FEATURE

VOLUME 39, NO. 9 Comanche Flyer SEPTEMBER 2012 Needs your Stories, Tips

The Official Membership Publication of The International and Tricks! Comanche Society Share your Comanche Knowledge with your Fellow ICS Members o you have a good technical tip or overhaul story you can share? What about a flying experience or recent instructional experience where you’d learned a lesson from which all pilots could benefit? Maybe a trip you took in your Comanche that you’d recommend to others. We also desperately need in-flight photos of your Comanche Dto feature on the cover of the Flyer (needs to be at least 1 MB in size to print well). Anything you can share that would be helpful to fellow ICS members, we need you to send in your information! You don’t have to be a writer by trade, just put your thoughts down and tell your story – it will be edited, if needed. Below is a list of regular columns in the Flyer, and a few new ones that have been suggested (the word count provided is only an average to help guide you).

Cover photo/Comanche Spirit – Not Maintenance Q & A – Do you have Fly-In Reports – A pretty popular only do you get to have your Comanche a question regarding maintenance on column, but we don’t see the on the cover of the Flyer, but we like to your Comanche? Send it in and we’ll experiences some of the tribes are feature the owner so ICS members can have our Technical Directors suggest having. Send us your story. We’d like get to know you better. You can fill out an some solutions. As questions come in to hear how your Tribe is getting owner questionnaire and the editor will and a reader has an alternate solution, together and sharing the camaraderie. write a story about you, or you can submit they can send them in as well. This Average length is 250-500 words. your own. Average length is 1,000 words. would be an ongoing format for Best of the Flyer – This is an easy maintenance discussion. Letters to the Editor – Send in your one. If you know of an article in past comments about an article you read in From the Logbook – If you have a Flyers that you found useful and you a past Comanche Flyer. Or you can also trip that you’d recommend to other think needs repeating, send a copy and send items of interest you’d like to share members, or a particular “adventure” we’ll reprint it. with other Comanche owners that may you’ve taken in your Comanche that you’d not be long enough for an article. Really, like to share, this is the column! We have If you have a story that you don’t we’d like to hear from you! featured trips in story and journal formats. feel fits into any of the above categories, Average length is 1,500 words. send it anyway. Most issues include Technically Speaking – We like to feature stories and we’d like to hear feature technical information you have Product/Vendor Information – from you. What do you enjoy learning found useful in maintaining your Co- Did you have a good experience with or reading about in the Flyer? Do you manche. Maybe it was an ongoing a vendor that you’d like to share or have something you can contribute? problem that you finally found a have you recently purchased a product We’d like to hear from you! solution or you want to warn other that you’d recommend to other ICS owners of an issue that occurred with members? The best information that Send your contributions and ideas your airplane. Anything technical is most owners get is from others who to Editor Melissa Frisbie at mfrisbie8@ featured in this column. Average length have experienced it, so share with us! att.net, or 125 N. Turnberry St., Wichita, is 500-1,200 words. Average length is 250-750 words. KS 67230.

40 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 From the Logbook

Voyage to Madagascar Part Two: Toamasina and the Pangalanes Canal by Stephan Hodgson

he first article on my road through a thousand hills and val- demonstrating that responsible mining trip from South Africa to leys. It is also home to the world’s can go a long way to protecting the Madagascar was focused largest nickel and cobalt refinery, the environment and developing social Ton the flying. It would be a reason we live in Toamasina. infrastructure, health and education. sin to continue writing articles about The name Madagascar evokes Flying in Madagascar is a pleasure. the flying experience in this majes- images of lemurs, baobabs and vanilla. One rarely has to worry about traffic. tic country without expanding a little To some it also suggests images of Toamasina International Airport is just about the incredible places my 260 TC rogue penguins that have escaped the north of the town parallel to the coast- Comanche, ZS-ONX, has taken me. New York Zoo. It does not evoke nickel line. It has one asphalt runway, 01/19, I would like to start with my home- and cobalt. Yet today nickel is by far measuring 7218 ft by 131 ft. It has one town, Toamasina. I have been living Madagascar’s largest export product, com frequency – 118.3 Mhz for clear- there for five years with my beauti- dwarfing twofold all other export ance, ground, tower and approach. It ful wife and two children. It is the categories combined in value. The has one ILS, one VOR and one NDB. second largest city in Madagascar. The stainless steel knife and fork you will Simple. It also has one hangar, the local population also calls it Tamatave, eat with tonight may contain Malagasy temporary home of ZS-ONX at the its colonial name. It is a port city, or nickel. I’m very proud of working for historical “Aeroclub de Tamatave.” rather a town, of around a quarter of Ambatovy. Our environmental and Madagascar has a rich aviation a million souls (nobody has checked social efforts are proportionate to our history, mainly due to its crinkled for a while). It is also the major port industrial activities, setting new stan- geography. Malagasy aviation began of Madagascar, through which 90% of dards on a global scale. As head of the in 1911, only eight years after the import and export is conducted. It is construction department, I participate Wright brothers’ historical flight, connected to the capital Antananarivo, in many multi-million dollar social and with the first flight in a Bleriot. It took 200 miles away, by a two-lane winding environmental sustainability projects, until the end of 1926 for a seaplane

Independence avenue and the town hall of Toamasina.

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­41 backtrack runway 19 during which I did my pre-takeoff checks and engine run. With everything in the green we shot down the runway and lifted off in about the same time it takes to read this sentence. Over the town I could look down and see the Avenue of Independence with its majestic palm trees. I could pick out the recently renovated historical town market called the “Bazar Be” built in 1890, one of my projects that I’m particu- larly proud of. Off the left wing tip I could see the container ships and a coal ship moored in the port, while other ships were docked in the calm waters shielded by the tropical Isle of Prunes in the middle of the bay on The world-class Ambatovy nickel plant. which the tallest lighthouse in Africa proudly stands. to fly from France via the great lakes aeroclub with my brother-in-law who We leveled off at 1000 feet with the of Africa to Madagascar. The postal was visiting us. I wanted to show him endless beach glittering from ilmenite service “Aerospostale” was the main the picturesque Pangalanes Canal from to our left and the Pangalanes canal to sponsor for the development of the air. This 400-mile waterway was our right. I throttled back to long range aviation in Africa and Madagascar. built in 1896 along the east coast of cruise settings at 22 inches and 2200 Rapid communication between the Madagascar, shielding barges from the RPM. ONX settled down to 130 knots. mother country and the colonies shark infested southern Indian Ocean With a fuel flow of only 10.5 gallons an was paramount. In 1933 it took ten and opening up trade along the coast. hour, ONX can fly forever on full tanks. days to send a letter to France and The Pangalanes canal is a succession We flew over my house, sandwiched the total weekly weight of post sent of lakes and rivers connected together between the beach and the canal. I was a meager 75 pounds! This was by dugout canals connecting the town could see my son Victor and daughter also the year that the Aeroclub of of Farafangana to the south with all Manon looking up and waving at us Tamatave was started. Aviation flour- the plantations along its route and the as I waggled the wings. To our right ished during the early years with the port of Toamasina. Today much of it we could see the Ambatovy refinery development of agriculture. Every is silted up due to the lack of mainte- with its 3000 foot runway (another farm had a strip and every farmer nance; however, it is still an important of my projects) equipped with LED owned a plane. Madagascar was an trading route for traditional pirogues. runway lighting and a stunning hangar aviators dream. Unfortunately the We pulled ONX out of the derelict for the company Twin Otter. We flew building of bitumen (asphalt) roads old hangar and after a thorough pre- along the canal over the first of many to connect the main cities and the flight to ensure no rats had made their traditional Betsimisaraka villages on development of the telephone cou- nest in the engine bay or elsewhere we the riverbank and continued to where pled with economic difficulties made climbed in. It was piping hot when we the canal joins a river, the Ivondro, private aviation unnecessary and got inside and within seconds sweat and then extends to the first of many expensive. Today private Malagasy was pouring down our faces and necks. lakes. As we flew over this magnificent aviation is microscopic compared Soon the Lycoming was humming and maze of waterways, the waters of the to north America, but a small pas- warming up while we were trying to Pangalanes canal sparkled below us sionate group of aviators is pioneering cool down with the hot humid air being and stretched to the horizon. the new era. Our small aeroclub, has blasted through the storm window. We flew over the first, second and gone from one aircraft to six aircraft It took a lot of patience not to expe- third lakes — the pure white sand in three years. One of the aircraft is dite the warming up and short-cut beaches of the canal washed of all ONX, my beloved Comanche. the checklists. Finally the oil temp ilmenite contrasting deeply with the It was a beautiful tropical Saturday was over 100° and I could taxi to the unevenly stained black beaches of the morning when I drove out to the runway entrance. I was cleared to coast. Below us we could clearly see the

42 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 canal traffic, a mixture of bamboo rafts wondrous to wake up with the gruff that I’m no better than the next pilot, and ancient large wooden pirogues car- calls of the lemurs surrounded by so if it can happen to someone else rying wood, charcoal and crops powered pristine nature. The crowned lemurs it could happen to me if I let myself by wind and sweat; and more modern dance around the breakfast tables become overconfident or distracted. colorful galvanized steel pirogues car- hoping for a scrap of fruit and one Humility and checklists are key ingre- rying people, powered by gasoline. almost expects King Julian from the dients to safe flying. The procedures here are to always inform the control- Sixty miles south from Tamatave, animated movie to arrive and start ler of your position in all phases of the we were above a nature reserve called singing. They are such lovable, soft and tame creatures that one almost circuit as they have no radar. Over the Palmarium. We had been there forgets they are wild animals. the Ivoloina River that meanders to with our boat a week earlier to spend the north of the runway, I turned base a night and explore the rainforest. I banked the Comanche back and then turn final. With the land- The forest is home to several types of towards Tamatave following the ing checks done, a light crosswind lemurs including the largest lemur, the coastline. I could hear over the radio and light weight, I came in at a nicely another plane being cleared for land- Indri Indri, known for their spine chill- settled 90 MPH and slowly pulled back ing. Twenty minutes later with the ing song; and the nocturnal Aye-aye, a on the power over the threshold then field in site I called the tower and was gremlin’s cousin with a skinny index glided ONX down onto the runway. cleared to join downwind over the finger the length of a chopstick to dig I’ve learned that smooth transitions port. I was now the only aircraft flying out the bugs in trees. This reserve is coupled with the correct speed go a in the area so I didn’t have to worry also home to an incredible variety of long way to getting compliments from much about traffic. indigenous flora and fauna, including the passengers after the landing! chameleons of all sizes, some bizarre With my downwind checks done As I taxied back to the hangar carnivorous plants, poisonous minia- and the green undercarriage light another aircraft was parked in front ture mantela frogs, and giant spiders reassuringly on I called for base. My of the Aeroclub. My friend Fifou was the size of a dinner plate. Luckily there greatest fear is to make a wheels-up grinning as he stood in front of his is nothing deadly in Madagascar! It is landing by mistake. I’m a firm believer (continued on next page)

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MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­43 Custom Engine Overhaul Coming in to land at Toamasina International Airport.

A beautiful view of the heart of Toamasina and its port.

Magical meeting with an Indri Indri family at the Palmarium nature reserve. white- and purple-striped Cessna 206. Together we share the same passion for flying, adventure and the environ- ment. He also happens to live in Sainte Marie, a heavenly island 70 Nm north of Tamatave, which my wife, children and I have come to love after the many adventures we have had there. The next adventure in Sainte-Marie was but a week away, and it was promising to be really special…

44 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 Turning back to Toamasina — only the beach separates the ocean from the canal.

Despite the heat a thorough preflight of ZS-ONX is mandatory.

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­45 CLASSIFIEDS COMANCHES FOR SALE

• (Two issue minimum) 1960 PA24-180,sn 24-2273,N 7115P, 4000hrsTT, • 25 Words: $25.00/2 issues 625hrs SMOH, 200hrs SPOH, fresh December PA24-260 • No charge for photos annual, All ADS complied with. Landing gear 1972 Comanche PA-260C. 5210-TT, 800-SMOH, • Extra Words: $0.50/word overhauled by WEBCO. Intercom,Century IIB autopilot, Recent annual, 3-blade prop, Garmin-430W/ • Payment must accompany advertisement order. Brand new Garmin 430W, KX170B, Garmin GTX 430/340/327, King-KCS-55A-HSI, Century-IIIC-AP, All advertising must be received by the ICS in writing 327 transponder, FS engineering audio panel, Always WXll -Storm, Many options and speed mods, Always (mail, fax, or e-mail) five weeks prior to the desired hangared; must sell .Contact Rick (405)641-3199. month of publication. Payment must accompany adver­ hangared, $95K. George@ 319-210-0995 1/2 tisement order. [email protected] 2/2 Renewals may be made by telephone, but initial ad must be in writing. PA24-400 The publisher makes no warranties as to the veracity or accuracy of the information provided by 1964 PA-24-400. TT-5300. SMOH-300. Complete the advertiser. The publisher is under no obligation to PA24-250 Logs. 1280lbs useful load. Robertson-STOL. Lopresti- accept any or all advertisements. mods. Dual Ray-Jay turbochargers. Garmin 530- 1959 PA-24-250, TT-6375. SMOH-430. S#1375. WAAS. Over $50k spent to restore in last 18 months. International Complete logs. 3/blade PropSN-62. Garmin- Just out of Webco annual. Please help – family Comanche Society 530WAAS. K155. CenturyAP. Appolo-audio-panel growing – need 6-place Comanche – twin or single!! Osborne-tip-tanks. Quadra-GPS. JPI. Stormscope. Call Regg 605-207-0309. 1/2 Trading Post & Classified Alternator. One-piece windshield. Vernier mixture. Advertising Contact: Knots2U Mod. Front-seat sheepskin covers. All ADs. Annual-12/31/15. Hangared. $55K. Phone:785-271- Betsy Beaudoin 8200. [email protected] 2/2 2779 Aero Park Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: (800) 773-7798 Fax: (231) 946-9588 E-mail: [email protected]

AIRCRAFT WANTED PA30/39 COMANCHES WANTED: All models, runouts OK, needing P&I/Radio upgrades OK, fast discriminate transaction 1964 Twin Comanche PA-30, SR#342, N34RA, TTAF on your ramp. 20 years experience/references. Call 6045, New Custom panel with Aspen-PFD, Synthetic Jim, (760) 803-3093. [email protected]. 2/2 Vision, GMA-340 Audio 4pl intercom, GNS-430W, Yoke Garmin 796-cpld to 430, JPI-760 Eng. Anal. With FF, STEC 50-AP, $98,000, Call Andy (615) 305-6612 or email [email protected] 1/2 PA24-180

1959 PA24-180: SN 1446, N6336P, TT 2598; SMOH 898; last annual/AD completed 2005; last flown 2012; Paint marginal; Hangared at least since 1973; All logs; Engine strong; Interior good; Ferry permit ready; Located SE KS; Needs good home; call Ted 618-444- 4291; [email protected]; $19,000 2/2 1959 Comanche PA24-250 3500TT 1000SMOH & 1964 PA-30: 5000TT; 1750/250-SMOH. GNS-430, prop/3-blade, Dual KX155w/GS, KLN94 IFRw/map, Cent-2000, WX10A Storm-scope, EDM-760, STEC30 w/alt hold, Strikefinder EI EGT, EI FP=5L modern panel. Leather, All logs. Always hangared. Fuel monitor, New 4-place intercom, brakes, tires, World-wide delivery available. $69,900. Email tail AD complied, tip-tanks, pulse-landing lights, for specs/pics. Fred Benson. [email protected]; hangared-NDH, 918-607-6442, $49,900 1/2 678-571-0496 1/2

46 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015 PLACING AN AD? ADVERTISING INDEX Use this list as a guideline for the information you may Aerotech Publications...... 15 Aerox (Shaw Aerox LLC)...... 9 want to provide and the order in which to do so. Air Parts of Lock Haven...... 35 • YEAR, Model Year of Aircraft Aircraft Specialties Services...... 38 • MODEL, PA 24-180, 250, 260, 400 Aircraft Spruce and Specialty...... 48 • SERIAL NUMBER, Serial Number of Aircraft AKG...... 48 • N-NUMBER, Registration Number of Aircraft Alpha Aviation...... 33 • TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME, Total Hours On Airframe Aviation West Insurance Broker...... 27 • AIRFRAME DAMAGE HISTORY, Any Damage History e.g. Gear Up Landing Clifton Aero...... 23 • TOTAL ENGINE TIME, Total Hours On Engine Since Factory New or Remanufactured Comanche Flyer Foundation...... 13 • ENGINE TIME SINCE TOP OR MAJOR OVERHAUL Comanche Gear...... C2 • PROPELLER TIME, Total Time On Prop Since New or Overhaul Degroff Aviation Technologies...... 27 • ANNUAL INSPECTION DATE Electronics International...... 17 • FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS, Standard Gyro Panel, Electronic Flight Instrument System General Aviation Modifications...... 23 • RADIO / NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT LISTING, Communications & Navigation Great Lakes Aero Products...... 39 Heritage Aero, Inc...... C2,33 Equipment Listing e.g. GPS, ILS, VORs Insight Instrument Corp...... C3 • WEATHER ADVOIDANCE EQUIPMENT, Stormscope, Radar, J.L. Osborne Inc...... 27 • SPECIAL EQUIPMENT LISTING, Engine Monitor (EGT, CHT, Fuel Flow, etc.) Johnston Aircraft Services...... C4 • AUTOPILOT, Type & Make of Autopilot Knots 2U, Ltd...... C2 • INTERCOM Lighthawk...... 17 • INTERIOR CONDITION & NUMBER OF SEATS Met-Co-Aire...... 48 • EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS, Gap Seals, Wing Tips, Speed Mods, Windshield Mike’s Upholstery...... 35 • PAINT CONDITION Oilamatic, Inc...... 3 • HANGERED OR TIED DOWN Paul Bowen...... 21 • AD NOTE COMPLIANCE Phill-Air Inc...... 23 • GENERAL COMMENTS Pilots N Paws...... 21 • ASKING PRICE planecover.com...... C2 • CONTACT PHONE NUMBER Poplar Grove Airmotive...... 11 • CONTACT E-MAIL Precision Propeller...... 39 Preferred Airparts...... 18 Rocky Mountain Propellers, Inc...... 31 Abbreviation Key: Ron & John’s Comanche Service...... 39

A/C Air Conditioning FGP Full Gyro Panel OH Overhaul SCS Aircraft Interiors Inc...... 9 AD’s Airworthiness Directives FWF Firewall Forward PET Piper Electric Trim ADF Automatic Direction Finder GPS Global Positioning System RB Rotating Beacon Shaw Aerox LLC...... 9 AH Artificial Horizon G/S Glide Slope R/C Rate of Climb Sky Manor’s Air Repair LLC...... 17 A&P Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic GSP Ground Service Plug RE Right Engine AI Aircraft Inspector H/P Heated Pitot RG Retractable Landing Gear Sound Ex Products...... 23 A/P Audio Panel HP Horsepower RNAV Area Navigation AP Autopilot HSI Horizontal Situation Indicator SB’s Service Bulletins Survival Products Inc...... 35 CDI Course Deviation Indicator IFR Instrument Flight Rules SCMOH Since Chrome Major Overhaul CHT Cylinder Head Temperature IMC Instrument Meteorological SFN Since Factory New Tsuniah Lake Lodge...... 35 COM Communication Conditions SFRM Since Factory Remanufacture C/R Counter Rotating ILS Instrument Landing System SMOH Since Major Overhaul Warren Gregoire & Associates...... 15 C/T Carburetor Temperature LE Left Engine SOH Since Overhaul DF Direction Finder LOC Localizer (Runway Centerline S/N Serial Number Webco...... 11 DG Directional Gyro Guidance) SPOH Since Propeller Overhaul DME Distance Measuring Equipment LORAN Long Range Navigation System STOH Since Top Overhaul Zephyr Aircraft Engines...... 43 EFIS Electronic Flight Instrument M/B Marker Beacon TBO Time Between Overhauls System MDH Major Damage History TT Total Time EGT Exhaust Gas Temperature NDH No Damage History TTAE Total Time Airframe and Engine ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter NM Nautical Miles TTSN Total Time Since New E/P External Power Plug NAV Navigation Radio Receiver XPDR Transponder F/D Flight Director OAT Outside Air Temperature

Fax: (231) 946-9588, or E-mail: TRADING POST [email protected]

Trading Post is a non-commercial, member to member service provided free of charge, one time per member, Wanted: wheel and rotor for a 1959 PA24-250; per year. The sale of aircraft is not permitted in the email: [email protected] 1/1 Trading Post. • Ads must be submitted in writing only (fax or E-mail OK). Piper Stabilizer Horn in perfect condition Dye • Free ads may not be placed by phone. penetrant inspected by Johnston Aircraft Service • First 25 words are free. with FAA Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate • Extra words are $0.40 per word. $300. Contact Rolf at [email protected] 1/1

MARCH 2015 Comanche Flyer • ­47 FREE CATALOG

Proud Sponsor of

48 • ­Comanche Flyer MARCH 2015

Australian Comanche Stabilator Horn STC’D AND PMA’D THIS IS A PERMANENT FIX FOR FAA A.D. 2012-17-06

Recommended Installation Centers

JOHNSTON AIRCRAFT SERVICE Tulare, California (559) 686-1794 [email protected] HERITAGE AERO CLIFTON AERO Rockford, Illinois Clifton, Texas (815) 395-0500 (254) 675-3771 [email protected] [email protected]

All of these firms have years of experience with Comanches and can do an excellent job for you! Johnston Aircraft Service NORTH AMERICAN AGENT FOR AUSTRALIAN HORN LYCOMING ENGINE O/H PROFESSIONALS

P.O. Box 1457 • Tulare, CA 93275 • Phone: (559) 686-1794 or 686-2161 • Fax: (559) 686-9360 e-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.johnstonaircraft.com