PA-23 Apache: Origin Story page 44 PA-28 PA-32 Wing Spar Cracks 126 Rust Never Sleeps: Nickel-plated cylinders C, Booth 3 VOL. 15 / ISSUE 07 JU LY 2018 PIPERFLYER.ORG See us at AirVenture Hangar Aircraft Spruce is the leading worldwide distributor of general aviation parts and supplies. Our orders FREE ship same day, at the lowest prices, and with the support of the most helpful staff in the industry. 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Lock Haven Low Wings Comanche Aileron ADs 36 by Kristin Winter What Lies Beneath: Interior Renovation of Aging Piper Aircraft 54 64 by Dennis Wolter Aerial Fire Detection 58 by Terry Hocking Press Releases 72 Aviation Safety Alerts 76 PIPER PA-23 APACHE: Origin Story Advertiser Index 84 44 Back When: Vintage Piper Advertising and Marketing 86 Cover: Piper PA-23 Apache Photo: James Lawrence Photo: James Lawrence Less Weight. More Comfort. See them both at EAA AirVenture Booth #2104 - 2105 Surround-the-ear style, 12.3 0z. Rest-on-ear style, 7.5 oz. HYBRID HYBRID The DC ONE-X weighs in at just 12.3 ounces and the DC PRO-X at a feather-light 7.5 ounces. They are the lightest, full-featured ANR headsets in aviation. Which, along with other advanced design and technology features such as a heat-absorbing head pad and plush leatherette ear seals, keep you much more comfortable in the cockpit. And that makes for a more enjoyable and relaxing fl ying experience. Order DC ONE-X and DC PRO Series headsets online at www.davidclark.com or call 800-298-6235 for more information. © 2018 David Clark Company Incorporated An Employee Owned ® Green headset domes are a David Clark registered trademark. American Company WWW.DAVIDCLARK.COM The Official Magazine of The Piper Flyer Association PRESIDENT Jennifer Dellenbusch [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR OF SALES Kent Dellenbusch [email protected] PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Heather Skumatz Hartzell Propeller’s Top Prop CREATIVE DIRECTOR Program now offers the longest Marcus Y. Chan propeller warranty available in general aviation through ASSOCIATE EDITOR 1st overhaul. Scott Kinney The Hartzell Propeller MARKETING STRATEGIST Top Prop Conversion Program Nik Cielo EDITOR AT LARGE TOP PROP Thomas Block FOR PIPER AIRCRAFT CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Mike Berry • Steven Ells • Kevin Garrison A Hartzell Top Prop performance propeller conversion will create even better Michael Leighton • John Ruley • Jacqueline Shipe performance, smoother operation and less noise for your Piper aircraft. Dale Smith • Kristin Winter • Dennis Wolter CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Bowen • James Lawrence • Keith Wilson PIPER FLYER ASSOCIATION 1042 Mountain Ave Ste B #337 Upland, CA 91786 Toll-Free: 800.493.7450 Call or Text: 626.844.0125 www.piperflyer.org Piper Flyer is the official publication of the Piper Flyer As- sociation. Piper Flyer is published monthly by Aviation Group Limited, 1042 Mountain Ave Ste B #337, Upland, CA 91786. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Piper Flyer, 1042 Mountain Ave Ste B #337, Upland, CA 91786. Subscriptions, advertising orders and correspon- dence should be addressed to 1042 Mountain Ave Ste B #337, Upland, CA 91786. Annual dues: $44.00 in the U.S.; 〉 3-blade ASC-II advanced Canada and Mexico add $15.00 per year; all others add $25.00 per year (U.S. Dollars only). Eighty percent (80%) of structural composite scimitars annual dues is designated for your magazine subscriptions. for Mirage/Matrix The information presented in Piper Flyer is from many 〉 2- and 3-blade conversions sources for this there can be no warranty or responsibil- for Piper singles and light twins ity by the publisher as to accuracy, originality or com- pleteness. The magazine is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering product endorsements or providing instruction as a substitute for appropriate training by qualified sources. Piper Flyer and HartzellProp.com/TopProp Aviation Group Limited will not assume responsibility for Contact us at 800-942-7767 any actions arising from any information published in Piper Flyer. We invite comments and welcome any re- port of inferior products obtained through our advertis- ing, so corrective action may be taken. PIPER FLYER >> 06 << JULY 2018 NEW A25 Series Powerful NAV/COM Air Band Portable with Built-in GPS & Bluetooth®* EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2018 Booth: #2027-2028 July 23-29, 2018 A25N A25C NAV/COM COM ONLY Follow us today. www.icomamerica.com/A25 ©2018 Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is a registered logo of Icom Inc. 42570 *Built-in Bluetooth for A25N The View From Here piper flyer letters Jennifer Dellenbusch DESTINATION: FOREVER HOMES by Dennis K. Johnson, June 2018 Hello Kent, Loved, loved, loved the article in this month’s issue about FlyPups. What a great story—and what a great man! Marisa Bonno Main Turbo Systems, Inc. Piper Technical Support Visalia, California What does it mean when we say we offer “technical support”? Let’s face it, a lot of groups throw the term around, but what is it really? FEEDBACK ABOUT EVENTS Let’s briefly talk about what we are not. We are not a substitute for your good judgment and your responsibility as an aircraft owner and pilot in command. It is Dear Editor, up to you, as we always say, to know your FAR/AIM and check with your mechanic My magazine arrived today, June 12, before starting any work. and I went almost first to Events. On the What we do is bring you together with the people and resources to help support “Other” list, all but the last four are his- you when you need it. tory. The list also stops June 19! Nothing How does that work? happening into late June or any of July? When you call or email Piper Flyer Association, you’ll likely reach either Kent As I plan my flight from Alaska to Dellenbusch or me. Sometimes we’ll have an immediate answer or suggestion, but Oshkosh by way of Murfreesboro, Ten- when we don’t, we start our search for the answer. nessee, I’d love to know of events along After 24-plus years working with Piper owners (14 here at PFA and a few years my route. But I’ll leave around July 6, and elsewhere), we’ve developed a pretty good network of experts. don’t expect to have my July magazine by Our writers comprise the backbone of our technical support team and are some then. Wish you could help. of the smartest and most experienced people in the industry. We have Steve Ells, A&P/IA and Piper Comanche owner with decades of experience wrenching on Ken Kokjer Pipers; Kristin Winter, A&P/IA, Comanche owner and acknowledged expert on Fairbanks, Alaska Comanches and other Piper models; Jacqueline Shipe, active A&P/IA; Dennis Wolter, A&P/IA, pilot and industrial designer; Michael Leighton, A&P, Master Flight Instructor and serial aircraft owner; and Mike Berry, A&P/IA and Apache owner. Staff reply That’s some serious experience and expertise to bring to bear on your problems. We also reach out to our advertisers/supporters; the folks who make and service Hi Mr. Kokjer, the components that you may be calling about. They are always willing to help our I appreciate your feedback about the Piper Flyer Association members resolve issues. timeliness (or lack thereof!) of the events By harnessing the power of the collective knowledge of all these resources, we listed in Piper Flyer. Of course space is are able to bring you the answers you need—and we do it all in a friendly, no- always a consideration, but in the future we judgment environment. will be revising our selection procedures to So, if you haven’t already, give our technical support service a try. It’s a benefit attempt to avoid any “old news.” that’s free with membership in the Piper Flyer Association. I’m sending you our in-house docu- ment with Events for July for your perusal. Blue skies, While it’s not an exhaustive list of events happening around the U.S., there are quite a few—many more than what are reflected in the magazine. Safe travels on your cross-country! Stop in at our booth (3126) if you get the chance, and say hello. Respectfully, Heather Skumatz Production Coordinator SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Send your letters to [email protected]. 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