WHAT AIRPLANE IS THIS?

Happy Holidays to everyone. Since the January issue of Model Aviation was scheduled to arrive on your doorstep around December 20, we decided to make this month’s Name the Airplane contest’s aircraft a Holiday Present to everyone. So if you look very closely at the engine nacelle, you will note that the aircraft’s name is written inside the gold stripe! (Remember this for next year as we plan to do the same thing.)

The aircraft pictured is of course, the Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche. Once the WW II surplus market of very cheap, heavy twins was used up, light twins started to become popular. Piper acquired its first light twin design when they purchased the Stinson Aircraft company in 1948. Stinson had just designed a Twin Stinson. With a few changes, including a single vertical fin in place of the Stinson’s dual fins, this aircraft became the PA-23 Apache (photo 1). The Apache was a very low price alternative to the Cessna 310 and the Beech Twin Bonanza. It was also one of the easiest, safest and most fun to fly light twin aircraft ever produced. Lots of Apaches were sold after its March, 1954 introduction.






Despite its enormous popularity, the Apache still left the high-performance twin market to Piper’s competitors. Piper introduced the PA-23 (yes, same number) Aztec (photo 2) in 1959 to try to capture part of this high-dollar market. The Apache’s nose was lengthened, more horsepower added, a larger, swept vertical fin designed and some creature comforts installed. The Aztec, which grew to a six-seater in 1961, sold well but just didn’t have the exciting lines needed to compete with Cessna’s dynamic looking 310.

So, in 1963, Piper introduced the PA-30 Twin Comanche to replace the Aztec. The fuselage was narrowed to cut drag and the PA-24 Comanche’s efficient wing was used to enhance lift and speed. Even though the Twin Comanche retained the Aztec’s 160 hp engines, the new aircraft was faster. Extra wingtip fuel tanks, like the 310’s, were offered as an option to extend the range and addedto the aircraft’s racy looks.

So fast was the “Twin Com” that Max Conrad used it to establish the cross Atlantic speed record for light aircraft. Conrad flew non-stop from Cape Town, South Africa to St. Petersburg, Fl to win the Harmon Trophy in 1964. While still lacking some luxury features, the Twin Com proved very popular. Other Piper twins replaced the Twin Comanche in 1971. The most popular was the PA-34 Seneca, based on the single-engine Cherokee Six.

Manufactured from 1963 to 1971, the Twin Comanche helped Piper to succeed in the mid-priced light twin market. It is remains a very sought after used aircraft to this day.