Comanche 250 In The Pattern with Sherman Gardner

[@brandonb417]

So for anyone who's flown a Comanche, I'm curious, aside from being faster and complex, how is it compared to flying an Archer? I'm looking at escaping CA so I can afford a plane and I'm thinking Comanche so I can go visit family without spending 8 hours in the plane. Any perspective would be appreciated.

[@coriscotupi]

Those high performance singles can initially be a handful for pilots used to much more forgiving airplanes such as the Archer. In addition to being faster and more complex, with prop pitch and landing gear to deal with, they carry an additional trait (which might be viewed as a liability): The retractable gear and constant-speed prop make them pretty clean aerodynamically, so when allowed do descend, they tend to gain speed, lots of it, _right now._ The Comanche is not only all that, but also has a thin, very slick wing, which compounds this issue. Pay very close attention to airspeed at all times. That old adage of not letting the airplane get ahead of you is even more important when transitioning from more basic airplanes to high performance singles. Get well acquainted with the airplane, fly it initially a few times with a good instructor, and do everything by the book.

[@choctawone8266]

I bought my Comanche 250 with about 80 hours total time - 5 hours in Comanche with excellent Comanche owning instructor. That was 800 hours ago. Never had any problem transitioning from Archers and Cherokees. They are slick and float a bit before touchdown. The 60-gallon models are almost impossible to overload or get out of balance. Mine is 60-gallons, but I occasionally wish I had the more common and newer 130-gallon models. Word to the wise: The phrase "Airspeed, airspeed, airspeed" never applies more than in a Comanche.

[@FlightSimVRDad]

@@choctawone8266 That float is much more pronounced in the Comanche and boy she sure is slick in the air when you want to drop altitude.

[@AragornTrueKing]

The more I research this plane, the more it's looking like the plane I want to buy!

[@ErikJohnston]

They really are awesome planes

[@bigdaddyrhr]

I like your tail # N7500P. My dad bought a Comanche brand new in 1963, tail # N7900P!

[@cortezchris2405]

I'm amazed at how awesome aviation technology was in 1961. I'd love to own a Comanche 250. They also made an 8 cylinder Comanche 400. I saw one with twin turbo's once. Pretty cool.

[@tomheringer2047]

I owned a 1963 Comanche 250 many years ago and logged 2000 hours in it over a 10 year period. Absolutely loved the aircraft. Most flights were at 9,500 or 10,500 feet. Always trued out at 182 mph and average fuel burn was 14.5 gph. Due to high traffic density in the Sacramento area, climbs were accomplished with a lower nose attitude which resulted in a 500 fpm rate of climb and 120 mph IAS which provided great cooling for the engine and excellent forward visibility. It took me all around the western U.S. and up and down Baja California. Only two mechanical failures come to mind. The engine quit once while climbing over the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains after departing Reno, NV due to a failed mechanical fuel pump. Another failure was shortly after take off from Fresno, CA when the number 3 cylinder head decided to separate from the cylinder barrel. The only thing holding it together was the exhaust stack, the intake riser, and some baffling.

[@c3vids_shorts]

Great video great flying.

[@chrissanchez9935]

Thank You for the presentation. It's very pleasant to see you guys casually talk about aviation.

[@siroboo9471]

Perfect landing!

[@williamfahle151]

Nice landing Sherman!

[@toppops22]

Oh yeah the Jabiru is made in Queensland Australia. I owned a 230B. They have had a lot of overheating problems mine included. The airframe was good but the engine let it down. I sold it and bought a C182 and got my PPL. Enjoyed your filming and your chat and your flying. The Comanche is a nice looker, I would have one in place of the 182. Flying is a great way to admire Gods creation.

[@hectortorres1812]

awesome video 👍

[@dacrmc21]

Great video! Love the whole team ITP!

[@gfinnstrom]

you were trained very well in photography i started that way in 1970's

[@Edubarca46]

I love the Comanche, Such a beautiful and aesthetic airplane. I am going to build a radio control version since I can't afford a full size one.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

What a great business. Well done to all.

[@InGratitudeIam]

I learned to fly in the Comanche 250. A long lost love...

[@astral9872]

I own the 16th tail number after this one. Love this plane.

[@mikevisser8310]

Hi Eric, Great to see the Comanche in your videos! I want to get a bunch of Comanche drivers together, and shoot pics of a big formation, with awesome backdrops! I have a ‘65 260, love your pics and videos!

[@ErikJohnston]

Mike Visser ThT would be a lot of fun to do!!

[@lukelanglais7471]

where do you fly out of? i fly the Comanche out of In The Pattern and would love to be a part of that!

[@ErikJohnston]

Luke Langlais In The Pattern is located at Denton airport Texas

[@lukelanglais7471]

@@ErikJohnston affirm i rent outta there just wondering where this mass formation would take place lol

[@ErikJohnston]

Luke Langlais Oh now I gotcha buddy! Not sure if we’ll do the mass formation, but who knows

[@DWB245]

I noticed your gear door's hanging down a bit(a lot)- may need rig checked. My 250 was hanging a bit. Gorgeous bird.

[@jtthill5475]

Great bird. I'm looking at a 260C that I can't afford, just drool on the keyboard. Since no one seems to want to say Australia I guess I have to answer for them. Nice flight, nice friends. If you get down to KMWL would love to drive out and meet you. Trying to get my BFR after many years and then get complex finished up. Thanks for sharing.

[@keithgray7361]

Jabiru from Bundaberg, in Queensland, Australia

[@txnetcop]

Now I know where to rent a 152 close to the house if mine plays out...by the way you might want to make a video at Aircraft Salvage of Dallas out by Lancaster Airport! Great video Erik...thank you!

[@bradrobinhancock8491]

I hear that my favorite trainer - N79919 is heading up your way now.

[@RetiredPilot]

I put a ton of time on a Comanche 180 cruise at 160 @8 gal an hour. Also have a lot of time on a twin Comanche with 160hp engines. The one I flew was not counterrotating.

[@paulposey1162]

Look how much back pressure he has on the yoke, a lot of up elevator. One of the great planes.

[@michaelharper2339]

as a kid I had a love of planes and aviation but wasn't born with dollars in my hands. not to complain cause I don't want to be rich and firmly believe that earning something is far better then having it handed to you. but also as a kid i was young and dumb add on a few traumatic events that i guess caused me to stray in life and not realizing what i really wanted to do in life. hit high school and trying to put the pain behind me just started working and trying to make some money and well we all know how that goes lol. But what ended up happening is before i knew life passed by and 50 is knockin. I keep the dream alive and keep holding on to hope that i might one day get my ppl. and the passion to fly burns so much hotter now due to my stumbling on the Microsoft flght sim. Man if I would of had that as a kid my story would be way different. It has tought me more then I ever learned. and now I would sell my truck to get my ppl if i didn't need it lol. for anyone seeing this if your sure of what you want in life and have the chance to get there... take it! Don't delay cause the regret can be heart wrenching.

[@ErikJohnston]

Oh man! I hear ya! Growing up it was always money, I could always make the time keep to go fly, but the money was a thing. I kinda grew up at the airports. That allowed me the opportunity to scratch that itch, haha. I still don’t have my ppl, but probably should knock that out!

[@tforest9841]

I like it

[@Wrench245]

Awesome video with only one problem; all that talk about food halfway through had me thinking more about where I'm going for lunch than flying. I think the only thing that would catch me out on that plane is the location of the pitch trim. I guessed B for the Jaibaru because it didn't sound German and it's pronouncable for people used to speaking English, which ruled out Sweden.

[@dam4274]

You should’ve had extra cameras so we could see the dash and what’s going on!

[@ErikJohnston]

DAM8658 Your welcome to be my sponsor so I can afford to go buy more cameras to make free videos for everyone to watch.

[@gibbmusic]

Sherman: "The pilot shortage is real" COVID: "Hold my beer"

[@Ichibuns]

It may have made it a bit worse. A lot of people ended their flight education during that period.

[@gibbmusic]

@@Ichibuns Yeah, now that things are returning to "normal", the pilot shortage will become a big deal again. But a year ago, tons of pilots lost their jobs.

[@danielhaumesser7816]

Nice to see an aviation video that doesn't have all the stupid background music and wanna be hollywood crap. Just the flying and people doing it. Also, I wan't to come down and adjust your gear door. Great video.

[@amejaremy]

I've been searching for a decent Canadian PA24 so I've been watching every video I can I find. The landing gear seemed to be not tucked up as tight as others I've seen and the fore/aft play on touch down seemed a tad excessive. Maybe its all with limits but I'm curious if your landing gear has been overhauled recently or has it been quite some time? Purely asking to help me determine what is common and accepted.

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

Too much love going on in that cabin for me. Grates on my grumpy ol man persona which I have been developing for years.. Gertcha cowson :)

[@ErikJohnston]

Paul Dutton Hahaha

[@mytube082007]

No seat belts?

[@Lee-rp6kk]

Why would you switch tanks right before takeoff? Also your weatherstripping is loose at the top of the door.

[@CaptainJaison]

Based on POH, the fuel tank is switched every 1 hour.

[@buckbuchanan5849]

Enjoy your channel! And wasn’t that just “heavy haze” he punched?

[@scottwhitcher265]

...'cause you can't fly through clouds VFR...

[@buckbuchanan5849]

@@scottwhitcher265 ah, that was a joke

[@mattf49006]

Gear doors need re rigging and the cabin door seal flapping in the prop wash (and resulting leak) would have driven me nuts

[@ErikJohnston]

Matt Foster Yeah we noticed the gear doors after filming the video. That’s a difficult thing to see in flight no matter how hard we hold on, we always fly off the wing! It sucks. The door seal is a common issue and has been glued back with Gorilla Glue. But now we have to take into account the added weight of the Gorilla in the weight and Balance and the performance of the aircraft sucks now!!

[@markzimmermann3441]

What? No electric trim?!?! 👨‍✈️

[@dam4274]

Comment is with 2 M’s. You have co-ment as in cement.

[@ErikJohnston]

DAM8658 What are you talking about

[@dam4274]

ErikJohnston @6:48 asking about the Australian Jabiru.

[@penguin217]

Bundaberg Australia

[@1glopz]

Yes your certificate is a privilege.