Piper Navajo - Twin Engine Beast - Panther Conversion

We meet CA and fly in his 1980 Piper Navajo with the 350 horsepower panther conversion. It really was a treat flying in this twin engine beast.
Really love this channel and want to help it continue? Become a Patron for as little as $1 per month:
/ flyingdoodles
Charlie Alpha Aviation
/ @charleyalphaaviation
Electron Machine
www.electronma...

[@motor2of7]

I love 4 blade props. They just look “right”.

[@Virtualmix]

43 gal/hr, ouch! Great airplane and great pilot, thanks for sharing the flight with us!

[@dieselyeti]

Turboprops are worse. They eat fuel and smile.

[@josephc.9520]

Yes the iv-p literally has one of the engines mounted on this thing and flies so much faster

[@KutWrite]

Hot looking passenger in back, too!

[@Agislife1960]

And thats about half of what turbine engines would burn.

[@christianjforbes]

43 gph … 1200lbs … 180kts There’s a few singles that’ll do very close to this at half fuel burn or better

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

A friend flew the same plane and it was a wonderful acft. It's a workhorse, not sexy but probably the best blend of everything wanted for a twin. The Q-tip. Blades are quieter than standard blades.

[@thomasquinn4036]

Lost two test pilots in Navajo at the Lakeland plant,ailerons rigged backwards,carwheeled down the runway,I was at the Vero plant at the time,sad.

[@gunsaway1]

Navajo is a great plane.

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

My gods, how I miss this. This was the kind of plane I dreamed of back when I could still fly (no more medical :'( ). Though I chuckled at the "down there": yeah, I learned in Denver and flew around the Rockies. You guys were def alway "down there" ;)

[@austinformedude]

Nice video! Have to be careful of the VS climbs on AP though. Its old equipment, so it may not climb in IAS.

[@millcreekmccannfamily5648]

Really like the vid and the machine. Especially liking the intro music too... what song is that?

[@jennydiazvigneault5548]

TCAS is a very useful tool but be careful of other aircraft that dont have transponders.

[@Pilotalphapapa]

This guys has KZbin channel you guys should check it out

[@nunyabuizness2953]

That plane is beautiful. Those engines sound like monsters.

[@VeteranAviator]

“Extracts oil from plant based material for medicinal purposes”. Kinda churched it up.

[@CharleyAlphaAviation]

It was a pleasure flying with you.

[@DOMINICAAVIATION]

You have an awesome channel!

[@fargknob]

She looks great. I earned my A&P at Colemil working on all his conversions...but the Navajo is my favorite. It's one tough bird. Enjoy my friend.

[@billiondollardan]

I looked up his company on the polo shirt. The video on his homepage shows him demonstrating the toughness of the instruments he manufactures by dragging the sensor through the mud, running over it with a truck, and shooting it with a shotgun AND a rifle. I'd work for this guy! lol

[@FlyingDoodles]

Haha wow

[@CharleyAlphaAviation]

billiondollardan thanks. It is kind of hard to make in line density instruments interesting. We try. 😀

[@KutWrite]

I was thinking "ex-Marine."

[@davecrupel2817]

@@CharleyAlphaAviation As an A&P, i would accept running a compinent over with a truck as a certification of airworthiness! If it was legal. 😂 And how does the Navajo hold up as a contender against it's Cessna 400 series cousins? The 402, 411, 414, 421, etc?

[@adampennington8954]

"Affordable" lol. I hope to one day share the same sentiment.

[@toadamine]

Compared to buying and operating a Boeing 737... lol

[@PRMarshall]

Every vid I saw said it’s affordable😂

[@trilogy3x]

You have to make 6-7 figures and have money stacked up from good investments to afford one I should be making 6 figures soon and I’m investing heavy to get my money right to buy one.

[@superskullmaster]

@@trilogy3x I wouldn’t waste your money on a old plane even if you think you like the looks.

[@trilogy3x]

@@superskullmaster not really a waste of money they last a long time and are easier to get into price wise and insurance will be cheaper also. If people didn’t buy older planes nobody would actually be able to fly general aviation unless they millionaires

[@patbarrett9263]

what a beautiful plane, thanks for the ride.wish I was still in the sky(medical reasons)I miss my old Mooney.

[@ethanhiggins4887]

that guy perfectly described my childhood experience with airplanes. learned how to fly via instruments at like age 10

[@mattf49006]

7:24 with a wink....." a company that extracts oil from a plant based fluid for medicinal purposes "......lol

[@KutWrite]

I started thinking "MJ" as soon as he had repeated "short fields at high weight" a few times.

[@jakeadams7698]

Let’s not forget the “demonstration equipment” 😏😏😏

[@jakeadams7698]

The actual tail number should read N420MJ 😏

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Yeah i don,t think he,s talking about pepto bismal.

[@BPCougar8000]

@@jakeadams7698 bruh

[@ldoyle3rd]

Was just thinking have not seen any recent videos from Charley Alpha lately and CA pops up on Flying Doodles! It was great to hear the backstory on his company and his family's flying background, they deserve way more subscribers as flying for business is not something widely covered in KZbin.

[@davidjohnson3166]

ldoyle3rd - You bring up a great point. My last business Airccraft was Beechcraft Travelair and prospective clients thought it cool when I could easily offer services into their 2500 foot airport; made them feel special, (which they were); ‘cause it paid for my plane. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA

[@dancahill9122]

@@davidjohnson3166 Agreed. A plane can actually pay for itself in a lot of small to medium size businesses if the clients are spread out. Even in real estate, if you're a small to medium investor (like apartment complexes).

[@FallLineJP]

“Oil from a plant based material for medicinal purposes” 👀🤣

[@ts1ezrdr]

A Navajo with the Panther conversion is one of my dream planes. If I ever hit the lotto, one of my first calls would be to Mike Jones for one of his Lock & Key models.

[@TomCook1993]

tracy moore lock and key is a beauty

[@dantellewisham133]

There is a Chieftain with a Panther conversion for sale in Australia right now

[@randyporter3491]

Great video ! Thanks Bobby, for bringing us along and a big thanks to C.A. for a look at this really nice workhorse ! I got a little bit of time in a 414 long ago, but never a Navajo. Always wondered about the performance differences at the time. Safe skies guys ! 🇺🇸

[@thoonth]

Buddy this plane is cool... I like it very much..There is a zebra girl in the back seat. 😯

[@drpando]

How come these videos never start with “my father worked as a fast food worker”? I am a private pilot, but had to stop when I became a victim of the syndrome related to making the realization of what REALLY makes an airplane fly. Everyone knows the answer to that. If you don’t have it, you don’t fly. That simple.

[@Bartonovich52]

Hmm My father is dead. He was dead when I was a teenager. I worked hard to get my licences and worked hard to get a decent paying job in aviation with no connections and am still working hard scratch building my own plane. Some people have it easier than others. But ANYONE can have their own airplane through hard work and sacrifice. Maybe it will be a used Challenger ultralight instead of a Panther Navajo. The plane I’m paid for fly would pound this aircraft into a pulp by every measurable aspect except cost... but it’s not as fun as something light and simple and cheap.

[@scheusselmensch5713]

Great airplane, I have around 6000 hours on PA 31s. Only reservation I've ever had is turning loose pilots who don't understand engines and their proper handling. A numbnut can burn up a couple of TIO-540s in a very short period of time. Well handled Navajo engines will go 3000 hours with one top overhaul, in my experience.

[@JamminJere]

Two of my favorite channels together... Thanks for looking up Charley Alpha and having CA on Flying Doodles.. CA is one of my favorite pilots on KZbin. He does a terrific job!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Landing right on the piano keys great landing thanks for the upload new to your channel hello from Australia

[@FlyingDoodles]

Thanks for watching !

[@TheSteelerider]

Beautifully rugged, working aircraft. It even sounds tough when it starts up.

[@JohnS916]

The right engine loped like a Chevy 409

[@billjobes1851]

What a beautiful aircraft ! Outside and in -- love the panel. Thanks for the talk and the tour.

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

That twin definitely looked stable, seems like there’s no fighting with the wind. 🌬🚫 Great airplane, beautiful landing! 👍🏾

[@michaelbickley5933]

000⁰0000000000⁰0

[@kennedy.nola_]

Great video, probably my favorite. Keep up the good work!

[@benmartz3405]

Sorry i keep looking @ the chic behind the captain.

[@terriecotham1567]

My first job in aviation was at Colmill Ent the birth place of the Panther it was quiet a learning place for a kid just out of the service Love the new avionics but all love the Copilots panel with the king KCS 55 and the KFC 200 Autopilot a Colemill install in many Panthers Yes quite a place to work and the avionics shop had some first class teachers its nice to see the Panther is alive and well and Mike Jones aircraft has it down when it comes to up dates Saw more than one of the Colemill Panthers setting in DEA sells as there performance was quiet good at getting out of dirt runways or that's what i was told Thanks for the video and it looks like you have a first class aircraft as well

[@trackthismotherfuckers9805]

Love your videos. The best aviation channel that covers every make and model! Cheers from Australia 👍✈

[@FlyingDoodles]

Thank you!

[@melynn66]

Nice video and aircraft. Calling traffic on the display is just wrong... ATC wants your eyeballs to see the traffic and only say you have it when your eyeballs see it!! Relying on the instruments to show you where the traffic is instead of using your eyeballs to clear before a visual maneuver is not very safe. I've had a close call with someone who didn't have any electronics on his plane to tell my electronics where it was... always visually clear your airspace.!

[@quinnjim]

When he keeps commenting "we have that traffic on the display", it's meaningless. ATC can't use TCAS or ADSB traffic displays for separation purposes. A lot of guys feel like saying that helps, but it doesn't. It's useless information. You either have the traffic in sight, or you don't.

[@BetweenLayersAviation]

Nice twin! The engine conversion is a great upgrade but seems to be a thirsty bird!

[@MarkSmith-zt2zl]

44-45 gallons an hour at 70%. Wanna go fast? Buy gas.

[@johnmcdevitt3683]

Outstanding! Thanks CA Q Tip Props very interesting.

[@AviationNut]

Q tip propellers are great for getting your ears clean.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

I once Q-tipped the propeller on my Skyhawk. Somehow it didn't improve performance.

[@KutWrite]

I remember hearing about an FAA inspector who was combing a field lookign for violations he could cite. He grounded an A/C with Q-tips, saying the gear-up landing hadn't been reported, the props replaced and the plane should be inspected before flight.

[@scheusselmensch5713]

I can tell you that they don't lift up small stones during gravel strip operation like the stock Hartzells do.

[@teacheng3795]

Here in Australia we had a golfer by the name of Jack Newton. He used an airplane propeller to scratch himself with. not sure if it was a Q-Tip but, either way, it didn't work out so well for him. Wiki Jack Newton for more info.

[@soonerjontheconservative636]

I was lucky enough to make an emergency landing in a Navajo in Holbrook in 1988 after loosing the right engine.

[@_multiverse_]

Sooner Jon The Conservative That just happened to me last year. Frozen crank case vent lead to the failure of a mag gasket.

[@JohnS916]

@@_multiverse_ I get the impression after watching quite a few twin-engine videos, there is justifiable anxiety of losing an engine on takeoff. Reminded me of another video about the early P38 Lightings having rollover tendencies under similar circumstances. I believe part of the solution was better pilot training. At least today you have access to simulator training I think. Bottom line, my take is you better ingrain the recovery process as an auto-response reaction. Excellent video, but with most of these short flying demonstrations, there sure is a lot to going on in the cockpit, much less trying to respond to the interviewer's comments at the same time.

[@dancahill9122]

@@JohnS916 Another good reason to do short field take offs all the time ! If you ever have "an engine out" you've got a little bit more time to react. Stay safe folks !

[@dancahill9122]

This brings to mind an awesome statistic on SIM training. My small community (CFI)has a local company that does SIM training for the public sector. I was lucky enough to talk to one of their managers and/or instructors a few years ago. I asked him how much safer a pilot was, that had SIM training. I figured 100 or maybe even 200 times safer. He told me that insurance companies consider a pilot that has (probably consistent ?) SIM training to be 1000 TIMES SAFER ! !

[@kevinnicolay5331]

Thanks guys for the ride,very enjoyable!

[@mrkmwatson]

Love that Laura chimes in. Makes me jealous that I don’t fly anymore and get to live vicariously through the life of others.

[@alanpettibone]

Love that Hylas polo, sir. My favorite blue water sailing vessels. Way to represent!

[@websurfer44]

I'm glad you got flying back into your videos Bobby. Sorry you had to give it up but most of us would never have met you if you hadn't had a problem.

[@bigos.motoowens5813]

How much is the maintenance cost on a pressurized cabin?

[@p1epoppa]

Extraction of oil from a plant based material! 😂😂

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Young Living...

[@JLSAUNDERS72]

As a mechanic and pilot... this guy makes great decisions and understands how to run a business for opportunities and operations... from Arlington Area... I was wondering if I can use his machine to test the optimal sugar content for my drinks... teas, coffee and soda etc...😀

[@bostonareapilot3911]

Please don't tell ATC you have traffic on your display. It isn't in any way helpful. You have traffic in sight or you don't.

[@beaterstang0898]

I really enjoy your videos you do an excellent job, not to mention I love Navajo's. Would be pretty neat if you could get a video of a Beech Starship.

[@jaimefabrega9635]

I had a Piper Navajo Panther and was a great airplane. I flew it all around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Florida. A fantastic airplane!

[@harveygablatz5839]

YES SIR A REAL MONEY MAKER WHITE LIGHTNIN

[@spike7112ify]

That was the most tv friendly way to put it XD

[@fargknob]

Awesome airplane CA....I started pulling wrenches at Colemil in 1979. Bill Colbert hired me and gave me my start towards my A&P ticket. The Panther was the best conversion.....converted them for over 3 yrs.....even got a little stick time too. :O) Enjoy her my friend. Thanks for the video.

[@fingerhorn4]

Completely uneconomic fuel burn and ridiculously expensive to run. Nice guy flying it though.

[@jaydenchandler7206]

Wow just realized this is the airport right next to my house, KGKY, wow I remember when I was younger me and my grandpa sitting there watching for hours planes take off and land, wow

[@FLPV1]

00:20 with auto generated subtitles 😂

[@itsowen2113]

Fernando Posada that made my day 😂😂😂

[@Rational863]

Sperm odor! Lol

[@RIP5582]

Bwaha hah. Nice pick up

[@jsteiger2228]

430 deg CHT?!?!?.... continuous?!?!

[@19211926]

jsteiger2228 that seems crazy high

[@Valantir]

I fly a non Panther chieftain. We keep those 540's around 400. 430 is a little high but not unheard of especially on a hot day.

[@bernardanderson7569]

The Panther is the beast of all Muti engine Aircraft

[@markburkley42]

Thanks for the great video. Brought back memories flying T-28B/C in VT-3 at NAS Whiting 45+ yrs ago. Still miss flying.

[@RichieRouge206]

Great plane, top guy

[@tonybaird7710]

Good looking Columbia in the background. My first photo bomb. Another great video Bobby and you married UP btw!!!

[@FlyingDoodles]

Haha was great to meet you!

[@Metalgearmadness]

I think I was in that archer that day haha.

[@RelativeWind]

just a couple of blue collar guys out burning holes in the sky.

[@robertslaughter7044]

I've loved flying Piper Twins all over Arizona, Colorado, California, and Utah. Apaches turned into Senecas turned into Seminoles... Until my Cardiologist yanked my Medical Cert.

[@bradleyland]

Guys, don’t look, but there’s someone behind you :)

[@TWhite94]

7:22 “Extracts oil from a plant-based material for medicinal purposes” Hmmm....wonder what that could be? 😂

[@Lanny615]

Castor oil?? lol

[@cwhitty05]

Its been awhile, so my math might be a little fuzzy, but if you’ve got Gamijectors and a good engine monitor, you can run them about 125° lean of peak and burn around 30gph at 70% power, which will get you in the neighborhood of 185-190ktas around 10k feet. The best part of that, is your cylinders will be below 400°. They are cooking at 435°!!! They run decent lean of peak. The only thing I noticed, is the spark plugs tend to wear out a little faster. It wasn’t uncommon to need a plug here and there every couple hundred hours.

[@JimmyMitchell-Lucky]

Great video Bobby! Complicated but very smooth! Glad to hear Laura!

[@KingKo0]

My goodness... the things I’d do for that panel 🤤🤤🤤

[@stephenyoungblood3683]

Like trade in penny stocks? Hahhhhh! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@mattipollari8905]

I did my instrument rating on the PA-31. It was a great little aircraft, and I flew a lot of charter with the different models. The airframe is very robust, and I operated it out of 3000 feet regularly, including hot and heavy.

[@namewitheld]

I work on these regularly. They are an absolute maintenance nightmare. The list of ADs looks like a phone book. My company uses an AAIP and the aircraft are inspected ever 50 hours. The Navajo NEVER makes it out off an inspection without needing thousands of dollars in maintenance and repairs. You can buy them pretty cheaply, but you'll regret ever owning one.

[@haidercoversynthpianomusic747]

Good video good aircraft

[@GZA036]

Why on earth would you be operating rich of peak, 75 ROP is right in the middle of the red box... Literally the worst place you could be with the highest internal cylinder pressures. No wonder the CHTs are so high. Take the mixture levers and pull them back quickly to roughness then enrich only enough for smooth operation. LOP will keep things cleaner, cooler and save fuel.

[@jakobscott]

Second! Great video!

[@sanfranciscobay]

7:52 Laura's in the back seat. Everyone loves Laura, our "Queen Bee."

[@Brother-Louis]

IR B4 VR because of growing. That was the best!!!

[@vitkomusic6624]

A lot of space inside. That's why you burn more fuel. Its the same with cars.... Large Chrysler usually 4l engine

[@donaldclark8692]

Nice thing about her,Is rite behind him.Are the Lamar voltage regulators. One carrys the load the other is dialed in ,To two volts over the jumps in to pickup. Most folks freak out at nite seeing glowing hot turbos. But the overhead switches where a real nice treat about her.

[@thesawch63]

Laura in the back pounding back the beers I bet !

[@thunderstruck5484]

Thanks for another great flying doodle, Twins are always impressive and the pilots are always very knowledgeable about their airplane

[@jamesleicher]

and who needs Top gun 2 can watch this,new Subbie

[@mikemcpherson5550]

I've flown the Navajo many hours. Worked my way up from a Tomahawk in 1976. Transition from a Turbo Aztec and it was a nothing transition. What a pleasure to fly. A good friend said they do a nice aileron roll too. Couldn't tell you personally though.

[@Bartonovich52]

Just about any airplane can. It’s four point hesitation rolls where twins don’t typically do so well-especially if they have tip tanks.

[@Sholon]

The automated captions are hilarious! No sense in half the interaction with the tower.

[@AFatWhiteShark]

That was Barry Seal's favorite plane for smuggling; Those propellers with the Q-tip on them for a nice silence covert flight.

[@DOMINICAAVIATION]

I really love these videos you do man! Keep doing what you do! These flights👌 Keep the awesome content coming!

[@DKoppJr]

I even enjoy that and I was not really there...... Great video!!!

[@kevindriggars591]

Awesome drug runner plane lol 😆 😄 🤣 Ol Barry Seal loved those panther conversions and Q tips 😀

[@exoressdelivers70]

Why do GA airports almost always have a line of dense trees on the approach to runways? It seems like the airport planners say "Wow, what a dense tree canopy. Let's build an airport there ".

[@kennyj4366]

Oh yeah, nice flight, nice bird.

[@danielbierwirth2190]

At first glance, I thought you were interviewing a San Diego "Anchor Man".... Keep it classy San Diego.... But upon closer inspection, well, I am not sure.... I love the Navajo, very utilitarian air craft, and pretty damn good looking with the gear up and skooting along.

[@NakedCoffeeChannel]

I thought the same thing basically. Gentleman resembles Will Farrell. Not a bad thing.

[@toadamine]

Unless its under ⅔ or less than the price of a 310.... I'll take the 310... 🤷‍♂️🤓👍

[@Conorkc86]

CA sounds like an absolute gent and what a beautiful plane he has!

[@dantellewisham133]

So the Pantha is a Navajo with Cheiftain engines? Looks nicer than the Navajos and Chieftains I flew for charter wait.. what are those scoops on the bottom?

[@hogey74]

This plant-based material of which you speak. (Strokes chin) I wish to learn more.

[@jeanhamby996]

What an absolutely beautiful video, great airplane.

[@jettmag]

first!

[@konaboyz1690]

What an insult to the Navajo tribe this guy has no connection to them and never will. Surfing cpa Hawaii

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

Bobby I asked you the piper malibu would like one and now I got the have me one like this plus .bobby buy this plane for us ! Illboay you fly

[@keithexum7312]

I have maintained these PA-31’s. Solid plane thirsty but solid and roomy.

[@observer1242]

Motor? This is a twin motor airplane? Is there a difference between a motor and an engine? What is this new affectation that people have calling them motors?

[@jeffbergstrom]

What is that bizarre, short, red and white goblin of a plane in the background? How does that fly with the tail so close to the wings?