Four-to-six-seat efficient light piston twin · Twin-engine piston aircraft · production 1963–1972 · See its reach on the 3D globe
A Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche costs approximately $169k (€156k) to $202k (€187k) to buy at 1968 market values, and about $178k (€165k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $2,228 (€2,063) per flight hour all-in. It seats 6, cruises at 165 kt (190 mph) and has a published range of 1,200 nm (2,222 km), needing about 1,804 ft (550 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Twin Comanche is the most fuel-efficient piston twin ever built in numbers: two 160 horsepower Lycomings on a slippery airframe, cruising at speeds that shame twins burning twice as much. Owners who fly them are devoted for exactly that reason. Its history is the reason to take training seriously. Sold cheaply to flight schools, it accumulated dozens of fatal stall and spin accidents during engine-out training before the FAA changed multi-engine instruction standards and Piper offered stall strips, and the wing that caused it still asks for respect near minimum control speed. Factory support ended long ago, so parts come from a specialist network. Buy it with type-specific training booked and a Comanche shop identified.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,633 kg |
|---|---|
| Baggage weight | 113 kg |
| Engine | 2 x Lycoming IO-320-B1A, 160 hp each at 2700 rpm |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 6 |
| Reported payload proxy | 917 lb (416 kg) |
| Reported range | 1,200 nm (2,222 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 165 kt (190 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,804 ft (550 m) |
| Landing gear | Retractable tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $36k (€33k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $356 (€330) |
Excellent twin-engine efficiency and range, but ageing structure, fuel system and two-engine condition create substantial valuation risk.
Indicative cash costs at 1968 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $164k (€152k) | $4,099 (€3,795) | $1m (€929k) |
| 80 h / year | $178k (€165k) | $2,228 (€2,063) | $1.07m (€995k) |
| 120 h / year | $192k (€178k) | $1,604 (€1,485) | $1.15m (€1.06m) |
| 180 h / year | $214k (€198k) | $1,188 (€1,100) | $1.25m (€1.16m) |
Every figure above is built from a $36k (€33k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $356 (€330) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $76k (€70k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 1968 market price for a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche is $169k (€156k) to $202k (€187k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche works out at roughly $178k (€165k) annually, which is about $2,228 (€2,063) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $356 (€330).
Reported range is 1,200 nm (2,222 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Beyond a pilot certificate, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche requires multi-engine rating and complex airplane endorsement. An airplane multi-engine land class rating. Insurers add their own minimum: multi-engine time, time in this make and model, and often a checkout with a named instructor before you fly it solo. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Plan on approximately 1,804 ft (550 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.