Since the airplane had counter-rotating props, there was no worry about critical engines, either. It dumped the Comanche’s byzantine plumbing, favoring a fuel system with only three positions: on, off and crossfeed. Part of this was due, no doubt, to Piper’s decision to modernize the airframe. In three years, Piper sold 933 Seneca Is, dramatically outdoing the Aztec and Comanche. Piper built 360 Senecas that year, a good start in the twin market where the competition was the Cessna Skymaster, which sold poorly in 1972. In other words, it was close to cabin-class comfort for about $63,000 equipped.īoth the Seneca and the Twin Comanche were built in 1972, but when Tropical Storm Agnes pushed the Susquehanna River into Piper’s Lock Haven works, the Twin Comanche drowned with it and the Seneca was moved to Piper’s new Florida operation. The Seneca started out with counter-rotating Lycoming IO-360C1E6 engines producing 200 HP each (think of a Piper Arrow, times two) and at its introduction, it cost about the same as the Twin Comanche C/R model, but had larger engines, a higher gross weight and a roomier cabin with a rear door that the so-called Twinkie lacked. The Seneca IV above has a single Aspen PFD, Insight engine monitor, dual GNS 530s, S-TEC 55X autopilot and an Apollo MX20 MFD that’s a candidate for upgrade. When it comes to retrofit avionics, there’s a wide variety in used Senecas.
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