First-ever Twin-engine Restoration Project

How could AOPA top its 2003 sweepstakes involving a beautiful, classic  Waco biplane? Well, it seems they are intent on "doubling" their efforts. The association's 2004 grand prize winner is going to fly away in a fully refurbished twin-engine aircraft. Not too shabby, huh?

"For the first time ever, we're giving away an aircraft with more than one engine," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And by the time we're done with it, the 1965 Piper Twin Comanche will truly be a 'grand' prize."

AOPA Pilot magazine Editor-at-Large Tom Horne will shepherd the 2004 sweepstakes aircraft through its year-long restoration, updating its progress in articles in the magazine and status reports on AOPA's Web site, AOPA Online, and ePilot electronic newsletter.

The PA-30 Twin Comanche is powered by a pair of 160-hp Lycoming IO-320B engines — the same engines that power the likes of Piper's Super Cub and Tri-Pacer or Cessna's Skyhawk. A standard Twin Comanche can carry more than 850 pounds of payload for nearly five hours (without reserve) on a single fill-up. AOPA's Sweepstakes aircraft will be anything but standard, though.

The AOPA Win a Twin Sweepstakes aircraft is already having its engines remanufactured to Superior Air Parts' Millennium specifications at Penn Yan Aero. Other planned upgrades include every available speed modification from LoPresti Speed Merchants and wingtip tanks from J.L. Osborne that will let the Twin Comanche carry another 30 gallons, or two hours' worth of fuel. Kelly Aerospace, makers of starters, alternators, fuel injection components, and magnetos, and Rapco, Inc., makers of replacement vacuum pumps, will lend their expertise under the cowlings.

Plans for the panel are still being confirmed but tentatively include a full Garmin stack, including the CNX-80 — the first certified WAAS-enabled GPS unit, an S-Tec two-axis autopilot, a Sandel EHSI, and a J.P. Instruments engine analyzer/fuel totalizer. Sebastian Communications of Merritt Island (FL) will handle the installation. Airtex Interiors will make sure the ride is both comfortable and classy.

On the outside, Scheme Designers, who designed the paint scheme for both the AOPA 2000 Millennium Mooney and the 2001 Bonanza, is on tap to give the Win a Twin Sweepstakes aircraft its own one-of-a-kind look. DuPont is supplying the paint, including Chromalusion® color-shifting paint (which goes for $700 per quart!) to be applied by KD Aviation. And Williams Airmotive will re-skin the control surfaces.

Anyone who joins or renews membership in AOPA between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2004, is automatically entered in the Win a Twin Sweepstakes. In addition to the grand prize of a fully restored 1965 Piper Twin Comanche, AOPA will give away nearly 200 additional prizes each month — a total of over 2,200 prizes — ranging from AOPA T-shirts and eyeglass Croakies® to AOPA Zulu Time Watches and leather flight jackets from Sporty's Pilot Shop.

So, if that doesn't give you a reason to join or renew membership, we don't know what will!

FMI:  www.aopa.org