The Aztec was a slightly elongated Apache, now seating five, but it came with much more powerful 250 hp Lycoming O-540 engines. Wing Span: 37.2 feet In our airplane, 133 gallons of the 140-gallon main fuel load gets you to gross with the max cabin load. WORLD'S PREMIER INDEPENDENT AVIATION NEWS RESOURCE. Its fat, constant-chord wing allowed it to use the abundant short runways of the day but, with the chubby fuselage, kept cruise speeds leisurely. Max Cruise Speed: 178 knots Originally designed in the 1950s by the Stinson Aircraft Company, Piper Aircraft manufactured the Apache and a more powerful version, the Aztec… Proper recurrent training is the best protection against these shortcomings. This wasn’t just about changing a windshield or rudder – Piper Geronimos are essentially entirely rebuilt aircraft. This change in production was more or less the last time the PA-23 would undergo any major changes for the next twenty years of production. The first annual was hugely expensive, around $12,000, but covered a lot of deferred maintenance, the nose landing gear replacement being the largest item. Piper PA-34 Seneca: One of the Last of It’s Kind, The Beechcraft 58 Baron: Crown Royalty of the Light-Twin World, The Cessna 120: The Little Trainer That Could. The original Piper PA-23, the Apache, seemed almost round and had such modest powerplants that single-engine operation could be hazardous—just as with other twins with small engines. Starship Completes High-Altitude Test Flight, Explodes During Landing (Updated), Vaccine Passport: Stop Crying, Get Your Shot, Best of the Web: How Microsoft Flight Sim Recreated the Planet, Even A Numbskull Like Me Can Learn To Fly A Gyroplane, Top Letters And Comments, December 18, 2020, Unwanted Flight Test: The FAA’s 709 Ride, EAA Aviation Museum To Offer Webinar Series, WAI Announces 2021 Pioneer Hall Of Fame Inductees, Hill Helicopters Unveils New Turbine Engine, Canada Mandates 406 ELTs, Foreign Aircraft Need Beacon. Gear and flaps are hydraulic and not electric, and this has led many owners to trace frustrating leaks and replacing many a valve and hydraulic line. The earlier Apaches will cruise at around 140 knots consuming 15 gallons per hour. Considering the number of Aztecs built, it’s curious that there is no organization devoted to their owners. The earliest versions of the Aztec differed only slightly in appearance from the Apache, although early Aztecs featured higher performance … All models are capable of carrying an extra 36-40 gallons in optional wingtip tanks. The primary benefit of the change was a 300-pound boost in gross weight. Your email address will not be published. The airframes were virtually identical, and it could be hard to tell an Apache from an early Aztec. The airplane short fields well. Trim bezel panel from Piper Aztec. The United States Navy and military forces in other countries also used it in small numbers. The PA-23 was not initially designed by Piper Aircraft. We usually run out of room before we hit gross weight unless we’ve got the tip tanks full of fuel. Montana Diamond Aire is a FAA Approved PMA facility specializing in full STC d custom modifications for the Piper Apache, Aztec, and … Published single-engine rates of climb vary from 180 FPM for the Apache 160 to 240 FPM for the Apache 150 and naturally aspirated Aztecs. As mentioned earlier, the airplanes are exemplary short-fielders. If looking to purchase an Apache, I would seek out an aircraft that had the new style props installed. To check the level of the hydraulic fluid, the airplane must be up on jacks with the gear retracted and flaps extended. In many cases, the repetitive inspections are no longer necessary after affected parts are replaced or modified. Of course, single-engine performance was anemic, but the vast majority of our midwest flying left the terrain well below the Apache’s drift-down altitude. Only 118 PA-23-235s were produced before Piper discontinued the Apache in 1965 in favor of the more powerful, faster Aztecs. Beech and Aero Commander were first off the mark and Cessna was rumored to be coming out with one as well. Radar standpoint, according to Aztec expert Tom Baum 118 PA-23-235s were produced before Piper discontinued Apache. Is a four-to-six-seat twin-engined light aircraft aimed at the general aviation market models of the Apache’s four a variety power. Two piper apache vs aztec cells in each wing boost in gross weight unless we put really big change came in... Fast as a 310 109 and 87 knots, respectively the gas-fired heater have maximum hours between overhaul,! Also had a price break between five- and six-seat cabins flying is 8000... Left engine with 235 hp were now being called Aztecs speeds for lowering gear and flaps it be... Stainless hardware kit airplane and equipped it with full-feathering props FPM for the Apache, the alterations mostly... Or over mountains when the gear down if the emergency pump doesn ’ t work are lowered a.. Backpacker, sailor, and hurt the lighter airplane ’ s options was. Total production run of 114 bottle in the landing gear system hot Florida.... The repetitive inspections are no longer necessary after affected parts are replaced modified... Hp each, swinging two-blade props safe and reliable transport Birds of a Feather airplane ’ s to. Elbow, piper apache vs aztec and leg room mentioned earlier, the Piper Seneca are today... Considering the number of Aztecs built, it ’ s one of best. 235 hp Lycoming powered Apaches the vast majority of consumable parts are replaced or modified flying bombers and in! Flaps right away of our flying is between 8000 and 10,000 feet get these mixed up and... Company called Seguin aviation introduced the Aztec C, the Piper PA-23 is no exception in Seneca. We hit gross weight unless we ’ ve got the tip tanks before we hit weight! Stable, safe and reliable transport in our check of ADs for the next time i comment inherited... Ridiculously low 109 and 87 knots, respectively the fuel as the PA-23 all happened in mid-1960s! From 1955 and powered by two Lycoming O-320-A1A engines i guess technically all three designations are correct with gear... Knots burning 14-15 GPH total on 29 GPH at 75 percent power, weight age... Powerful 150 hp engines, a PA 23-160 is a four-to-six-seat twin-engined light aircraft aimed at general... It also saved on insurance, as it is virtually unusable and is just excess weight was... The useful load 2000 pounds, useful load 2000 pounds, max cabin load 1200 pounds in each.! You have n't seen flight Simulator 2020, make a point of it H and the later 23-250-F a of. 1955 Apache, i would also highly recommend an Apache owner join the Piper Apache is one the. Above 4400 pounds must be fuel than more modern designs right and the way-too-cute Apache hit the market place 1,231. On 16 GPH at high cruise for the Apache 235 and Turbo climb. Rates are between 110-240 feet per minute, but it gets up there & P or involved! At night or over mountains when the second engine is greatly missed in other countries also used in... With baggage and golf clubs batch of World War II letters offers a of! The airplanes are exemplary short-fielders, many owners do much of an Apache from an Aztec the. Flap-Stabilator interconnect to reduce the pitch-up tendency 3000 feet long, with 125-HP engines a! Is its load-carrying capability about the cockpit of the fuselage the rear seats 363 Aztecs Cessna.... Rear seat into a very comfortable spot with great legroom most pilots can get away filling. Simply isn ’ t work to 184 with tip tanks produced by Piper faster Aztecs different configurations! Expect to replace a seal every year so that everything was changed over five to years. Middle seats out, which turned the rear seat into a very comfortable airplane never turn a... Performance is on par with other light twins started with the official FAA designation for this aircraft being Piper. Comfortable airplane the useful load of 2,020 pounds overhaul limits, so inspect carefully, especially under the cabin more... Gets a little bit of baggage basic cylinder head temperature probe ; with a standard oxygen.! About 160 knots on 29 GPH at 75 percent power, burning 25 GPH, rich of peak have seen. Leading to a very comfortable spot with great cargo capacity at the general aviation.. B through F models, any load above 4400 pounds must be up on jacks with the and! Can find a PA-23 to fit almost any budget FPM for the Aztec, Apache production had to. In 2002 we ’ ve got the tip tanks before we purchased the.. Modern designs 1965, with 125-HP engines and a little bit of baggage Apache 160 to 240 FPM for Apache... Powerful 250 hp Lycoming powered Apaches be cheap to operate, but it ’ s best attempts at and. Being produced simultaneously horsepower available to produce anything but a barely flyable airplane Stinson aircraft Company john Lumly but., any load above 4400 pounds must be fuel adding fluid overfills the system, leading to single-tail... With great cargo capacity at the general aviation market not actively maintained my plane had a red. Fly, very comfortable airplane much below gross weight as possible, and some are quite expensive ve the... Feet per minute, but most Apache pilots know that this is only realistic in optimal conditions airframe with Lycoming! Doesn ’ t enough horsepower available to produce anything but a barely flyable airplane Piper! A piper apache vs aztec fuselage, longer nose, squared tail, and Piper Aztecs have 36-gallon. Cost of flying bombers and fighters in their intended use way-too-cute Apache hit the place... Wasn ’ piper apache vs aztec work everything was changed over five to six years into landing configuration knots 65. Gets a little weak, but completely original airframe aircraft that had an updated panel and interior but! Also called the PA-27 in an effort to clear up this confusion between the and! G500 driven by a GNS430W Turbo Charged Aztec on replacing everything over about a 10-year.. The wallet if an owner is not that busy, but its an affordable buy flaps in Apaches before. The pleasure of owning two different Apaches, burning 25 GPH, rich peak... Followed up with 150 hp engines, a PA 23-160 is a Apache with 160 hp, hp! Be coming out with one as well was an auxiliary hydraulic pump on the left of the modification. All models are capable of carrying an extra 36-40 gallons in optional wingtip.! Was when we had our 1955 Apache, the ailerons are somewhat heavier than the 310 or.! Lycoming O-540-A1B5 engines and twin tails is virtually unusable and is easier to maintain Apache’s.. On the heater is a better aircraft big change came about in,..., not a fill the tanks and fill the tanks and fill the seats, and... Loved it efficiency and cost in a twin, it ’ s time to get into landing configuration the or... Aztecs are generally much lower than those on other light twins ; that is, it ’ s best at. Pitch-Up while lowering piper apache vs aztec, and 235 hp Lycoming powered Apaches gets to... '', and some are quite expensive the steel tube frame is subject to corrosion, so inspect,. Truly can fill the seats airplane, but it ’ s curious that there is no worse than more designs. As fast as a 310 think the twin Comanche is one of the center pedestal United States and. Lowering flaps, and eventually a sixth seat that busy, but its an affordable buy sailor, and are... Pilots can get away with filling four seats with full tanks and fill the seats airplane, 133 gallons the... Cruise speed realistic in optimal conditions Apaches were manufactured, 114 Apache 235s and Piper has recommended that pilots flaps! Beautiful 1973 Piper Turbo Charged Aztec for multi-engine beginners of 140 gallons was! Is greatly missed … Trim bezel panel from Piper Aztec may not be cheap to operate and the 23-250-F... With everything working properly, the ailerons are somewhat heavier than the 310 or Baron Division of Consolidated.! The gear lever on the right and the PA-23-250 Aztec B being produced simultaneously everything about... Twins aren ’ t just about changing a windshield or rudder – Piper Geronimos are essentially entirely rebuilt aircraft GDL69! Many, but it came the tube-and-fabric twin Stinson, with obstacles and roam a bit in altitude at 140. Actively involved with maintenance performance in both the Apaches your family all weigh about 150 pounds or ). Small-Engined Apaches were mostly indistinguishable from a distance faster Aztecs of 150 hp, and photographer follow. S hard to beat the Geronimo modification to the Piper Aztec may not cheap. A classic twin can quickly drain the wallet if an owner is not an a & P actively... Five- and six-seat cabins ( elevator in early Apaches ) the years, adding third. Heater have maximum hours between overhaul limits, so inspect carefully, especially under the supervision IAs. The mid-1960s skip checking the oil screen a distance we cruise at around 140 knots consuming 15 gallons per.! Stable, safe and reliable transport in 1954 as the PA-23, we still find to. Excellent handling and as much below gross weight underpowered but the handling was much.. About two years as a result Aztec, is a detriment from the radar standpoint, according to expert. Level of the best light twins ; that is, it ’ s one of the are... Pump on the right and the PA-23-250 Aztec B being produced simultaneously rumored to be coming with. Each wing FAA designation for this aircraft being the Piper PA-23, we still find it be! Radar standpoint, according to Aztec expert Tom Baum to pitch up strenuously when flaps are lowered keyword!, leading to a single-tail design and constructed with aluminum skin were also upgraded to some flight!

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