Going with Glass: The Mother of All Panel Upgrades

The Boyd family gives their Piper Twin Comanche an extreme instrument makeover in Washington state.

Wednesday, April 03, 2024 at 10:32 AM ET

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'I chose the Twin Comanche because I flew one back in the 1980s, and I loved it,' says John Boyd, an A&P and retired Boeing 737 captain from Alaska Airlines who resides in Puyallup, Washington. 'It’s an efficient twin and faster than the 182.' [Jim Barrett]

Key Takeaways:

The Boyd family undertook an extensive panel makeover for their 1960s Piper Twin Comanche due to the original's scattered layout, unreliable instruments, and obsolete technology that compromised safety and usability.
They fully modernized the aircraft with a comprehensive digital avionics suite, including advanced Garmin systems like the GFC 500 autopilot and touch-screen displays, an overhauled electrical system, and updated exterior lighting.
The meticulous upgrade process involved months of planning, waiting for shop availability and parts, and significant preparatory work performed by the family to save costs and ensure a clean, lighter installation.
The $80,000 investment transformed the vintage aircraft into a significantly safer, more reliable, and easier-to-fly platform, drastically enhancing its capabilities for modern IFR operations with features like Smart Glide.

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A vintage aircraft, if properly maintained, will last for decades. But there may come a time you want to make changes in the name of safety and convenience. It can be a challenge, as the Boyd family from Puyallup, Washington, learned when deciding to do an extreme makeover on the panel of its 1960s-era Piper Twin Comanche, also known as the PA-30.

The Boyds are an aviation family. John Boyd is an A&P and retired Boeing 737 captain from Alaska Airlines. John’s sons, Jason, 32, and Justin, 30, both hold instructor ratings and are planning aviation careers. Jason is also an A&P. The family also owns a Cessna 182 Skylane that it flies regularly. In summer 2017, John Boyd decided it was time to get something a little more comfortable for family travel, and something for the boys to build their multiengine time in.