Piper Comanche 260B Cost of Ownership: What the Six-Seat Option Really Buys
For owners weighing the 1966–1968 PA-24-260B for its optional fifth and sixth seats: the annual budget, the payload math and what those extra seats are worth per trip.
What makes the 260B different
Piper built the PA-24-260B for the 1966 to 1968 model years, between the 1965 PA-24-260 and the 1969–1972 260C. It uses a 260-hp Lycoming IO-540 and raised maximum gross weight to 3,100 lb. The visible change is a third side window on each side. The practical change is provision for fifth and sixth seats in what was the baggage area, placarded to a total of 250 lb. The book empty weight is 1,728 lb, giving a useful load of 1,372 lb.
Specifications are from the PA-24 production history. Equipped airplanes usually weigh more than the book empty weight, so run every scenario below again with your airplane's actual weight and balance.
Six-seat economics: what the extra seats buy on real trips
The table uses the book useful load, 190 lb per adult, a 13.5 gal/hr planning burn, a 150-knot planning cruise and a 45-minute fuel reserve. Fuel is capped at the 90 gallons carried by airplanes with auxiliary tanks.
| Load | People and bags | Fuel you can carry | Flight time with reserve | Still-air range | Cost per seat-hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four adults, 60 lb of bags | 820 lb | 90 gal | 5.9 hr | 888 nm | $70 |
| Four adults plus two children in seats 5 and 6 (at the 250 lb placard) | 1,010 lb | 60 gal | 3.7 hr | 558 nm | $47 |
| Two adults, two children, 100 lb of bags | 660 lb | 90 gal | 5.9 hr | 888 nm | $70 |
With the rear seats filled, the 260B is still a useful airplane for a family with young children, with still-air range of about 550 nm after reserve. Flown as a four-seater with light bags, it carries full fuel and about 5.9 hours of flying plus reserve. Cost per seat-hour drops by a third when the two extra seats are occupied, but only if you actually fill them. Check the aft center-of-gravity limit with your own loading; a full rear row moves the CG aft quickly.
Comanche 260B annual budget at 50, 100 and 200 hours
| Line item | 50 hr/yr | 100 hr/yr | 200 hr/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance (assumption: complex and high-performance pilot with retractable time) | $2,900 | $2,900 | $2,900 |
| Hangar (assumption) | $4,800 | $4,800 | $4,800 |
| Annual inspection with gear swing, routine findings (assumption) | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Gear-system reserve (bungees, lubrication, switches, small parts) | $600 | $600 | $600 |
| Constant-speed prop overhaul reserve | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| Databases, subscriptions, registration, misc. | $700 | $700 | $700 |
| Fuel: 13.5 gal/hr × $7.24 ($97.74/hr) | $4,887 | $9,774 | $19,548 |
| Engine reserve: $52,000 planning IO-540 overhaul ÷ 2,000 hr ($26.00/hr) | $1,300 | $2,600 | $5,200 |
| Unscheduled maintenance reserve (assumption) ($26.00/hr) | $1,300 | $2,600 | $5,200 |
| Oil and filters ($3.00/hr) | $150 | $300 | $600 |
| Total per year | $20,387 | $28,024 | $43,298 |
| Per flight hour | $408 | $280 | $216 |
| Loan payment ($102,000, 20 yr, 7.75%) | $10,048 | $10,048 | $10,048 |
| Total with loan | $30,435 | $38,072 | $53,346 |
The engine reserve assumes a $52,000 overhaul of the IO-540 on Lycoming's 2,000-hour recommended TBO. Exchange, field overhaul and factory rebuild prices differ, so get quotes. The gear reserve covers routine items such as the bungee cords that AD 77-13-21 requires be replaced periodically; a worn gearbox or bent linkage costs far more. For how the 260B compares with the 180, 250 and 400, see the Comanche family cost page.
Looking at a 260B?
Send the listing. A financing specialist can show the payment and which lenders in our network will finance a 1966–1968 airframe.
260B vs Cherokee Six: which six-seat option costs less?
If six seats are the reason you are shopping, compare the 260B with a fixed-gear Cherokee Six 260. On the same assumptions used on our Cherokee Six 260 vs 300 page, the Six costs about $263 per hour at 100 hours versus $280 for the 260B.
| At 100 hr/yr, before loan | Comanche 260B | Cherokee Six 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per hour | $280 | $263 |
| Per seat-hour, four aboard | $70 | $66 |
| Per seat-hour, six aboard | $47 (children in back) | $44 (six adults possible) |
| Cost per nautical mile (planning cruise 150 kt vs 137 kt book) | $1.87 | $1.92 |
| Gear | Retractable: complex and high-performance endorsements | Fixed: high-performance endorsement only |
Decision rule: choose the 260B if you usually fly two to four people and want retractable-gear speed, with occasional use of the rear seats for children. Choose a Cherokee Six if you regularly fill five or six seats with adults, carry cargo, or want lower insurance and gear maintenance.
260B or 260C for six-seat use?
The 1969–1972 PA-24-260C kept the fifth and sixth seat provision and raised maximum gross weight to 3,200 lb, with a new cowling, cowl flaps and an aileron-rudder interconnect. Its published useful load is 1,427 lb, about 55 lb more than the 260B's book figure. That is roughly 9 more gallons of fuel with a full cabin. It helps, but it doesn't change the answer: a Comanche with six aboard still means light people in back and less than full fuel. The C is usually the more expensive airplane to buy, so the extra payload comes at a higher purchase price and loan payment.
Pre-buy items that matter most for a 260B budget
- Rear seats and placards: present, installed correctly, shown in the equipment list and weight and balance.
- Landing gear: AD 77-13-21 compliance, bungee dates, gearbox condition, rigging and a full gear swing.
- Fuel system: main and auxiliary tank bladders or cells, senders and the selector; more tanks mean more places to leak.
- Injected IO-540: time since overhaul, calendar age, borescope and oil analysis; injection servo and nozzles on engines that sat.
- Corrosion and structure: a nearly 60-year-old airframe; see pre-buy inspections for older aircraft.
Financing a 1966–1968 Comanche
As a post-1960 single, a 260B falls under AOPA Aviation Finance's 15% minimum down guideline, and a loan of $75,000 or more can qualify for a 20-year term. Because the airframe is nearly 60 years old, some lenders cap the loan at 70%–75% of value. Plan on an appraisal or a close look at the logbooks, the gear AD compliance and engine time.
| Term | 7.00% APR | 7.75% APR | 8.75% APR | 10.00% APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 years (180 mo) | $917/mo | $960/mo | $1,019/mo | $1,096/mo |
| 20 years (240 mo) | $791/mo | $837/mo | $901/mo | $984/mo |
Loan amount $102,000. Principal and interest only; excludes insurance, taxes and fees. Illustrative, not a quote.
Prices for 260Bs vary widely with engine time, avionics, paint and gear condition. The $120,000 figure is illustrative, not a market value; check Vref or Aircraft Bluebook and current listings. See financing an older airplane and the aircraft loan requirements checklist.
How this page differs from related pages
This page covers the 260B and the economics of its six-seat option. For all Comanche models side by side, see the Comanche family cost page. For the four-seat entry model, see Comanche 180 costs. For whether a Comanche is right for you and what to inspect, read the Piper Comanche buyer's guide. For specs and payment examples, see the PA-24 Comanche model page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Piper Comanche B?
The Comanche B is the PA-24-260B, built for the 1966 through 1968 model years. It has a 260-hp Lycoming IO-540, a 3,100 lb maximum gross weight, a third side window and provision for optional fifth and sixth seats. It is a retractable-gear, constant-speed-prop airplane, so it needs both complex and high-performance endorsements.
Can a Comanche 260B really carry six people?
Only with limits. The fifth and sixth seats take up the whole baggage area and are placarded to a combined 250 lb, so they suit children or small adults. With four 190-lb adults and two children at the placard, the book useful load of 1,372 lb leaves room for about 60 gallons of fuel and no bags.
How much does a Comanche 260B cost per year to operate?
On our planning assumptions, about $28,024 a year at 100 hours, or $280 per hour, before any loan payment. At 200 hours the per-hour figure falls to about $216. Fuel is priced at $7.24/gal for 100LL. Insurance, hangar and the annual are labeled assumptions.
Is a Comanche 260B cheaper per seat than a Cherokee Six?
Not when both are full. With six aboard, our 260B budget is about $47 per seat-hour versus about $44 for a Cherokee Six 260 on the same assumptions, and the Six seats six adults with room for bags. The Comanche is faster, so its cost per nautical mile ($1.87 vs $1.92) is about the same or slightly lower.
What should I check in the rear seats before buying a 260B?
Confirm the fifth and sixth seats, belts and placards are actually installed or included, and that they appear in the equipment list and current weight and balance. Seats removed years ago may be hard to source. Also check the aft center-of-gravity limit with your typical load, because filling the rear seats moves the CG aft quickly.
What is the monthly payment on a Comanche 260B?
As an illustration, a $120,000 airplane with 15% down is a $102,000 loan, which qualifies for a 20-year term. At 7.75% the payment is about $837 a month. As of September 2026, piston loan rates generally run about 7% to 10%, and some lenders limit older aircraft to 70%–75% of value.
Last reviewed September 27, 2026. Rates and rules change; see our editorial standards.