Sentimental Journey

The arrival seemed somewhat of an anticlimax but not so was the significance of the occasion. With what could have been a sense of sentimental gratitude the wheels of Comanche ZK-BAZ kissed the surface on runway 27 then smoothly rolled through to complete the landing at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. This was the place where the Bazflyer’s trusty Comanche was built, in the now disused Piper aircraft plant, and made its maiden flight almost 57 years ago.

Every year for a week in June, hundreds of aviators gather on Lock Haven airport in commemoration of the Piper aircraft built there. The annual event is known as ‘Sentimential Journey Fly-In’ and an irresistible stop-over for the Bazflyers.

Lock Haven is not a big place but sited as it is on the banks of the Susquehanna River, the town has born the brunt of several devastating floods over the years. It was such an event in 1972 that resulted in a decision by The Piper Aircraft Company after a 35 year history of building thousands of aircraft at Lock Haven, to cease local operations. This decision also marked an end for the Comanche line. 

Among the old Piper Aircraft buildings that have sat largely unused for the past 47 years is the Piper Aircraft Museum. Staffed by volunteers it houses a very informative presentation of Piper history and a number of restored Piper aircraft. But it was one particular airplane on display that caught the Bazflyer’s attention. A beautifully presented Comanche 400. Not just one of the 146 examples ever built, it was the very first Comanche 400 built. 

Then the unexpected occurred. Once dubbed “the World’s fasted single engine production aircraft” this fully flyable and pristine Comanche 400, (N8400P) was a donation to the Piper Museum by its owners of 28 years, Jim and Janet Fisher. But the unexpected did not end there. At exactly the same time as the Bazflyers were admiring this fine ionic exhibit, the wonderful generous couple were also with their former Comanche enjoying their very own ‘Sentimental Journey’.

Lock Haven airport is named after the man who started Piper Aircraft

The Piper Aviation Museum occupies the former Piper Engineering Department building

The now derelict Piper Aircraft factory in which Piper Comanche ZK-BAZ was built in 1962

Bazflyer1 admiring the first Comanche 400 built

Jim and Janet Fisher who donated their beautiful Comanche 400 to the Piper aviation Museum 

Thousands of these venerable Piper Cubs were built at Lock Haven 

The Susquehanna river flowing beside Lock Haven and responsible for decimating the Piper Aircraft plant in 1972. Stop-bank was added after this flood.