IIRC the SE service ceiling of a Twin Comanche is about 3800MSL

You don't recally correctly, it's 5800. It goes down to 3800 if you
get the Robertson STOL kit - but that's because of the 200 lb gross
weight increase.

The aircraft I recently looked at did have the STOL kit.. thanx


The second engine, on failure of the first engine, will only lead you to
a
landing location, not necessarily of your choosing.

My experience differs. When the left (critical) engine of my Twin
Comanche failed (due to undetectable corrosion in the fuel servo) the
remaining engine took me to a normal landing at an airport. Had I been
in a single engine plane in the same situation, well, let's just say I
was over Arkansas and there was an avtive airmet for mountain
obscuration.

Michael


Out here, most airports are around 3000MSL, with terrain over 8000MSL
between them, add in the density altitude factor on a standard 100F or
higher day.. and that single engine is not going to be me to an airport.
BT