Howard Piper, head of product development at Piper, asked Ed Swearingen to create a twin version of the PA-24 Comanche. In June 1960, Swearingen took PA-24 Comanche 24-888/N5808P to San Antonio, Texas, where it was converted with two 160 hp Lycoming I0-320-B1A engines and first flew in April 1961. Piper officially designated the design as the PA-30 in March 1962, then built prototype PA-30 Twin Comanche 30-1/N7000Y at Lock Haven, which first flew with test pilot Jay Myers on November 7, 1962. FAA type approval A1EA was granted on February 5, 1963, the first production aircraft 30-2/N7001Y was completed in April, and Piper announced the Twin Comanche on May 2. Its extended propeller shafts and the absence of a carburetor in the fuel-injected flat-packed Lycoming engines gave the engine nacelles a sleek, long form known as 'Tiger Shark' nacelles. The Twin Comanche was offered in five equipment levels: Standard, Custom, Executive, Sportsman, and Professional. The Palm Beach option added three-tone exterior color combinations and top grain leather upholstery. The Standard version was priced at $33,900 and could cruise at 194 mph at 75% power. Between December 24 and 26, 1964, Max Conrad set a Class 4 World non-stop distance record in Twin Comanche 30-4/N7003Y, carrying 720 gallons of fuel and flying 7,868 miles from Cape Town, South Africa, to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 56.8 hours. In 1965, Piper introduced minor changes to both the single-engine Comanche and Twin Comanche, including extra cabin windows, fifth and sixth seats in the baggage compartment, and relocation of the baggage door to the left side. The six-place Twin Comanche was approved in May 1965, and the first model B production aircraft, 30-902/N7827Y, was completed in September. Piper announced the Twin Comanche B on September 20, 1965, with deliveries beginning in November at $34,990. A turbo-charged version was also available with 160 hp Lycoming I0-320-C1A engines, standard wing tip fuel tanks, and increased gross weight. For 1968, Piper developed an updated Twin Comanche with further minor improvements, including reclining seats, a new exterior paint design, a redesigned panel, and faster cruise speeds from higher-output I0-320 engines. Piper announced the Twin Comanche C on August 15, 1968; the first production aircraft, 30-1745/N8605Y, was built in October 1968, and deliveries began in November at a suggested list price of $39,900. Production of the PA-30 ended in November 1969, when it was replaced on the production line by the PA-39 Twin Comanche C/R. Piper built 2,001 PA-30 Twin Comanches at Lock Haven, and more than 55% were still registered in 2024. This aircraft, serial number 30-1676 and registered N8515Y, was manufactured on December 14, 1967, and delivered to Piper dealer North States Aviation in Michigan in January 1968.