Post by flyboy on Mar 9, 2019 8:32:49 GMT
Aero Commander:
This was a type rarely seen at Blackbushe during the period covered here. However for the sake of completeness I have included the few aircraft that were noted.
Aircraft Production History:
The Aero Commander history can be traced back to a project engineer working for the Douglas Aircraft Company in the mid 1940's by the name of Ted Smith. He recognised the need for for a light aircraft to serve the needs of the businessman and individuals in the USA who wished to travel to destinations that were not served by commercial airlines.
With a team of only 14 engineers Ted Smith completed the design of what was known as The Twin Commander in 1946 which resulted in a first flight of the prototype in April 1948. Having found individuals to finance the project it was certified in June 1950 and a new re-organised company was formed under the banner 'The Aero Design and Engineering Co' based near Oklahoma at Wiley Post Airport where a 26,000 sq ft hangar was erected and production commenced. The twin engined, high winged aircraft proved to have a remarkable single engined performance which gave it an unmatched safety margin when compared to other types of the period.
The first production aircraft, the piston engined model 520 was in production from August 1951 and was soon followed by the larger and more powerful 560 and 560A models. In 1955 the aircraft was chosen by the US Air Force as a personal transport for President Eisenhower due to it's exceptional performance characteristics.
Introduction of the pressurized model 720 led to the company acquisition by Rockwell - Standard & Associates in 1958. With additional money available it was then possible to develop the type further until production of the Twin Commander ceased in 1984.
This was followed by the very successful 680T series with gas turbine engines which was in turn followed by the 690 in 1971 and the Jetprop series in 1979. The final model produced was the Rockwell International Model 1000 which featured increased speed, range and climb ability over previous Twin Commanders and retained similar fuel and safety efficiency.
Variants (in brief):
Model L3805 Prototype one built
Model 520 First production model. Development of prototype with larger cabin - 150 built.
Model 560 As 520 but with swept tail, refined wing, seven seats, more powerful engines and increased
--..-- ................................................................................................T/O weight. 80 built.
Model 560A,E and F Various improvements and refinements, stretched fuselage,new undercarriage, greater
--..-- --..-- ................................................................................................ payload. 200 plus built.
Model 680 Variants Developments of 560, supercharged 340 hp Lycoming GSO-480-A engines plus increased fuel.
--..-- --..-- ................................................................................................ Appx. 840 built.
Other models Many further developed models followed but not seen at Blackbushe during the period covered.
Characteristics Model 500S:
Crew 2
Capacity 4 passengers
Length 36' 10'' (11.22m)
Wingspan 49' 0.5'' (14.95m)
Height 14' 6'' (4.42m)
Weight Empty 4,635lb (2,102kg)
Weight Max T/O 6,750lb (3,062kg)
Power 2x Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 air cooled flat-six piston engines
--..-- ...................................................290hp (216kW) each.
Speed Max 215mph (346km/h) at sea level.
Cruise speed 203mph (326km/h) at 9,000ft (2,750m) 75% power TAS.
Stall 68mph (109km/h) Flaps and gear down. CAS.
Range 1078mi (1,735km)
Ceiling 19,400ft (5,913m)
Climb Rate 1,340ft/mi (6.8 m/s)
Movements noted:
Reg Type C/n Operator, Information Date Noted.
N2714B Aero Cdr. 560 214 Royal Lao Air Force .... On Delivery ........ 8.2.56.
D-IBEB --..-- 741 .......................................................... 15.3.60.
F-BIRS --..-- 354 ...................Diversion, to Gatwick......... 26.4.60.
D-IBIB Aero Cdr.680 805 .................. Hamburg to Kidlington........ 25.2.60.
HB-GAL --..-- 522 ........................................................... 8.9.59.
HB-GOB --..-- 658 Airwork......................based.................9.12.58,10.1.59,12.1.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................30.3.59,4.4.59,23.4.59 ->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................25.4.59,17.8.59,23.8.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................14.4.60.
Credits:
Wikipedia
rj for use of his record sheets.
The enthusiasts who recorded the movements long ago.
twincommander.com/about-us/
pb for the photographs and help.
Complete JSM 9.3.2019.
This was a type rarely seen at Blackbushe during the period covered here. However for the sake of completeness I have included the few aircraft that were noted.
Aircraft Production History:
The Aero Commander history can be traced back to a project engineer working for the Douglas Aircraft Company in the mid 1940's by the name of Ted Smith. He recognised the need for for a light aircraft to serve the needs of the businessman and individuals in the USA who wished to travel to destinations that were not served by commercial airlines.
With a team of only 14 engineers Ted Smith completed the design of what was known as The Twin Commander in 1946 which resulted in a first flight of the prototype in April 1948. Having found individuals to finance the project it was certified in June 1950 and a new re-organised company was formed under the banner 'The Aero Design and Engineering Co' based near Oklahoma at Wiley Post Airport where a 26,000 sq ft hangar was erected and production commenced. The twin engined, high winged aircraft proved to have a remarkable single engined performance which gave it an unmatched safety margin when compared to other types of the period.
The first production aircraft, the piston engined model 520 was in production from August 1951 and was soon followed by the larger and more powerful 560 and 560A models. In 1955 the aircraft was chosen by the US Air Force as a personal transport for President Eisenhower due to it's exceptional performance characteristics.
Introduction of the pressurized model 720 led to the company acquisition by Rockwell - Standard & Associates in 1958. With additional money available it was then possible to develop the type further until production of the Twin Commander ceased in 1984.
This was followed by the very successful 680T series with gas turbine engines which was in turn followed by the 690 in 1971 and the Jetprop series in 1979. The final model produced was the Rockwell International Model 1000 which featured increased speed, range and climb ability over previous Twin Commanders and retained similar fuel and safety efficiency.
Variants (in brief):
Model L3805 Prototype one built
Model 520 First production model. Development of prototype with larger cabin - 150 built.
Model 560 As 520 but with swept tail, refined wing, seven seats, more powerful engines and increased
--..-- ................................................................................................T/O weight. 80 built.
Model 560A,E and F Various improvements and refinements, stretched fuselage,new undercarriage, greater
--..-- --..-- ................................................................................................ payload. 200 plus built.
Model 680 Variants Developments of 560, supercharged 340 hp Lycoming GSO-480-A engines plus increased fuel.
--..-- --..-- ................................................................................................ Appx. 840 built.
Other models Many further developed models followed but not seen at Blackbushe during the period covered.
Characteristics Model 500S:
Crew 2
Capacity 4 passengers
Length 36' 10'' (11.22m)
Wingspan 49' 0.5'' (14.95m)
Height 14' 6'' (4.42m)
Weight Empty 4,635lb (2,102kg)
Weight Max T/O 6,750lb (3,062kg)
Power 2x Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 air cooled flat-six piston engines
--..-- ...................................................290hp (216kW) each.
Speed Max 215mph (346km/h) at sea level.
Cruise speed 203mph (326km/h) at 9,000ft (2,750m) 75% power TAS.
Stall 68mph (109km/h) Flaps and gear down. CAS.
Range 1078mi (1,735km)
Ceiling 19,400ft (5,913m)
Climb Rate 1,340ft/mi (6.8 m/s)
Movements noted:
Reg Type C/n Operator, Information Date Noted.
N2714B Aero Cdr. 560 214 Royal Lao Air Force .... On Delivery ........ 8.2.56.
D-IBEB --..-- 741 .......................................................... 15.3.60.
F-BIRS --..-- 354 ...................Diversion, to Gatwick......... 26.4.60.
D-IBIB Aero Cdr.680 805 .................. Hamburg to Kidlington........ 25.2.60.
HB-GAL --..-- 522 ........................................................... 8.9.59.
HB-GOB --..-- 658 Airwork......................based.................9.12.58,10.1.59,12.1.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................30.3.59,4.4.59,23.4.59 ->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................25.4.59,17.8.59,23.8.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .................... --..-- ................14.4.60.
Credits:
Wikipedia
rj for use of his record sheets.
The enthusiasts who recorded the movements long ago.
twincommander.com/about-us/
pb for the photographs and help.
Complete JSM 9.3.2019.