Aero Commander twins pros/cons
- Thread starter CharlieD3
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kaiser
Pattern Altitude
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The pilot formerly known as Cool Beard Guy
Maintenance $ and hangar size are the only two cons I’ve heard of. (Not an owner, but a fan)
kgruber
Final Approach
Bob told me that he bought those Panama hats by the gross and sold them to his fans. He gave the $$$ to charity.
Chrisgoesflying
Cleared for Takeoff
Because if one had mad money to spend, there are 100s of planes that are better than the twin commander.
With "mad money", none of these would be a factor I assume.
CharlieD3
En-Route
Yeah, but none that became Air Force 1... So, there's that...
Chrisgoesflying
Cleared for Takeoff
Mad money could buy you a 747 which is the current Air Force 1. lol.
ArrowFlyer86
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The Little Arrow That Could
I asked the same question in this thread about a year ago for exactly the same reason
. I love the look of these planes inside and out.
Aero Commander 500
I'm not twin certified but these planes always pop up as fairly low priced options when I take a gander on TAP. I'm just curious, aside from their old age (most are 1960s) is there something wrong these planes that cause their price to be lower than others? On occasion you see some that look...
CharlieD3
En-Route
Now, THAT'S a lot of mad money!
Craig
Cleared for Takeoff
FYI.....Air Force 1 is not any particular aircraft, but a callsign. Any fixed wing aircraft with POTUS onboard uses AF 1 for a callsign, with the lone exception being when Bush landed on the carrier and that a/c carried the callsign Navy 1.
CharlieD3
En-Route
Thanks for that clarification... It still remains that an Aero Commander played the role of Air Force One for Ike.
Only thing worse than one geared Lycoming is two geared Lycomings.
schmookeeg
En-Route
I feel like every untowered airport of a certain size has a derelict Aero Commander on the ramp, often with impressive weeds growing through them.
ArrowFlyer86
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The Little Arrow That Could
You're nothing if not consistent!
(from the other aero commander thread)
And that's what a lawnmower is for! To chop the weeds and help reclaim the Aero Commander -- restoring it to its original glory!
schmookeeg
En-Route
You're nothing if not consistent!
View attachment 123480
And that's what a lawnmower is for! To chop the weeds and help reclaim the Aero Commander -- restoring it to its original glory!
WOW
Either someone reconfigured the matrix, or I need my bedpan changed. Both metaphors fit here. 
aftCG
Line Up and Wait
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aftCG
The 500 model used direct drive engines. That is where I would focus my search.
And speaking of Mr Hoover, he did a publicity flight in a twin commander (not sure which model) with one prop stowed in the baggage compartment
bcool
Pre-takeoff checklist
There must be someplace at KSUS that refurbs them - it seems like there's always a different one at a Signature tiedown every couple of weeks or so.
Craig
Cleared for Takeoff
The factory did that flight during some hearings on aircraft safety, The prop was removed, the a/c flown to DC, did a demo and they reinstalled the prop for the flight home. If I remember correctly Ted Smith was one of the pilots...Ted later designed the Aerostar for Piper.
ateamer
Pattern Altitude
Almost, but not quite. Any Air Force aircraft - fixed wing, rotary wing, powered lift - with the POTUS on board is Air Force 1. Navy 1 is any Navy aircraft with Da Prez aboard, and so on for the other services, a civilian aircraft carrying the President is Executive 1.
Pinecone
En-Route
He also designed the Aero Commander.
He is NOT design the Aerostar for Piper. The original Aerostars were build by Ted Smith Aircraft Company. Later it was owned by American Cement then Butler Steel (along with Mooney). Piper was the last company to own the type certificate and actually build aircraft. TC is now held by Aerostar Aircraft Corporation.
X3 Skier
En-Route
Friend of mine wrote a book about Ted Smith, his designs and Company. https://starsandcommanders.com/
Pilawt
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Pilawt
At one time the Aerostar was intended to be the basis for a complete line of airplanes, from a four-seat single (1967 mockup here) to a jet.
k9medic
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ATP-H, CMEL, CSEL, CFI/CFII Airplanes and Helicopters
I looked at them when trying to decide what 6 seater twin twin to buy. First thing I did was make a spreadsheet of all of the aircraft that I was considering. I compared the 310, the Aerostar, the Aero Commander (Shrike and non Shrike) and the Beech 55 and 58.
My first hurdle was the need for 175kts with at least 4 hours of fuel with 4 people plus bags (hence the need for a 6 place aircraft.) After narrowing that down, I asked the local MX guys what they knew about the aforementioned aircraft. Not a single one had experience with an Aero Commander. That was strike one.
The Aero Commander's interior space was quite small.
I now have a 310Q and am a partner in a 421C. YMMV
My first hurdle was the need for 175kts with at least 4 hours of fuel with 4 people plus bags (hence the need for a 6 place aircraft.) After narrowing that down, I asked the local MX guys what they knew about the aforementioned aircraft. Not a single one had experience with an Aero Commander. That was strike one.
The Aero Commander's interior space was quite small.
I now have a 310Q and am a partner in a 421C. YMMV
CharlieD3
En-Route
See, there's the problem... This is a "mad money" spend... We don't need no spreadsheets!
This is for aesthetics, classic looks, feels.
It's like who wouldn't want a Staggerwing Beech? A Cessna 195.... A cabin WACO?
My stable:
Cessna Cardinal RG (the most "practical" of the team)
Navion
Lake amphib... Or maybe a Seabee
Helio Courier (factory trike)
And the Aero Commander
These are not the most desirable aircraft, the most historically significant, the most beautiful, or practical...
They have lines... They have a certain look, or feel or quirkiness about them... And the amphibs can go...
Now, where'd I put that lottery ticket?