BeechTalk - BT - Aero Commander 500S- Opinions Please...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 21:38

Is there a Continental 550 conversion for the Shrike?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 22:05

I think that law firm is just a cover for the ownership of all these aircraft

.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 22:18

Russ & Florian:

Yes, there is something similar, it is called a Super Commander and uses a flat eight engine of some kind. I flew one for just a bit when Air Center was performing the upgrades to N799CE. The fuel flows were, uh, monumental :bugeye:

It was not really that much faster than a standard Shrike from what I recall, but then I did not spend much time in the aircraft.

The law firm does in fact exist solely to support the aircraft

Thanks!

Gary

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 22:23

Username Protected wrote:

The law firm does in fact exist solely to support the aircraft

5 airplanes between 2 lawyers illustrates our priorities :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 22:26

Username Protected wrote:

The law firm does in fact exist solely to support the aircraft

5 airplanes between 2 lawyers illustrates our priorities :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 28 Aug 2013, 23:33

Tell him to join us in Stephenville on Friday and we will force the aviation Kool-aid on him!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 10:08

I owned and flew my 1953 Commander 520 for almost 3 years and put 350hrs on her. The 520 was the first generation Commander and as such had the shorter body, was the lightest and had the geared engines. It was an insane bush ship - I could take it into any airfield you'd take a 180 into without breaking even a sweat. Except maybe for an Islander, I doubt there's a big twin with shorter T/O and landing capabilities:

Here's a 600ft short field T/O I did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zEhHJkUERE

Here's landing to a dirt road in the Mojave desert I did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYyvamJT334

Here's a sporty approach into the Johnson Creek grass field in the Idaho mountains. I was the only twin there at the fly in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ahGuriGWY

I will certainly miss my 520 now that I've moved to an Aerostar. Lovely aircraft, but these old ones have just become hard to support with the geared engines. There's only about 5-10 still flying. Also, because they're so roomy and have such big cabins and such good field performance, they suffer in top speed. I economy cruised mine at 140-150kts, but she could be pushed to 170kts just about. As my travels expanded, I needed a fast all weather tourer. The Aerostar cruises at 210kts on the same fuel burn, so there's a big difference in efficiency.

A 500B/S/U model, ideally with the the Merlyn or the Colemill 350hp turbo conversion is a great plane and much easier to maintain than the 520. In fact, had Aero Commander made a pressurised 500, I would have bought that rather than the Aerostar. I just loved the fact that you could take them into dirt strips and still be able to have true cabin class performance. No other aircraft can do that. The Aerostar is great and has a much more direct, sporty feel, but I would be wary taking it onto anything but ballroom smooth grass.

There isn't a plane that can do everything, but the 500 comes pretty close. Actually, there is: if you have the money, a dash 10 powered Commander 695 can actually do it all. It can get you into a grass field and still fly 2000nm at 300kts in the FL's. But it comes at a price.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 10:27

From the back seat perspective, Aero Commander's in general are the most comfy aircraft I have ever sat in. Especially if it has the aft couch! I actually fell asleep in one during a test flight! :oops:

Courtesy of Tim Swansons' 680-T..
Central air pilots beat the heck out of their's (Phenomenal maintenance team though.. Hi Bruce!) and they keep going.

Extremely comfortable..
Seems very forgiving..
And the view is great..

That said, buy a T-Bone..

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 11:15

And they have an incredibly elegant, high aspect ratio wing, and fly wonderfully.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 12:31

Username Protected wrote:

There isn't a plane that can do everything, but the 500 comes pretty close. Actually, there is: if you have the money, a dash 10 powered Commander 695 can actually do it all. It can get you into a grass field and still fly 2000nm at 300kts in the FL's. But it comes at a price.

This is so true...
I love flying the Turbo Commander, and you really can do anything with it...
Short fields are a hoot... and SE Climbs at 1400 FPM (** on a day we did them).
The Dash 10-T conversion is just about as good... and in some ways I like it more than the True Dash 10s... I like the fuel enrichment buttons. makes it more fun to start.

I happen to be helping to list and sell an awesome 690A (with all mods so effectively a 690B) with brand new -10ts with 5 year warranty, sb 241 done, new paint and interior, and a fresh 150. all for about the price of the engines. The Panel is functional but nothing to get excited about... but it would make a perfect family plane for me (if my family had money).

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 14:51

Well, Chester, you pretty much are flying the dream plane, in my opinion. A MU-2 would also be nice.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 15:27

Username Protected wrote:

I owned and flew my 1953 Commander 520 for almost 3 years and put 350hrs on her. The 520 was the first generation Commander and as such had the shorter body, was the lightest and had the geared engines. It was an insane bush ship - I could take it into any airfield you'd take a 180 into without breaking even a sweat. Except maybe for an Islander, I doubt there's a big twin with shorter T/O and landing capabilities:

Here's a 600ft short field T/O I did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zEhHJkUERE

Here's landing to a dirt road in the Mojave desert I did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYyvamJT334

Here's a sporty approach into the Johnson Creek grass field in the Idaho mountains. I was the only twin there at the fly in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ahGuriGWY

I will certainly miss my 520 now that I've moved to an Aerostar. Lovely aircraft, but these old ones have just become hard to support with the geared engines. There's only about 5-10 still flying. Also, because they're so roomy and have such big cabins and such good field performance, they suffer in top speed. I economy cruised mine at 140-150kts, but she could be pushed to 170kts just about. As my travels expanded, I needed a fast all weather tourer. The Aerostar cruises at 210kts on the same fuel burn, so there's a big difference in efficiency.

A 500B/S/U model, ideally with the the Merlyn or the Colemill 350hp turbo conversion is a great plane and much easier to maintain than the 520. In fact, had Aero Commander made a pressurised 500, I would have bought that rather than the Aerostar. I just loved the fact that you could take them into dirt strips and still be able to have true cabin class performance. No other aircraft can do that. The Aerostar is great and has a much more direct, sporty feel, but I would be wary taking it onto anything but ballroom smooth grass.

There isn't a plane that can do everything, but the 500 comes pretty close. Actually, there is: if you have the money, a dash 10 powered Commander 695 can actually do it all. It can get you into a grass field and still fly 2000nm at 300kts in the FL's. But it comes at a price.

Very cool.......I like the dirt road landing.

:thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013, 16:44

Welcome to Beechtalk, Adam.