Are the shrikes grouped into the AD's and SB's that the turbine counterparts have to do? I know SB 208 all the fuel bladders have to be remove to inspect the spar every few years, SB 241 reinforces the wing to body attach area, and other SB deals with cracking in the tail structures. I don't recall if they are tied to AD's or not. I remember doing a lot of SB 208's when I worked at Executive Aircraft Maintenance in Scottadale (big turbo commander service center).

Jeff

Peter, Jeff, and All:

As to the time, the first step is knowing you have a problem

Who could resist hanging around with you guys even if I don't have a Beechcraft product? Drew does and it is in the same hangar, so . . . .

Gary Gadberry flew with me as I was getting ready to take my MEI checkride in 2002 after letting it lapse for a couple of decades. One of the maneuvers felt as though the Shrike was pointing straight up. It was not, but that's what 45 degrees of pitch feels like. As the aircraft slowed toward stall the only thing he said was keep the ball centered. I did, and the airplane did, and as it stalled the ailerons remained completely usable all the way through the stall. Take a look at the twist from the wing root to the wing tip to explain that one. Once again Ted Smith genius at work.

We have a pristine, clean spar on the Shrike with no indication of thickness reduction in any areas of the spar. We received two 1-year extensions on SB208 and it remains clear, although we have to work harder for it next time due to a change in regime.

Okay, how about some artsy shots from both airplanes? Enjoy!

Gary

Gary,

Those are very cool pictures.

Tim

I've wanted a shrike ever since I saw Bob Hoover perform back when I was ~5. I remember making bad Lego models of them.

This thread will be bad for my bank account. But wifey says we NEED stairs and air conditioning...

Not to be a bad influence, but Gary's Shrike has excellent air conditioning and it sits so low to the ground NOBODY needs stairs

You're a bad man...

Drew,

That is not nice.
Now post some pics to make it worse.

Tim

Gary,

Amazing images! Are all 500's subject to the spar inspection every 36 months or ? Have you found the 500 as maintenance intensive as the Aerostar? It's an older airplane so not surprised if its higher.

Amen to that. Very nice.

I've coveted Shrikes forever. Maybe it's the Oklahoma tie, or the fact that my sister lived on Rockwell Avenue in Bethany for a while. Or maybe it's just because they are beautiful.

Chris:

Nope, we go months with no squawks on either aircraft. The Aero Commander is so fundamentally basic, and front loaded so much by reconditioning the entire aircraft, that we do annuals and that's about it. As I mentioned before we went 5 years on the last interval for SB 208, but the inspection, even every 3 years, is not prohibitively expensive. One thing that is an easy call is making an investment in looking over the aircraft in areas you don't see that often, such as in SB 208. The Aerostar is definitely more maintenance intensive because it has so much more in the way of systems and it is all crammed in to a smaller area. Ask any technician about working inside the Aerostar cowls and I can tell you the response you will get

Drew is correct on boarding. I could probably work it out even from a wheel chair if my undercarriage continues to deteriorate!

Hah!

Gary

Gary, there's a pretty active owner's group for Commanders, isn't there?

Jack:

The Aero Commander received her type certificate on July 24, 1968. On July 24, 2008, I departed KPWA runway 17L and flew right over where she was built 40 years earlier. Now THAT was a moment to remember!

Gary

The formal support groups are mostly for the turbine Aero Commanders. The Shrike systems are pretty basic and there are lots of guys still out there that can easily maintain these aircraft quite nicely! Parts are not an issue either. John Towner at Central Air installed the Hartzell three-blade compact propellers years ago and did a great job. He has forgotten more about Aero Commanders than we will ever know!

Gary, that is really very cool! That's one of my favorite airports. Back when I was a kid and the PWA ramps were full of planes I left my noseprint on a lot of windows.

What's that departure again? Right turn to 200, climb to something and continue right turn to... ah, that's all I can remember. It has been too long.

I love my Baron but there's just something about a Shrike. Thanks for sharing, and please don't stop talking details....

Gary,

Between you and Drew you have an amazing collection of beautiful airplanes! Like Jack I have a fondness for the Aero Commander and deeply regret that they are no longer being made. I remember when they used to roll out of the factory at Wiley Post two miles from my house growing up and where I am based today. I have a friend whose father was a part of the original investor group that put the company together. For many years he owned the repair facility here and the airport where it was located. Both are now gone like so much of GA from it's heyday.

Meanwhile...your planes live on in glorious utility!