Fuel capacity 156. Engines two 260-hp Lycomings. PERFORMANCE: Top mph 228. Cruise mph 218.

Is the Aero Commander 500 pressurized?

The 500 Commander is the finest non-pressurized twin ever built. Ted Smith built this plane to military standards; thus, it is built like a tank. With a stall speed of 58 knots dirty and a Vmc of 65 knots, the plane can really get in pretty short.

Who makes Aero Commander?

Aero Commander 500 family

Aero Commander twins
ManufacturerAero Design and Engineering Company Aero Commander Rockwell-Standard Corporation North American Rockwell Rockwell International Gulfstream Aerospace
First flight23 April 1948 (Model L3085)
IntroductionOctober 1952
Produced1951–1986

Who Flew the Shrike Commander?

R.A. “Bob” Hoover
Flown by R.A. “Bob” Hoover for nearly 20 years, N500RA is the most recognized Shrike Commander in the world. Hoover used his extensive test pilot and fighter pilot skills to become a legendary air show pilot and brought a simple business aircraft to international attention.

Is Commander aircraft still in business?

Aero Commander 500A Commander taking off at airport in Czech Republic. Aero Commander was an aircraft manufacturer formed in 1944. In subsequent years, it became a subsidiary of Rockwell International and Gulfstream Aerospace. The company ceased aircraft production in 1986.

What plane did Bob Hoover steal?

He stole a lightly-damaged Focke-Wulf Fw 190, flying it to freedom before ditching the plane in a field in the Netherlands. After the war, Hoover became a test pilot and flew through a time when flying records would fall one-by-one and new aircraft were being developed to go higher, faster and farther.

How many flight hours did Bob Hoover have?

58 missions
After flying 58 missions, he was shot down off the coast of southern France and spent sixteen months in a German prison camp. Upon his return to the United States after the war, Hoover was assigned to the Flight Evaluation Group at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio.

What is a backdoor pilot?

New Word Suggestion. An episode of a TV show focusing on a different aspect or secondary character as an attempt to determine whether it could work as a spin-off series. “The new characters and premise will be introduced in a backdoor pilot planned to run this fall as an episode of The Office”

Why do pilots wear aviators?

The aviator was originally designed to give military pilots the best possible coverage for their eyes in the sky. Even the bayonet temples were originally designed so that the pilot could slip their glasses on and off without having to take off their helmet or headset.

What is the range of a Shrike Commander 500?

Range 1,100. Takeoff distance (50′) 1,250. Landing distance (50) 1,350. The Shrike Commander is the latest version of the well-known Aero Commander 500 with an extended nose and other features that deal mainly with styling and extras. The 500 is unsurpassed in many ways and enjoys pilot respect.

What kind of plane is the Aero Commander 500S?

The Aero Commander 500S ‘Shrike Commander’ is a twin engine, high wing monoplane with a conventional tail, in the general aviation aircraft category intended for a light business role.

Where can I buy the Carenado Aero Commander 500S ‘Shrike Commander’?

The Carenado Aero Commander 500S ‘Shrike Commander’ is currently available direct from Carenado and Carenado resellers as a download only product (some resellers also offer a master back-up CD / DVD service for a minor additional cost). It is priced at US$37.95, or the equivalent on currency cross rates.

What is it like to fly the Aero Commander Shrike?

The cabin is spacious, and there is freedom of movement almost on a par with an airliner. The Shrike is a big plane with a span of about 50 feet, which makes it a handful on narrow taxiways and in tie-down areas for a pilot accustomed to small aircraft. Aero Commander was eventually bought by Rock- well International.