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Encyclopedia > Aero Commander 100


The Aero Commander 100, various models of which were known as the Darter Commander and Lark Commander was a US light aircraft produced in the 1960s. It was a high-wing monoplane of conventional design, equipped with fixed tricycle undercarriage.


The aircraft was originally designed by Volaircraft, first flying in 1960. The firm marketed the original three-seat version as the Volaire 1035 and a four-seat version with a more powerful engine as the Volaire 1050 before North American Rockwell purchased all rights to the design on July 12 1965 for production by its Aero Commander division. Production of the Darter Commander version continued until 1969 and of the revised Lark Commander until 1971 (by which time, Rockwell had dropped the Aero Commander brand name).


Finding the light aircraft market too competitive for its liking, Rockwell sold the rights to all versions of the aircraft to Phoenix Aircraft in 1971, but this company never actually put it into production.


Variants

Volaircraft

  • Model 10 - prototypes
  • Volaire 1035 - three-seat production version powered by Lycoming O-290
  • Volaire 1050 - four-seat production version powered by Lycoming O-320

Aero Commander/Rockwell

  • Aero Commander 100 - renamed Volaire 1050
    • Aero Commander 100A - renamed Volaire 1035
    • Darter Commander - 100 with revised windows and other minor modifications
  • Lark Commander - revised aerodynamics and Lycoming O-360 engine.

Specifications (Darter Commander)

General Characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
  • Wing area: 181 ft² (16.8 m²)
  • Empty: 1,280 lb (580 kg)
  • Loaded: lb ( kg)
  • Maximum takeoff: 2,250 lb (1,020 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1x Lycoming O-320-A, 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 134 mph (214 km/h)
  • Range: 513 miles (820 km)
  • Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,354 m)
  • Rate of climb: 785 ft/min (239 m/min)
  • Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
  • Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Related content

Related development:


Comparable aircraft: Cessna 172


Designation sequence:



List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers


Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation



  Results from FactBites:
 
Rockwell Aero Commander (AC-500S) (1170 words)
The Rockwell Aero Commander (AC-500S) is a versatile and stable high-winged twin piston-engine aircraft that is suitable for a variety of missions.
NOAA's two aero commanders are utilized primarily as aerial survey platforms for visual verification of aeronautical charts, high-resolution aerial photography, and snow water equivalent and soil moisture content measurements.
An AC-500S Aero Commander aircraft is used by the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) to conduct aerial snow survey operations in the snow-affected regions of the United States and Canada.
Airliners.net: North American Rockwell 100 Darter/Lark Commander (526 words)
Aero Commander developed the high wing four seat 100 series in an effort to expand its product range.
Aero Commander only made a small number of changes before the 1050 was placed into production as the Commander 100 (the 1035 was renamed the 100A) in the second half of 1965.
The name Aero Commander disappeared when the Division was renamed the General Aviation Division on September 9 1969.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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