Aero Commander 100

Encyclopedia : A : AE : AER : 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)