Other problem areas reported by owners include nosewheel shimmy, corroding flap attach brackets and aileron hinge cracks. The 112B featured 16-inch wingtip extensions, which allowed raising the gross to 2800 pounds for a respectable useful load of 1020 pounds. Finally, we felt the terror and shock of the Rockwell pilot who was idling on a narrow taxiway when a P-51 ran into his airplane and chopped off the tail. The fuel system is unique among low-wing aircraft for having a both-tanks-selected option. I purchased my 1978 Rockwell Commander 114 approximately six months ago and have flown it 105 hours so far. Ive also put on a VG kit, plus a three-blade prop, and installed a Mattituck-overhauled engine. We hypothesize that more than a few pilots bought the complex Rockwell singles because of the low purchase price then discovered that a complex airplane is expensive to maintain and scrimped on maintenance. The result made its debut in 1972 at a base price of $24,750 and an average equipped about $12,000 more. It is extremely well built, looks great, has a comfortable cabin, is fuel efficient and generally affordable to purchase and own. The 200-HP Lycoming engine on the 112 Commanders is generally considered a reliable player these days, as is the 260-HP version on the 114. We use cookies to help you get the best experience when using our website. I was looking at Mooneys, Bonanzas and Commanders. Theres also a neutral, or power-off, position in between. The new AD ordered modification of the front seat base and relocation of the shoulder strap anchor to the cabin roof between the front and rear seats. Once its off, a Super Commander has a 21-percent climb gradient that can hustle to 12,000 feet in 12 minutes, says Aerodyme. Meanwhile, airplanes already in the field have a loyal following, along with several features making them the right choice for pilots turned off by the standard fare for one reason or another. By the time the 114TC came along, the ZFW was set at 3000 pounds, 305 less than max gross, regardless of CG. Since then, the design has been in and out of several hands, one pair of which actually produced some 200 updated models during the 1990s. In mid-2009, CPAC announced it had approved a letter of intent to sell itself to Montreal, Canada-based Aero-Base, Inc. Finalization of that deal was pending as this article was being prepared. margin: 0 auto 0 0; In 2005, 50 Commander single owners banded together, formed the Commander Premier Aircraft Corporation (CPAC) and purchased the assets from bankruptcy. Max Cruise Speed: 166 knots 307 Km/h Approach Speed (Vref): Travel range: 706 Nautical Miles 1,308 Kilometers Fuel Economy: 10.39 nautical mile / gallon 5.083 kilometres / litre Service Ceiling: 16,500 feet Rate of Climb: 880 feet / minute 4.47metre / second Take Off Distance: As an IFR platform it is perfect, in my view, because its stable, predictable and inspires confidence. commander 114 forum Part of this is due to the high-parts-count build; theres a lot of stuff in the Commander airframe. From its beginnings as a general aviation branch of Rockwell International in 1972, through its tenure as part of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and since its sale to CAC, the Commander … In addition to the iconic taper-wing Piper Cherokees, Cessnas original Citation and Beechs Model 200 Super King Air, the 70s also ushered in the Rockwell. We think exercising the flaps stop-to-stop is a good idea during preflight on any airplane. SB-112-71C or SB-114-22C, depending on aircraft model) were issued by Gulfstream, by then the marques owner, calling for inspection and repair if needed. The initial production version was the 200-mph, seven-seat Aero Commander 520. As is so often the case with a new aircraft, continuing improvements and a larger engine resulted in a new model, the 114, which arrived in 1976. Despite a relatively small population in the field, theres a long list of STCs available for the Commander 112/114 series. A series of model changes ensued and original production ended in 1979. Commander 112/114 series of four-seat piston singles. Ive owned and flown a Cessna 172, 182 and 210; Piper Cherokee 140, 180, Navion and Commander 112TC. Another resource is CPAC, which also maintains a web-site at www.commanderair.com, and has secured FAA parts manufacturing authority (PMA) for a number of components. Having said that, the Commander line is, nonetheless, a robust if complex airplane whose build method has more in common with military aircraft than with a modern Cirrus, as an example. Only minor changes were made in the all-too-brief four-year production run of the 114. This website contains many older reviews. And like any good GA design, the Commander 112/114 line may again be resurrected. Getting to that point, however, requires removing the single-piece top cowling half. /* custom css */ Since I bought the plane, Ive added a custom paint job, a new leather interior, new woodgrain on the instrument panel and lots of avionics (GNS480, GMX200, GDL69A, GTX330, PMS7000CD, Northstar M3/C1, NAV122D, WX500, KEA-130A, Century IIB, STEC 60 GPSS, DAC GDC31 and Xerion Auracle). She has back issues, so that statement meant a lot. With help from Lycoming, the 320-HP IO-580-B1A STC made that happen. Commander 114 Performance Specifications** Engine – 6-cylinder Lycoming IO-540-T4B5D, 260 HP @ 2700 RPM Prop – Hartzell HC-C2YR-1BF, Constant Speed, 2 -Blade It lasted six hours before the collector cracked, hot gases opened up a fuel line and started a fire. I bought my 1976 Commander 112A in 2000. More comfort, features, and capability from Bethany For the past nine years the Commander Aircraft Company (CAC) has been mining — and refining — its successful niche in the new piston-single market. COGs Web site has good information on buying and operating these aircraft, plus a forum. At the time (somewhere around 1972) North American Rockwell remained true to its military contract experience and built big airplane touches into the small Commanders. The engine compartment suits the overall size of the airplane and the engines rear-mounted accessory case is readily accessible to fix what breaks. There were other mods to brace the spar if it wasnt cracked. All in all, once the SBs and ADs are resolved, theres nothing special about maintaining a 112/114 when compared to other piston airplanes of similar vintage. Another resource is CPAC, which also maintains a Web site at www.commanderpremier.com, and has secured FAA parts manufacturing authority (PMA) for a number of components. Click to view another Rockwell Elevator Cap: Fiberglass Elevator Tip. The value of the airplane undoubtedly suffered in the late 1980s and early 1990s because of the service bulletins and AD problems. The first version was the Rockwell Commander 112, a 200 hp retractable. The distortion, it is speculated, results from hard or nosewheel-first landings. There are no ADs on the 114B and subsequent models. Drawback is that because it has a big wide roomy cabin (with 2 doors) the trade off is in speed. In addition to the airframe ADs originating in the mid-1980s, an individual example of a 112/114 might be subject to an AD on Hartzell prop hubs: Some two-blade props installed on early models may need regular inspections. May 29, 2017 - Find the latest Rockwell Commander 114B single pistons prices at AvBuyer. Regarding the 20-knot speed loss when compared to some of the more “state of the art” aircraft available today with 200 HP: My average trip is between one and two hours. One exception is the Hot Shot turbonormalizing system offered by RCM Normalizing Inc, of Big Piney, Wyoming (www.rcmnormalizing.com, 307-276-3386). I fly between at 6000-10,000 feet, at around 145 knots true. All of this was given the force of law by AD 87-14-03. By spring 1989, after almost three years of legal pressure from COA, Gulfstream Aerospace and Rockwell International agreed to a settlement on the repair and upgrading of all Commander 112/114s in the U.S. and overseas. Even aviation journalists (Aviation Consumer editors included) were invited to take a look at preliminary designs and make suggestions. Exterior Parts (Tips, Fins & Fairings) Wing Tips. This involved aircraft in compliance with the earlier AD. The 1970s were an upswing, avocado-green vinyl upholstery and Continentals Tiara engine notwithstanding. Production ceased in 2002 at the Bethany plant and the company eventually went into bankruptcy.