Aero Commander 100

Last updated
Aero Commander 100
Darter Commander
Aero Commander 100 Bendigo 1988.jpg
Aero Commander 100 at Bendigo, Victoria, Australia in March 1988
General information
TypeLight aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Volaircraft/Aero Commander
History
First flight1960

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

Contents

Design and development

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).

A Volaire 1050 was exhibited at the 1966 Hanover Air Show and later sold to Finland. Other examples of the type were exported to Australia and Canada.

Finding the light aircraft market too competitive for its liking, Rockwell ceased production of the Lark Commander in 1971 and sold the rights to all versions of the aircraft to Phoenix Aircraft of Euclid, Ohio, [1] but this company never actually put it into production.

Variants

Volaircraft

Aero Commander/Rockwell

Aero Commander 100-150 Commander100.jpg
Aero Commander 100-150
1969 Aero Commander 100-180 N4019X.jpg
1969 Aero Commander 100-180

Specifications (Darter Commander)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70 [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

Notes

  1. "Private Flying: Aero Commander designs sold". Flight International . Vol. 100, no. 3275. December 16, 1971. p. 971. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  2. Taylor 1971, p. 366.
  3. Taylor 1969, p.398

Bibliography

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