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.
Aero Commander 100 Darter Commander
Aero Commander 100 at Bendigo, Victoria, Australia in March 1988
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.
Variantsedit
Volaircraftedit
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/Rockwelledit
Aero Commander 100-1501969 Aero Commander 100-180
Aero Commander 100 – alias Volaire 1050
Aero Commander 100A – alias Volaire 1035
Darter Commander – 100 with revised windows and other minor modifications
Lark Commander 180 – revised aerodynamics, with swept fin and rudder and 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming O-360-A2F engine. Production from 1968.[2]
Specifications (Darter Commander)edit
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70 [3]
Media related to Aero Commander 100 at Wikimedia Commons
The Volaircraft Darter – Aviation History Online Museum
December 20, 2023
aero, commander, various, models, which, were, known, darter, commander, lark, commander, american, light, aircraft, produced, 1960s, high, wing, monoplane, conventional, design, equipped, with, fixed, tricycle, undercarriage, darter, commander, bendigo, victo. 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 Aero Commander 100 Darter CommanderAero Commander 100 at Bendigo Victoria Australia in March 1988Role Light aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Volaircraft Aero CommanderFirst flight 1960 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 2 1 Volaircraft 2 2 Aero Commander Rockwell 3 Specifications Darter Commander 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign and development editThe 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 editVolaircraft edit Model 10 prototypes Volaire 1035 three seat production version powered by Lycoming O 290 Volaire 1050 four seat production version powered by Lycoming O 320Aero Commander Rockwell edit nbsp Aero Commander 100 150 nbsp 1969 Aero Commander 100 180Aero Commander 100 alias Volaire 1050 Aero Commander 100A alias Volaire 1035 Darter Commander 100 with revised windows and other minor modifications Lark Commander 180 revised aerodynamics with swept fin and rudder and 180 hp 130 kW Lycoming O 360 A2F engine Production from 1968 2 Specifications Darter Commander editData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1969 70 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 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 sq ft 16 8 m2 Empty weight 1 280 lb 581 kg Max takeoff weight 2 250 lb 1 021 kg Fuel capacity 44 US Gallons 166 5 L Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 320 A air cooled flat four 150 hp 110 kW Performance Maximum speed 133 mph 214 km h 116 kn Cruise speed 128 mph 206 km h 111 kn at 7 500 ft 2 285 m 75 power Stall speed 55 mph 89 km h 48 kn flaps down Never exceed speed 170 mph 270 km h 150 kn Range 510 mi 820 km 440 nmi Service ceiling 13 000 ft 4 000 m Rate of climb 785 ft min 3 99 m s See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Cessna 172References editNotes edit Private Flying Aero Commander designs sold Flight International Vol 100 no 3275 December 16 1971 p 971 Retrieved November 16 2019 Taylor 1971 p 366 Taylor 1969 p 398 Bibliography edit Taylor John W R Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1969 70 London Jane s Yearbooks 1969 Taylor John W R ed 1971 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1971 72 London Sampson Low Marston amp Co Ltd ISBN 0 354 00094 2 External links edit nbsp Media related to Aero Commander 100 at Wikimedia Commons The Volaircraft Darter Aviation History Online Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aero Commander 100 amp oldid 1071550511, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
