Winter 2013 - Volume 18, Number 1
COMMANDER G1000 CONVERSION ON APPROACH FOR CERTIFICATION
A Commander 1000 fitted with a Garmin 1000 panel and S-TEC IntelliFlight 2100 Digital Flight Control System has completed more than 25 hours of test flying, and is in the final stages of development. The Garmin 1000 Commander will be on display at the Twin Commander University April 25-27 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
FROM THE FLIGHTLINE
Registration Underway for Twin Commander University
Registration has begun for the 2013 Twin Commander University, which will be held Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains resort just north of the Scottsdale, Arizona, Airport. Executive Aircraft Maintenance, an authorized Twin Commander Service Center based at KSDL, will be the host service center for the University.
LOOKING BACK AT TWIN COMMANDER HISTORY: MODEL 560
The Model 560 was the second Commander to be placed into production by the Aero Design & Engineering Company at Tulakes Airport (later renamed Wiley Post), in the Oklahoma City suburb of Bethany.
A total of 80 examples (serial numbers 151 through 230) were built between May 1954 and June 1955. Of these, 39 were initially certified in 1954, and 41 in 1955.
Garmin Tips and Tricks: Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast
In the Next Generation of its Air Transportation System the FAA intends to replace your radar-determined location with your GPS/WAAS position, which you will transmit to a nearby ground station (about 700 of them by 2014). This position report is given far more accurately than radar-determined position, and given more often -- about once per second. As a result there can be reduced traffic separation, improved traffic flow, and fuel savings.
Adventure Travel: A Journey to Cartagena, Colombia
A tropical city on the Caribbean Sea where Latin American and European socialites occupy colonial mansions, and the residents frequent an old- world plaza and many fancy restaurants. This beautiful city also offers gorgeous white sand beaches and crystal clear water just a short distance from the city center. The city? Cartagena, Colombia, a mere 1,045 nautical miles from Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE).
From the Shop Floor: A Slightly Simplified Explanation of Torque Sensing
The torque sensing system as used in the TPE331-5, -10T and -10 engines installed in Turbo Commanders displays the amount of power being generated by the engine on a cockpit gauge marked either as HP or TQ. While there are several means used in the industry to do this, in this case it is performed with a hydro-mechanical system.
Torqued Off — A True "Tail" of Failure to Follow a Simple Rule
You’ve learned that the rudders on Twin Commanders are disconnected from the steering, and because of this you should always install the rudder gust lock on the ground. Here’s what happens when you don’t…
Because the rudder has no physical restrictions other than the modest cable friction between the pedals and the actual rudder, even a light puff of wind will deflect the rudder on the ground if it isn’t restrained. So, on every Twin Commander it’s critically important to install the rudder gust lock as soon as the aircraft is secured on the ground. This simple precaution will prevent what happened to my airplane, N690GG.
Market Report: Buyers and Sellers By the Numbers
As buyers and sellers find their stride in 2013, we observe a better picture of the market's equilibrium and stability for most models.
Let's review the particulars on the market supply for the various Commander turboprop models. The following statistics are based on market data provider Jetnet, as well as our own internal research.
Insurance Insight: Becoming Fluent in the Language of Twin Commanders
It’s always enjoyable to visit with Twin Commander owners, and the recent NBAA 2012 convention was no exception. I was impressed with the dedication of Twin Commander diehards to make it to Orlando even with superstorm Sandy pounding the Eastern Seaboard.
