History of Rockwell's ambitious general aviation offering: The detailed story behind "Commander

According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the development of the Rockwell Commander 112 began in 1970 as part of a new light aircraft program initiated by North American Rockwell's Aero Commander Division. The company envisioned a series of aircraft ranging from small single-engine planes to larger twin-engine models.

The first Commander 112 prototype flew in December

Photo: RuthAS | Wikimedia Commons

Initially, Rockwell developed two prototypes:

-Commander- A fixed-gear four-seat aircraft priced at $15-

-Commander- A retractable-gear model priced at $19-

Although two prototypes of the Commander were built- Rockwell decided to focus entirely on the - believing it would appeal more to private owners and business travelers-

The first prototype flew in December . The aircraft was designed to meet new Federal Aviation Regulation FAR Part standards which emphasized improved crashworthiness and structural integrity These standards made it stronger but also heavier than competitors leading to performance concerns During flight testing one early prototype experienced structural failure in tail section prompting redesign This delayed production with first units reaching customers late Another issue arose with fiberglass composite doors which often leaked Despite these problems robust construction spacious interior were marketed key selling points

Performance early market reception

Photo: Cory W. Watts | Wikimedia Commons

The Commander was designed as high-end general aviation aircraft aimed business travelers private owners Large windows comfortable seating modern avionics made stand out but performance underwhelming compared competitors Cruise Speed knots km/h Range nautical miles km Service Ceiling feet meters Powered by horsepower kW Lycoming IO engine upgrade from originally planned even additional power pilots found underpowered particularly during takeoff climb Compared Piper Arrow similar engine size slightly slower due heavier build Despite shortcomings luxury feel won over some customers However quickly realized upgrades necessary