I’m not sure this one ever got posted. Note it is the AC11, not the twin engined Commander
By: low'n'slow - 12th January 2007 at 16:10
Fantastic stuff, prompted me to look on u-bend to find the Shrike Commander routine again – if anything its even more impressive, particularly deadstick! 😮
By: J Boyle - 12th January 2007 at 04:27
“AC11” is the FAA & ICAO Designator code used for the 112/114 on flight plan forms
Martyn
Learn something every day.:D
By: msteggalls - 11th January 2007 at 23:40
I had to watch the video to see what aircraft you were referring to. I’ve never heard of the single engine Rockwells referred to as “AC11”.
“AC11” is the FAA & ICAO Designator code used for the 112/114 on flight plan forms
Martyn
By: J Boyle - 11th January 2007 at 06:22
I had to watch the video to see what aircraft you were referring to. I’ve never heard of the single engine Rockwells referred to as “AC11”.
112, 112TC and 114s yes, never AC11.
One possible reason why Hoover demonstrated the 114 is a 112 prototype was lost in a high speed dive in flight testing. Hoover was so well known that his performance would go a long way in reassuring customers.
A fixed gear version was planned as the 111, but it was never marketed.
Also, the Rockwell B-1 and Space Shuttle factory was at Palmdale, not the 112/114 factoery. That was in Bethany, Oklahoma (along with the twin Commanders).
By: frankvw - 10th January 2007 at 21:09
Yes, it was for marketing purposes.
It seems that the video was shot at El Mirage field, CA (which is a short hop from Palmdale, where the Rockwell factory was)
And, the Commander is a sturdy plane, that’s for sure. Too bad the landing gear mechanism isn’t the most trustworthy you can imagine.
By: Moggy C - 10th January 2007 at 08:49
The demo was for marketing purposes.
One presumes the excuse was to demonstrate that the POH limits included a substantial margin for error on the part of ham-fisted pilots or in extreme situations.
Regrettably there is a well know clip on the web of a Hoover imitator pulling the wings off a light twin at an air display whilst his wife is doing the commentary.
It does not make pleasant viewing.
Moggy
By: Newforest - 10th January 2007 at 08:35
Great find, hats off to Bob, oh, where was his hat? Shame about the quality of the eleven minute film but still very interesting as Bob is the consumate show pilot. Saw him at Oshkosh and have the Twin Commander video. I always thought the Commander was a great looking light plane, only surpassed by the Comanche.
I would raise the question though that as the plane is not authorised for aerobatics and presumably there are design considerations which would preclude it being approved, why would the company then go and demonstrate it aerobatically?
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January 9, 2007 at 9:09 pm