Air Command Commander Elite

The Air Command Commander Elite is an American autogyro that was designed and produced by Air Command International of Caddo Mills, Texas. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a conversion kit for the earlier Air Command Commander.[1]

Commander Elite
Role Autogyro
National origin United States
Manufacturer Air Command International
Status Production completed
Unit cost
US$22,500 (2011)
Developed from Air Command Commander

As of 2012 the design is no longer advertised for sale by the company.[2]

Design and development

The Commander Elite improves on the original Commander in that it has raised landing gear that positions the engine thrustline vertically at the center of gravity, which eliminates changes in pitch with throttle changes. The gyroplane was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built rules. It features a single main rotor, a single-seat open cockpit without a windshield, tricycle landing gear and a twin cylinder, two-stroke, liquid-cooled, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration.[1]

The aircraft's 23 ft (7.0 m) diameter Rotordyne rotor has a chord of 8 in (20.3 cm). The rudder and tailplane are made from carbon fibre. The Commander Elite has a typical empty weight of 270 lb (122 kg) and a gross weight of 570 lb (259 kg), giving a useful load of 300 lb (140 kg).[1]

Operational history

By December 2012 ten examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[3]

Specifications (Commander Elite)

Data from Bayerl[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Empty weight: 269 lb (122 kg)
  • Gross weight: 569 lb (258 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 9 U.S. gallons (34 L; 7.5 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 582 twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two stroke aircraft engine, 64 hp (48 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed composite

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 75 mph (120 km/h, 65 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 55 mph (88 km/h, 48 kn)
  • Disk loading: 1.4 lb/sq ft (6.7 kg/m2)
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See also

References
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 174. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Air Command International (n.d.). "Available Models". Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. Federal Aviation Administration (22 December 2012). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
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