New Power to the Commander

FLYING Staff

Thursday, April 12, 2007 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Super Commander

Key Takeaways:

The Super Commander conversion, developed by Aerodyme Corporation, upgrades Commander 114/115 aircraft by replacing their Lycoming IO-540 engines with a more powerful IO-580.
This engine swap significantly boosts performance, enabling cruise speeds of around 170-180 knots and impressive climb rates exceeding 1,500 fpm, transforming the nearly 40-year-old design to compete with newer aircraft.
The upgrade addresses the Commander's historical drawback of being "too slow," enhancing its capabilities while retaining its desirable characteristics like roominess and good flying manners.
Costing approximately $92,000 (before trade-in of old components), the FAA-approved STC package includes a new engine, prop, cowl, and exhaust system, making it an attractive option for owners considering an engine overhaul.

See a mistake? Contact us.

We were headed back toward Austin’s Class Charlie airspace from our demo flight out to the west in a Commander 115, though it wasn’t just any Commander 115. At the time it was the only one like it in the world. The frequency was pretty quiet. We were at 5,500 feet, about 25 miles out when one of the Austin Approach controllers gave us a call, “N115CE, say type of aircraft.” “N115CE is a Commander 115.”

“Uh, roger, is that a single-engine or a twin-engine aircraft?”