Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.
Today’s Top Pick is a 1996 Aero Commander 114TC.
Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out why certain decades-old aircraft failed to thrive on the GA market when they were new. This is especially so when those airplanes seem almost perfect today.
“Perfect” might be a slight exaggeration in the Commander 114’s case, though owners will tell you it has no real competition. If this assessment sounds familiar, it is probably because many owners say the same thing about their particular brand of airplane.
Let’s sort out the real from the imagined regarding Commanders.
Rockwell, known for military aircraft, developed the Commander during the 1960s general aviation boom as a way to tap the civilian market. The initial model, called the Commander 112, was underpowered, and the later 114 fixed that problem, though cruising speed never quite matched certain competing singles such as the Beechcraft Bonanza. Yet for most pilots moving up from modest fixed-gear trainers, the Commander brings a major speed upgrade.
The turbocharged 1996 Commander for sale here offers another bump in performance over the naturally aspirated versions. With the turbo maintaining sea-level manifold pressure as altitude increases, the 114TC can reach faster cruise speeds at higher altitudes. Many pilots prefer the flexibility that turbocharging offers.
This 1996 Commander 114TC has 1,204 hours on the airframe, Lycoming TIO-540-AG1A engine, and McCauley B3D3C419 propeller. The aircraft features factory air conditioning and a four-place oxygen system. It has a useful load of 942 pounds.
The panel includes a Garmin GNS 430W GPS/Nav/Comm, Bendix/King KX 155 Nav/Comm, PMA 8000BTI audio panel, Bendix/King KFC 200 autopilot, KN 64 DME, KR 87 ADF, Garmin GPSMAP 696, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B In and Out, EI CGR-30P primary engine monitor, Flight Stream 210, HSI, Insight Stormscope, and dual vacuum pumps.
Pilots interested in a roomy, comfortable aircraft that will make family members happy to embark on long trips together should consider this 1996 Aero Commander 114TC, which is available for $264,900 on AircraftForSale.
If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use their airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.
- FLYING Magazine: New Power to the Commander
- FLYING Magazine: New Fly-In Rentals Offer Open Door to Canada’s Napa Valley
- Plane & Pilot: Rockwell Commander 112/112TC
- The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Commander Singles
- The Aviation Consumer: Commander 114TC
- AVweb: Commander Rises Again
