History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Commander Aircraft Company Announces Commander 115 Series

BETHANY, OK, March 29, 2000  - - Commander Aircraft Company announced the introduction of the Commander 115 series of high performance single engine aircraft. 

The Commander 115 represents the culmination of a multitude of improvements to the Commander line, and features numerous airframe, engine and systems refinements, as well as significantly increased range capability and an upgraded standard avionics package which includes dual Garmin 430 GPS/Nav/Coms. 

Commander single engine high performance aircraft were originally designed and manufactured by Rockwell International, a leading aerospace and defense company, with the introduction of the Commander 112 series. Rockwell subsequently introduced the Commander 114 and 114A series.

Commander Aircraft Company, incorporated in 1988, acquired the Rockwell single engine aircraft line, and designed and engineered a series of aerodynamic, systems, avionics, and cabin improvements, resulting in the Commander 114B and turbocharged Commander 114TC.  The 114B received a new Type Certificate from the FAA in 1992, and the turbocharged 114TC received a new Type Certificate from the FAA in 1995. 

The Commander 115 series is the latest of a thoroughbred line of aircraft that offer the ultimate combination of performance, comfort, safety, and utility, and has become recognized as the Mercedes of the single engine fleet. 

Commander Aircraft Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aviation General, Incorporated (NASDAQ:AVGE).  Aviation General is a publicly traded holding company with two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Commander Aircraft Company and Strategic Jet Services, Inc.  Commander Aircraft Company manufactures, markets, and provides support services for its line of single engine, high performance, Commander aircraft, and consulting brokerage and refurbishment services for piston aircraft.  Strategic Jet Services provides consulting, brokerage, sales, and refurbishment services for jet aircraft.

 

 

 

For more than a decade, one company has continually delivered on its promise to create aircraft and programs that set new standards for quality and customer satisfaction. That company is Commander Aircraft. Commander enters the new century as the leader in high performance single engine aircraft, and we are proud to announce the introduction of the Commander 115 series of high performance single engine aircraft.

The 115 achieves new levels of refinement. The Commander 115 represents the culmination of a multitude of improvements to the Commander line, and features numerous airframe, engine and systems refinements, as well as significantly increased range capability and an upgraded standard avionics package.

Commander aircraft were originally designed and manufactured by Rockwell International, a leading aerospace and defense company, with the introduction of the Commander 112 series. Rockwell subsequently introduced the Commander 114 and 114A series.

Commander Aircraft Company, incorporated in 1988, acquired the Rockwell single engine aircraft line, and designed and engineered a series of aerodynamic, systems, avionics, and cabin improvements, resulting in the Commander 114B and turbocharged Commander 114TC. The 114B received a new Type Certificate from the FAA in 1992, and the 114TC received a new Type Certificate from the FAA in 1995.

The Commander 115 series is the latest of a thoroughbred line of aircraft that offer the ultimate combination of performance, comfort, safety, and utility, and has become recognized as the Mercedes of the single engine fleet.

With more than eight years of continuous production and operation throughout the world, the newest Commanders have a proven reliability and safety record that is second to none.

The Commander 115 builds on this demonstrated record with a new level of refinement and capability to create the finest single engine business and personal aircraft available anywhere.

Commander has created more than just a great aircraft. Complementing the 115 are innovative, industry-leading ownership programs. The Commander Aircraft Ownership Program provides assistance with all aspects of acquiring and operating your aircraft, and the Commander Trade-up program makes it easy to step up to a new Commander 115 from your current aircraft. Now flying and ready for delivery, the Commander 115 is an exceptional aircraft.

The airplane was certified in 1992 to FAR 23 standards, the most modern and stringent for its class. Since then the engineers continued to improve the aerodynamics, systems, and features of the aircraft utilizing Computer Aided Design.FAR Part 23 has safe-life, fail-safe requirements and higher gust load margins not found on older aircraft designs. The Commander airframe has countless hours of flight experience to its credit, with a demonstrated history of rugged durability. 

The result of all this is an aircraft that is quite different from the Commander 114 manufactured two decades ago. There have been 45 separate improvements made after the 1992 114Bs were first introduced, all of which are reflected in the Commander 115.  

 

Rockwell 114 (1976)

High performance 4-person aircraft with 260 hp Lycoming engine, two-bladed prop and 14-volt electrical system

Rockwell 114A (1979)

Three-bladed prop, leather interior, gross weight increased to 3250 lbs.

Commander 114B (1992)

Strengthened airframe, new engine mount with tuned isolators. Redesigned composite cowling and improved engine cooling. New induction system. New Inconel exhaust system. New engine baffles. Larger oil cooler. High torque starter. 28-volt electrical system. Dual magnetos with independent drives. Dual vacuum system. McCauley "Black Magic" propeller. Cruise speed increase of 8 knots at 75% power. Fiberglass dorsal fin and wingtips. NACA air scoop on vertical fin. All metal CAD/CAM instrument panel. Transducer engine gauges. New full leather interior. Improved sound proofing. Individual reading lights and air outlets.

Commander 115 (2000)

Heavy duty 85-amp alternator. Wing mounted landing lights. Flush fuel covers. Flush access covers. Flush-mounted rotating beacon. Improved power quadrant knobs. High power air conditioner option. Integrated annunciator panels. Internally lighted flap position indicator. Flush mounted instrument panel hardware.  Lower instrument panel design. Redesigned main electrical bus. Interior activated step light switch. Improved front seat release mechanism. Shoulder harness guide improvements.. Pilot and copilot lumbar supports. Improved rear seat recline levers. Embossed placards on leather surfaces. Texture cast aluminum door handles. Flush wingtip/ elevator/rudder hardware. Stainless steel cowl fasteners. Stand alone second alternator option. New contoured headrests. New padded yoke control covers. TKS deicing system. Standard long range fuel tanks (90 gal).

 

The product of Computer Aided Design and precision tooling, each Commander is made by skilled craftsmen who take pride in building the best. This unrelenting attention to manufacturing care is evident throughout. Trim lines are smooth and straight. Paint and interior work rival the finest luxury cars.

Commander's spacious two door design allows superior accessibility for pilot and passengers alike. The end result of this design and manufacturing excellence is also reflected in how well the aircraft handles. It is stable and forgiving; rock solid in flight, yet highly responsive.

The Commander 115 offers the finest cabin environment in its class. Its spacious interior offers ample room for four large adults. Attention to ergonomic design, comfort, and luxury appointments are evident throughout.

Five layers of acoustical materials reduce noise levels substantially. Glove-soft leather and deep-pile carpeting wrap you in unrivaled comfort.

The airplane's chair-height, reclining seats are wide, strong, and luxurious. Variable density foam and adjustable lumbar supports cradle your head, neck, back, and legs, reducing fatigue on the longest flights. 

 

 

Commander's Outstanding Safety Record

Commander aircraft have the best safety record in their class, by far. This fact is substantiated by an independent accident analysis study conducted by Robert E. Breiling Associates, the leading general aviation accident research company.

The R. E. Breiling study reviewed more that 20 years of NTSB and FAA data for high performance single engine aircraft. The results were compelling. Regardless of the methodology used, or the time period studied, The Commander series safety record far surpassed Mooney, Bonanza or Saratoga.