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Aviation History
1958
1958-1- - 0578.PDF
582 FLIGHT, 10 October 1958 Above, Aero Commander Moa^: JQC Above, Aero Commander Model 680-E. Business and Touring Aircraft . . • UNITED STATES Aero Commander 680-E Together with the 500the 680-E has recently been added ro the Commander line, which now totals five models;it is distinguished by a wing of greater span permitting higher loads to be carried withoutsacrifice of range. Supercharged engines are fitted—Lycoming GSO-480-BlA-6s of 340 h.p.—and the interior is available in several har- monizing colour combinations, with either four,five or six scats. A maker's announcement runs: "The interior features a new three-posi-tion seat with tuck-away arm rests, individual ash tray and lighter for each seat, new readinglight, fresh-air outlet fixture, and all set in a richly appointed leather and fabric compart-ment. The new 680-E features the functional three-section instrument panel. The centrepanel is devoted entirely to the engine instru- ments, flanked on either side by a completeflight instrument section for both pilot and co-pilot. In addition, each section is hingedat the bottom, and can be folded down for easy access to all instruments. . . ." Commander 500 Announcing this new lighterand lower-powered version of the Commander 560 the president of Aero Design and Engineer-ing said that it had been designed to fill the need for a high-performance full-size executivetransport at a price substantially below the existing Commander line. The interior can bearranged to seat from five to seven people and the seats are foam filled. Power is providedby two of the new Lycoming O-450 wet sump direct-drive engines of 250 h.p. Commander 560-E This model is distin-guished from its forerunner the 560-A in having a wing of greater span. Like all Com-manders it has a cabin 127.5in long, 52in wide and 53in high. The available space totals177 cu ft, into which are normally fitted two adjustable and reclining seats for two pilotsand a bench for three at the rear. In addition, a baggage compartment is provided, with avolumetric capacity of 32 cu ft and a weight limit of 350 1b. Special interiors can be pro-vided for up to seven persons, or for smaller numbers together with folding tables or wallcouches. The engines are Lycoming GO-480- ClB6s of 295 h.p. Commander 680 Super Dated from late1955, this version has supercharged engines —Lycoming GSO-480-BlA6s, giving 340 h.p.for take-off. While retaining the original 44ft span wing, the Super has the same fuel andoil systems as the 560-E and thus has com- parable range (in excess of 1,500 miles). 720 Alti-Cruiser A recent member of theCommander family, the Alti-Cruiser (span 44ft) is distinguished from the others in havinga pressurized cabin, which enables more prac- tical use to be made of the high-altitudecharacteristics of the supercharged Lycoming GSO-480-B engines. When cruising at 15,000ftthe cabin altitude is equivalent to 9,000ft. Aero Design and Engineering Co., Box 118,Bethany, Oklahoma. Aerocar Model 1 This is a "roadable" aircraft—themost thoroughly proved of its type. Five have been built over a period of seven years, andfull C.A.A. type certification as an aircraft and certification for road use in the U.S.A. hasbeen received. For road use the car (or front- fuselage) section is driven either by itself orwith the remainder of the aircraft folded to form a towed trailer. Assembly of the aircraftprior to flying can be performed by one person in less than ten minutes. The powerplant is aLycoming O-320 which delivers an effective 135 h.p. to the propeller in flight or 40 h.p.to the wheels when on the road. Model 2 This new model does not have theconvertible feature of the Model 1, i.e., it is simply an aircraft and is not roadable. Withthe removal of the various car components, a reduction in weight of about 360 lb has beenachieved. This permits the Model 2 to carry four passengers, 60 1b of baggage and full fuelat the same gross weight (2,100 lb) as the earlier two-seat Aerocars. Aerocar, Inc., Longview, Washington. Acme Anser A-l A forthcoming six-passengertwin-jet amphibian, the Anser is expected to cruise at about 450 m.p.h. on the thrust of twoContinental 420M units each of 1,200 lb static thrust. Maximum range should be over 2,000miles. The upswept rear hull will carry a butterfly tail. Aircraft Marine Engineering Corp., VanNuys, California. Baumann Brigadier B-360 This aircraft is a developedversion of the B-290 and has two Lycoming 180 h.p. engines. A five-seater pusher design,it is of all-metal construction and has a retract- able undercarriage. Also reported is the B-480Super Brigadier, with Continental O-470-B engines of 240 h.p. each. This will havedifferent dimensions. Baumann Aircraft Corp., P.O. Box 468,North Hollywood, California. Bee Queen Bee This four-seater, now underconstruction, will be characterized by a car- type cabin, butterfly tail, and untapered lowwing carrying fuel in tip tanks. The engine is a Lycoming O-320-A1A of 150 h.p. Bee Aviation Associates, Montgomery Field,San Diego, 11, California. Beech Super 18 The Super 18 is normally fittedout for a crew of two and from five to seven passengers. It is of tail-down configurationand is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior engines of 450 h.p. each.Bonanza The 1958 Bonanza is offered with the Continental IO-470-C fuel-injection engineof 250 h.p. A four-seater, it is claimed to be at least 30 m.p.h. faster than any other single-engined commercial aircraft, having a 200 m.p.h. cruising speed. Twin Bonanza D50A and F50 These twoversions differ principally in engine installa- tion: the D50A has two 295 h.p. LycomingGO-480-G2D6s and the F50 has 340 h.p. Lycoming GSO-480-BlB6s. In each case thepropellers are three-blade, full-feathering Hartzells. The F50 has oxygen and bothmodels have night-flying gear, landing lights, cabin heater and fresh-air ventilating system.A choice is offered of six interiors, seating from four to seven persons. In two of these arrange-ments a 6ft lOin couch runs fore and aft. Travel Air 95 The Travel Air is essentiallya scaled-down Twin Bonanza seating four and powered by Lycoming O-360-A1A engines eachof 180 h.p. Standard cabin equipment includes ultra-violet-proof windshields and windows;tinted side windows; soundproofing ("super soundproofing is optional"); full upholstery,including wall to wall rug; loudspeaker; map compartment and glove compartment; twoadjustable sunshades; ashtrays; lighter; Jani- trol 35,000 B.Th.U. heater; clear-vision panelfor pilot; coathanger; adjustable reclining three-position front seat; removable reclining(two-position) rear seat; shoulder harness. Beech Aircraft Corp., Wichita, Kansas. Bell 47J Ranger This is a four-seater helicopterwith "limousine luxury." The cabin has been decorated by Horton and Horton, the notedAmerican air interior stylists, and the buyer can choose from ten colour schemes. Thestandard engine is a Lycoming VO-435. 47G-2 Trooper The Trooper has the sameengine as the Ranger but is a workhorse rather than a limousine. Crop-dusting and sprayingequipment is readily installed, and the com- pany claims that Texas ranchers say that ahelicopter of this type is worth fifteen to twenty good men on good horses. Bell Helicopter Corp., P.O. Box 482, FortWorth, 1, Texas. Callair A-4 Built specifically for agricultural work,this is H low-wing monoplane with optional cabin enclosure and a rear seat. The engineis a 150 h.p. Lycoming. Call Aircraft Co., Afton, Wyoming. Continued on page 594) Below, Aerocar Model 2. Beechcraft Travel Air.
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