Air Command Commander Elite Explained

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]

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, eliminating 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 640NaN0 Rotax 582 engine in pusher configuration.

The aircraft's 231NaN1 diameter Rotordyne rotor has a chord of 81NaN1. The rudder and tailplane are made from carbon fiber. The Commander Elite has a typical empty weight of 2700NaN0 and a gross weight of 5700NaN0, giving a useful load of 300lb.

Operational history

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

See also

• List of rotorcraft

Notes and 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. Web site: Available Models. 22 December 2012. Air Command International. n.d.. https://web.archive.org/web/20121116133124/http://www.aircommand.com/models.php. 16 November 2012. dead.
3. Web site: Make / Model Inquiry Results. 22 December 2012. Federal Aviation Administration. 22 December 2012.