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Twin Commanders Keep on Coming: Demand for
Upgrades and Rebuilds
 Classic airplanes
continue to survive for decades through changes of manufacturer
and Type Certificate holder-even surviving beyond the "grave"
of production termination through a lively market for upgrading.
One such is the Commander family -- much changed from the Aero Commander
of five decades ago, but now described by its "foster parent"
as "the ultimate turboprop."
Arlington, Va.-based Twin Commander Aircraft is at NBAA 2002 offering
a range of upgrades culminating in complete rebuild for turboprop
models. An interim modification that is proving popular is the installation
of Honeywell TPE331-10T engines in Twin Commanders, replacing the
factory-installed 5 turboprops. This ups the thermodynamic
limit from 800 to 1,000 shp, cutting time-to-height and giving a
300-knots-plus cruise performance. To date, it has been applied
to 75 aircraft.
The Grand Renaissance, of which 35 have so far emerged from Twin
Commander service centers, is a completely disassembled airframe
inspected and rebuilt to factory specifications, with every component
overhauled or replaced. Dash 10 engines, custom interior and paint
complete the process, presenting an airplane that is claimed to
be "better than new."
Other options recently introduced for the wider Commander community
include:
- Meggitt 'Magic' electronic flight and engine instrumentation
display;
- Meggitt 2100 digital flight control system (both for Grand
Renaissance);
- lower spar cap and nosewheel strengthening for Commander 500
pistons and 690 turboprops;
- magnesium fuel sumps for piston versions;
- flexible environmental control unit ducting; and
- new hot-and-high takeoff performance charts.
These, says Twin Commander Aircraft's vp Jeff Cousins, will "not
just keep the Twin Commander fleet flying, but will make it possible
and desirable for every owner to upgrade the performance, utility
and value of their airplane."-Paul Jackson
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