Any Twin Commander Pilots Out There ?

[Jaguar Aviation]

I recently saw a Twin Commander 500 series. I believe it was a 560. I started to remember how sexy those planes are. I did an online search a saw a couple for under 200K. SO i likey. How do they fly. How is maintenance on them. And Most importantly any ideas on what insurance might run for a 400+ time pilot, Need to do my IFR checkride, and the real kicker no ME time. Of course I know right off the bat. I'd need 25 hrs in type before i could solo it. Plus ME training. I have no problem with that.

I received quotes for a 310 for about $4500/Yr and a Grand more for a Baron.
Some enlightenment would be appreciated again.

[navyretread]

I know what you mean. I used to watch Bob Hoover do his energy management demonstration at airshows (shut down both fans, do a loop followed by a half cuban eight and land) in a Shrike Commander and I always thought those machines were the coolest. The older ones look even cooler to me; I could visualize a totally retro restoration, sitting in the shade of the wing in a lawn chair at fly ins------ but I'm going off topic.

Back when Planequest.com had all their cost of ownership data available online, I did some quick research and the 560s had the lowest insurance costs of all the twins with the exception of the AGM Cougar. I think the average was in the $3000 range. Their maintenance was about middle of the road, about $25/hr. but fuel consumption was a bit high, around 35 gals per hour at 167 kts cruise if I recall correctly. In comparison, a 310 1950s vintage was down in the 32 gal/hr range at similar speed but insurance was $4000 and maintenance was close to $40.

I can't afford either one, to be honest, but I think you can get verification of these numbers with a little research. I know I get pop ups surfing the aviation forums offering reports that will give me the real skinny on a given aircraft make/model for about $15 ea. I'd consider that a bargain if it kept me from making an expensive mistake.

Face it, it's going to cost you no matter what you buy and you probably have figured it'll all be the same in 100 years. With that established, recognize any old airplane is going to drive you crazy when you need to find a part and the Commanders just weren't as prolific as the Cessnas so I would guess parts will be more of a problem for the former. I think there's a web site for the Twin Commander Association that will probably have lots of help for you and a little googling will lead you to a dealer in Texas, Jerry something, who has a web site of his own with a lot of good info on 310s.

For the record, the least expensive twins to operate in my research were the Cougar, followed closely by the old Beech Travelaire, then a significant gap to the Duchess and Aztec. Sadly, neither the Commander nor the 310 were even close. On the other hand, all the less costly ones were really single engine fuselages sporting twin engine nacelles on the wings. Both the 310s and the Commanders are roomy, big lifting muthas. If your objective is to build ME time-well, the choice is obvious but your significant other(s) will always prefer the big mutha.

One last thought; as far as I know, the Commander is the only light twin that has taken off single engine, flown halfway across the country and landed safely. The unused prop was removed and riding in the back of the plane the whole flight. Bob Hoover used to fly half his aerobatics demo with one engine feathered. Think about that when you're considering VMC maneuvers for your MEL.

Good luck and let us know what you decide. Who knows, I may be following your lead one of these days.

NRT